The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1863-11-11

Anon the deafening discharge of firearms rang
in that fearful valley, and death claimed more
victims. A few moments passed, and then II
was one continuous thunder peal OF war; men
fell, and groaned, and died The sod on when
they lay was drenched with gore. 1t was terri
ble, heartrending scene OF carnage.
Herkimer's troops at last partially gained CO.
vert and returned the stroke of death. The com
batants then fought like brave men, long and
we'll" Every inch of ground was disputed with
fierce tenacity There moved the crimson cross
of England, there the stars and stripes OF the
''sons Of liberty" There, amid the contendlng
ranks of whites nodded the rude plumes OF the
dusky children of the forest There, II that
| fight, met as enemies those who had played to-
gether in the innocent, happy days OF childhood
| The basest passions of the human heart there
regned triumphant
At last the ruling spirit Of the continental |
forces, Herkimer, whose name IS bright gem III
the coronet of cur country's revolutionary lame;
FELL wounded by the enemy's shot. HIS soldiers
rallied around their bleeding general, ana de-
fet ded him from the onslaught or their toes. lie
was placed upon saddle at the loot OF large
tree, from whence he issued his orders to MS
followers. Again the battle ragged with fury, its
waves sweeping from point to point, sometimes
around the wounded general, sometimes Tar
; away.
Atone time Herkimer was left almost alone, his
troops however, watching his safety with a jea-
Gus eve The general watched the progress OF
, affairs with intense interest. He wished to con
f veY com1Qand to some distant part OF the held
None Of his aids we're near. He saw young
p man approach. He came to the general, ana
inouired concerning his wound. The general
i answered him and then requested him to convey.
= a message to his officers He told him their
q names, and pointed out their locations.
: The young man, who was passing to point
" where lis countrymeu seemed to need his assls-
a tance, complied with the wishes OF Herkimer
,s That young man was Harry Wilde After exc
Ct cutting his commission he sought the place for
# which he had started when he passed Herkimer.
1t was thick wood with much underbrush,
N There desperate struggle was going on; it
o. seemed the point on which the fortunes OF the
o., day should turn He rushed into the thickesf
~ of the melee; men on either hand were receiving
,a their death blows while shriekS and horrd cries
5n resounded on every side. He had not been en-
ot Gagged long when he perceived one among the
tories whom he thought he recognised sec
he ond look told him that his brother was In tht
H. battle. Painful thoughts swept through biz excl
M ted brain The dense smoke soon hid him from
~. his view few moments elapsed, and he thet
lie perceived his brother within few feet of him
of lie saw Maurice run his sword through persol
NY WHOM they 9 both k1ew
NE maurice ana ne once called friend Mauric
w. iought Ike tiger; his garments were spotted an
ra- damp with the blood of friends and foe. Atlas
ey he perceived Harry Harry held out his hand
he but Maurice scorntully rejected the nroffare,
era token OF friendship. Uttering a fearful oath i,
rd struck at Harry with his heavy, b1oodvet sword
Harry eVaded the blows falling on his head bu
ed II struck with force the extended hand cuttine
as 1t badly, and for the moment almost denrivinS
Is, him Of its use
d. . Maurice! Maurice! remember that I am Won,
r. brother, exclaimed Harry, as he drew his blade
Ii in defence. :
I'd Brother, sneeringly calculated Maurice, s,yor
&c are no brother OF mine He who fights against
e. the klng can claim no fraternity With me. Take
er that, YOU - AS he spoke he dealt treren.
I'd dons blow at Harry, but the latter turned it aside
r. NOh! Maurlce, would yoo say me? We are
brothers, aud have ever lived so until this uDuatu
1t raj, accursed war broke oat And, oh, th0uob
you are fighting for your king and against hio,
4 let Us not emooe cur hands in each others blood
e. Harry Wide, you must now die!" fairly hissed
II Maurice from between his set teeth 81 hate YOU
2 you whig!"
d Oaths too profane to find record here issued
e from MS lips lie sprang towards his brother
e with the ieroety o. bloodhound to his prey
d Like lightning descended blows. struck will
n all the power he could command. Harry narr;ad
e his strokes for a long time He could haT. slain
a Maurice fer the latter was desperate and reckless
5 but ne wished not the blood Of his brother upon
, hlS hands. He used his blade against Maurice
0 freely in self-detence
d The contest coad not last long thus. Harrv's
t sword arm was wounded The blood was swiftly
d flowing from it, and it began to give him exouj-
site pam His eight grasp of lis sword-hilt re-
ia1edj with difficulty lie warded oifthe thrusts and
blows OF bis brother. ct last Maurice knocked
5 Harry 'ssword out Of his hand As Harr, started
back ne sa" triumphant smile fit across the
] race OF ms antagonist The next he felt keen
p'ng as The tory drove the steel home.
r Harry reeled and fell heavily to the ground
lie thought that possibly he might be spared but
the tory meant to kill him before he left the snot
Bending over the PROSTATE form, Maurice said
, '.C0rHella Hamilton now is mine Think Won
[ would let you live to win her from np9 M 5;ol1
Drawing back his CORY blade. he prenared -
sheath 1t again in brothers. brerst He was .
second too late. He heard the click Of a nistoI-
lock he saw the gleam OF the polished tube AZ II
was aimed at hls forehead, but before he eould
defend himself from bis assaiant, bullet crashed
through his brain. He breathed bat once after
that fatal bullet left the barrel.
/ Though weak and faint from loss Of blood
Harry was still conscious Of events transpirino
around him. he knew that he was saved from
immediate death. lie gazed into the face of his |
deIlverer lie was young man, intelligent and
handsome, almost too beautiful for man, Some |
thing around the Ineaments of that face seemed
familiar to the wounded whig. He tried to think
where he had seen that countenance before, but
his whlrling brain could afford no solution to the |