Daring Confederates in the War

Confederate Veteran
Volume 3, Number 11, Page 351
November, 1895

A. J. Burleson, who was a private in the Twelfth Texas Cavalry, writes from Kosse, Texas:

E. C. DeJarnett was a private in Company F, Twelfth Texas Cavalry, Parsons Brigade, and in 1864 was in Rapids Parish, La., during Banks' retreat down Red River after the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, La. One day, just after dinner, the Federals were burning and plundering sugar houses across Bayou Rapids from us. De Jarnett crossed the bayou by swimming his horse, and went about a mile in an open field to see and learn what he could about the enemy. When about a mile from the bayou, in plain view of our picket stand, he encountered a man on horseback, dressed in citizen's clothing. Thinking he recognized the man as an acquaintance, DeJarnett noticed him very little, as his attention was directed to about twenty-five or thirty Federals who were up the bayou' about a half mile distant. As the man approached within a few feet, DeJarnett spoke to him and asked what command he belonged to. The man replied that he was Federal soldier, and, at the same time presenting his pistol, ordered De Jarnett to surrender, and as the latter could not get at his pair of holsters, he caught hold of the Yankee's pistol and they had a hand to hand fight for it. At last the pistol was dropped to the ground, and DeJarnett pulled one of his pistols, which was in turn caught by the enemy as he was in the act of firing, and the Yankee shoved it so it only shot off the hind tree of his saddle. The Yankee at once let go the weapon. when DeJarnett hit him over the head and knocked him from his horse. During this hand to hand fight, the detachment of Yankees came running to the rescue of their comrade, and DeJarnett made for the bayou where we were, and it was indeed a race for life, as more than a score of the enemy were after him, firing as fast as they could. He beat them to the bayou by about one hundred yards, and plunged his horse in and swam over to our side. Our picket in the meantime engaged the fire of the pursuers. You can judge DeJarnett's surprise when he reached the water, and on looking around, saw the horse he had knocked the man from close behind him. It jumped in the water and swam safely to our side. DeJarnett's prize consisted not only of the horse, which was a very valuable one, but a fine pair of pistols and soldier's baggage. I think DeJarnett still lives in this state.

On another occasion, shortly after this, we had a small skirmish with the enemy, six or eight miles northwest of Alexandria, La., on Bayou Rapids. The enemy drove us back and then retreated toward Alexandria. A Lieutenant of our regiment was ordered to take ten men and place out our picket for the night on a certain ditch that ran through a sugar cane field. The ditch was about seven feet deep, and was over grown with cane briars and weeds. On reaching the ditch about dusk, the Lieutenant ordered one of his men, William P. Love, noted for his personal bravery and presence of mind, to go across the ditch on foot and see if he could locate the enemy's picket. The night was dark, and as Love went forward, he missed the vidette picket of the enemy, but located the reserved picket. On returning, he came upon the vidette, who promptly ordered him to halt, but as Love was coming from the direction of the Federal picket the vidette thought he was one of his own men. Love came up to the picket, who was on the ground holding his horse by the bridle, and before the vidette knew what he was about, Love caught him by the throat and called to our Lieutenant, who was still on our side of the ditch, to come over and help him. The Yankee reserve picket heard the noise and at once came to the vidette's relief, getting there before our men could cross the ditch. It was so dark no one could fire a gun for fear of hitting his friend. As the Yankee picket surrounded Love and the vidette, who were having a hand to hand fight, Love suddenly threw the vidette to the ground, mounted his horse and fled. When and where he crossed the ditch he never knew, as it was so dark he could not see it, but he rode the vidette's horse safely into camp. Love died soon after the war in Robertson County, Texas. A braver man never lived.