The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Saturday, March 13, 2021

A War Reminiscence-- Part 3: Lt. Budlong to the Rescue

Col. D.H. Budlong, of Livingston (Montana), was then a First Lieutenant  in the 33rd Wisconsin on staff duty as one of Gen. Lauman's aides.    After Pugh's terribly fatal charge, Col. Budlong was sent out to drive in stragglers.  He was then as now a very tall man  and was mounted on a monstrous white horse that stood nineteen hands high.

As he rode upon the field and looked over its ghastly occupants, he saw Captain Potter's efforts to get back to his own lines and recognized the fact that the wounded officer had something of the sympathy  of the southern soldiers who were watching.  Col. Budlong rode forward slowly until within 150 yards of Potter's sheltering stump.

He then scanned the rebel lines  with his glass, and seeing no movement to interfere with him, put his horse to a gallop, rode up to Potter, threw him across the saddle, wheeled his horse and rode back to cover.

Not a shot was fired but as they retired the rebels stood up in their entrenchments and gave a round of cheer for the two brave Union officers.

--Old Secesh


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