"Captain Wilson was a very interesting Henry owner that much has been written.
'The following letter from Captain Wilson, Co. M, 12th Kentucky Cavalry, is entitled to an introductory statement. The writer is an unconditional Union man, living in a strongly disloyal section of Kentucky. His neighbors had threatened his life. In consequence of this Captain Wilson had fitted up a log crib across the road from his front door as a sort of arsenal, where he had his Henry rifle, Colt’s revolver etc.
One day, while at home dining with his family, seven mounted guerillas rode up, dismounted and burst into his dining room and commenced firing upon him with revolvers. The attack was so sudden that the first shots struck a glass of water his wife was raising to her lips, breaking the glass.
Several other shots were fired without effect, when Captain Wilson sprang to his feet, exclaiming, “For God’s sake, gentlemen, if you wish to murder me, do not do it at my own table in presence of my family.” This caused a parley, resulting in their consent that he might go out doors to be shot.
The moment he reached his front door he sprang for his cover, and his assailants commenced firing at him. Several shots passed through his hat, and more through his clothes, but none took effect upon his person.
[italics mine] He thus reached his cover and seized his Henry Rifle, turned upon his foes, and in five shots killed five of them; the other two sprung for their horses. As the sixth man threw his hand over the pommel of his saddle, the sixth shot took off four fingers; notwithstanding this he got into the saddle, but the seventh shot killed him; then starting out, Captain Wilson killed the seventh man with the eight shot.”
That was one Bad Ass Union man.
I read this story years ago and have been trying to find it since! Thanks!
Describes to a tee my ancestor Martin V.B. Loucks, Union Cavalry. He was drafted off a farm in Michigan. According to reports he knew both horsemanship and shooting from the saddle!