Toward the close the turn of a neighbor and comrade from Owen county who had left a wife and baby at home was called.

He and Wake were standing together, Holman brushed him aside, walked out in his place and drew his bean.
It turned out to be a white one.

Twice within the half hour death had looked him in the eye and found no blinking there.
I have seen quite a deal of hardihood, endurance, suffering, in both women and men; splendid courage on the field of action; perfect self-possession in the face of danger; but I rather think that Wake Holman's exploit that day--next to actually dying for a friend, what can be nobler than being willing to die for him ?--is the bravest thing I know or have ever been told of mortal man.
Wake Holman went to Cuba in the Lopez Rebellion of 1851, and fought under Pickett at the Battle of Cardenas.

In 1855-56 he was in Nicaragua, with Walker.

He commanded a Kentucky regiment of cavalry on the Union side in our War of Sections.