Page:History of the newspapers of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.djvu/136

 112 HISTORY OF BEAVER COUNTY PAPERS. said: "Major, General Sheridan says clear that earth- work of Johnnies and see what's there." At his call 20 to 30 horsemen responded, and a dash was made for • that spot. Half way to it the Major turned and found he was uncomfortably in advance of his men, and he also found that he could not check or control the new horse. In a moment he was near the trench, and tried hard to sheathe his sabre but could not and so let it drop, and as the horse leaped the earthwork, he with pistol in hand made an effort to capture or wound the only soldier who had remained to resist the charge, but discovered later when the excitement was over that he had brought the pistol hammer to half cock. Probably the Confederate's nerves were not real steady either, for he fired not twenty feet away and missed his mark, and what is more escaped. To General Sheridan who could not see the runaway horse, it looked like a very brave and heroic deed, and he made the Major a Lieutenant Colonel for "gallant and meritorious action in the face of the enemy," "but" adds the Major when telling the story, "what about the horse ?" The Civil War closed, and in it Col. Porter had done heroic work, being twice severely wounded. He spent a year in Libby prison, from which after a marvelous patience in preparation, he boldly walked out in broad daylight, clad in a grey uniform, right past both guard and commandant whom he saluted. In the city of Rich- mond he sought and found Union sympathizers, with whom he remained more than a week gathering infor- mation concerning Confederate forces and defences, and then disguised as a teamster after supplies, he drove a mule team to the Potomac river, over which he crossed in a small boat, and which to get safely back had to rim the blockade of the Union patrol fleet. Reaching Washing- ton he reported to the Secretary of War, upon which in- formation largely, the Dahlgreen-Kilpatrick raid was planned.