[The following is in regards to Newton Knight, a Confederate deserter in the American Civil War who returned to Jones County in Mississippi and fought a guerrilla war against the Confederacy.]
”Here they come!” Newton said. From out of the brush came a heard of colts, riderless. For a moment Newton was relieved – until the dashing of horses was followed closely by the rippling cracks of gunfire. About twenty Confederates had ridden behind the stampeding horses, using them as cover.
As Newton, Alpheus, and the women reached the tree line, Newton handed the baby to its mother and plunged into the brush. While the women pushed deeper into the woods, Newton and Alpheus swung around and kneeled to face the Confederates from the cover of the trees. The two men raised their weapons, and Newton cautioned Alpheus to fire only one barrel at a time. Then he drew aim on a captain riding straight for them.
”Lord God, direct this load,” Newton said.
The blast kicked the gunstock into Newton’s shoulder, and a fraction of a second later the rebel officer rumbled from his saddle. A moment later, Alpheus let go with one barrel, and another rebel flew from his mount. Alternating barrels, Newton and Alpheus dropped four men and a large gray horse before the Confederates reined to a halt.
Newton began to yell military orders from out of the timber. “Attention! Battalion! Really on the right! Forward!”
The ears of the cavalrymen still rang from a half-dozen shotgun blasts. As they gazed at the thickets and heard Newton shouting orders it must have seemed that they had encountered an entire company. With four men bleeding on the ground, they were not inclined to press the attack against an unknown number in the woods. They turned their horses and galloped away.
Source:
Jenkins, Sally, and John Stauffer. “Banners Raised and Lowered.” The State of Jones: The Small Southern County That Seceded from the Confederacy. Anchor Books, 2010. 226. Print.
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