Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-10-21
A snnnt,n A.Irnn.urn.


hills. Our party was but small, but its
members were determined men, none Of
whom were novioes In scenes Of danger
We marched in silence, that was broken
only by The murmured whispers Of the
men, the cries and Tutoring Of birds, or
the quick plunge Of some small animal
through the thick foliage, which, from the
very edge Of the path we we're pursuing,
spread amid lofty trees thinly scattered on
the hills.
Day was near its close. We were dis
tart some miles from the camp. The enc.
my might bo in possession of the defle in
overwhelming numbers. 1t was deter
mined that We should keep in compact or
der until we got we'll beyond the entrance
Of the pass, when as il became more OBJ
structed or tortuous, we should, taking sd-
vantage of every bush, rock or inequality,
advance singly, ready for the foe and reok
less Of his numbers.
The foliage became thicker as We ad-
vanoed, and evening fell. On our right
was dense thicket, which we reached af-
ter having lost sight Of the entrance to the
defle in our rear. This thioket reached
from the foot Of the gorge to its summit
Each step became frmer, but more eau
lious. There was no whispering now, and
every breath was guarded. We were far
in the gleu-on one side gray rocks, lofty
trees, towering plants and creepers in wild
confusion spreading over the abrupt sides
Of dark fantastic hills, broken at intervals
by huge chasms that cleaned wildly in the
rays of the declining sun--on the other
side the impenetrsble thioket was buried in
gloom.
Still steadily and stealthily advancing,
each man, with his rifle grasped easily ir his
hand glancing quickly TO the right and lef,,
with unweaTied energy crept along the glen.
A whistle, quick and clear, sent its wild sound
thrilling through every heart and ear. There
was a sudden halt in or little troop. ALI
was breathless suspense. That was no birds
cry. No throat but human one ever gave
q note so threatening. "What was it2" pas
sed in a still, rapid whisper among u.s. "Guer-
illasW "HEsh !" We listened long aud
breathlessiy, and wsrily peered on every side.
Not man OF us visible but to his fellows.
/ Crouched, with our very hearts beating on
the earth, covered by the friendly bush we
lay for many minutes in The hope of hearing
/ the whistle repeated. All was still as though
/ the spot had never known its wild solitude
broken by the foot of man, or disturbed by
his passions, his scheme or his ambition.
Still we listened, but in vain. No fur
ther sound was heard. Why was there no
other signal2 Was it some solitary wan
derer who sent that shrill cry forth through
the stiffness lin mere Wsntonness) and
with no other motive than that of breaking
its monotony. Not so. There was q sig
ni6csnce in that sound that breathed war
and defiance as plainly as if it had come
from the blast Of a trumpet "Up and be
moving, menl' came in low tones, from the
lips Of the sergeant in command. "Let 'em
try it again ..-..
Our march was resumed as before; but
we slept more stealthily, listened with pain
ful attention, and glared on every side with
the intensity Of blood hounds. The defle
took an acute turn to the right, and on the
left was q naked space, extending for some
yards, devoid Of all verdure, but the gray
moss clinging round the gray rocks.
We began, hastily, to cross this uncov-
cred space, when there was a report of
many pieces, whilst red flashes from rocks
and bushes in the front CLEANED savagely
and suddenly upon US. For q moment we
were staggered. Then with shout we
rushed forward TO unearth the ambushed
foe. Again the fire was repeated, with the
muZzles of their rifles within few feet of
our faces. gazsd round for an instant,
after discharging my piece at one fellow,
and with my bayonet transfxing another
to the soft sandy rock, against which he
fell and perceived none Of my party by
my side But the thick smoke and rapidly
falling darkness that now ruled, in con-
junction with yells, shots and groans, in the
surrounding glen, made all invisible be-
yond the length of the srm.
At that instant | felt sudden pang
q dizziness, q blsckness, like death, came
over me; 1 clutohed wildly at the sulphur
eous air, reeled and fell.
When recovered my senses, I discovered
that l was lying on my side bleeding
slightly from fash wound IN Ine thigh.
had bled profusely, before recovering, for
was saturated in half concealed gore Rais-
ing myself on my elbow, looked round for
my comrades. The moon was shining
with all the sOftness of her beauty on the
spot. counted five bodies lying within a
compass of almost as many yards. en-
deavored to discover their uniforms, but
/ could not at that distance-I arose slowly.
and With much difficulty, reached the near
est. He was dead, with blue hole in the
centre of his forehead, through which the
bullet bad passed, and the blood still slowly
oozed. l crswled to the next one; ne too was
past all earthly aid. So on TO the third,
fourth and fifth. The bullet had done its full
werk on all. These had been, few hours
before, my comrades, eager to deal destruc-
ton upon foes and careless of the fate that
met them. I was the sixth and last of the
party.
But where was the enemy, or what had
been the enemy2 l heard no sound, and the
moonlight falling directly upon the dead men
and gray, weird-like rocks, produced an eff
feet that was both sickening and horrible I
remembered the man had slain. l search
ed for his body, but it was gone. searched
for others of the enemy, but all had disap-
peared. There were no dead left on that
battle ground but the five fallen scouts.-
Yet that others had perisbed there, was OBJ
vious from the blood lying in little pools
among the rocks, behind which the am
bnshed foe had lurked and poured upon us
his deadly FIRE.
Ny wound began to bleed airesh, which
brought faintness upon me, and sank to
the earth. A burning thirst was consuming
me, and groaned in agony.
After little while l made another effort
to rise, but failed; and then falling back as
calmly as possible, yielded to my fate.
thought Of past days, when, in early youth,
no cry for blood had yet awakened that in
herent ferocity that turks unseen in the heart
of man, uutil the fearful scent rOuses it as it
does the bloodhounds, and it springs forth
with swiftness that appals and strength
that desolates.
War Material iOr Illinois.
Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.l
- SPRINGFIELD, Oct IS.
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