American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-03-01
Forward! Trot Gallopl Charge ?

'tWere made OF reeds.
Cursing, cheering, and yelling like hends
incarnate, on flies the brigade. The very
horses seem to catch the wild inspiration
of the moment, and dash onward with the
speed of the wind. The rebels halt and
omen fire with their carbiues, and many
rider drops from his saddle; but it was as
easy to stay the wind as make these des-
perate horsemen pause.
..witb eyes fnl Of fury now onward they %,
And they spurn under foot alike friend ana loe'
The rebels stand for moment, and
then stricken with fear they turn to fly
They are too late. The brigade is upon
them like whirlwind Horses and ri
ders are borne down in that headlung
rush. The air resounds with the clash OF
steel, the sharp crack of pistols, the moans
of the wounded, and the screams for
mercy.
Tom Patson, Jack Dwight, and their
captain, are fighting side by side with su-
perhuman energy. Toms hatisg gone, his
breast is bare his face is begrimed with
dust and smoke, and half covered with a
mask of blood flowing from wound in
his scalp. Yelling like wild beast he
strikes to thcright and left, telling a rebel
at every blow.
"Tom, there's Arden" cried Jack
Dwight.
"Where ?"
"There," pointing to an officer whowas
flying from the field.
The next moment poor jack Dwight
was numbered with the dead. A bullet
struck him in the center of the forehead
and passed through his brain.
Never needing his friends fall, Tom
Patson drove his spurs into his horse s
sides and dashed forward in pursuit OF
his enemy. On they go, over fences,
walls, and bitches, one only thinking of
Escape, the other intent upon revenge
.'ara fires shot after.shotat the flying man,
but without effect; the rapid moti,n Of
his horse renders his aim unsteady. On
they go, mile aftermile, the sounds of the
battle growing indistInct in the distance.
Tom commences to gain on the fugitive,
and as he does 50 his heart bounds with
exultaton. Arden's horse commences to
show signs of fatigue, but Toms horse
being nearly thoroughbred, Is compare
lively fresh.
{" Ha, Nero - said Tom to his good
steed "I tho't when struck down your
rebel owner, that you wonld one day stand
me in good stead"
Arden urges ON his horse with spur and
by blows of his sabre, but no avail. Tom
gains on him at every stride. Now Ar
den heads his horse for wall, and with
a heavy blow urges him to take the leap.
The faithful brute strains every muscle to
accomplish his masters will; but he
strives in vain-his fore feet strike the top,
of the wall, and he fa Is headlong in the
field beyond.
Before Arden could release himself
from his fallen animal, Tom Patscn clear
ed the wall at a bound. Dismounting, he
strede up to Arden, who stood at bay,
sword in hand.
"Paul Arden, do you know me?' said
Tom.
al know you for an internal Yankee y
was Arden's reply.
Do you rccollect Kate Chester ~
Ali | see you do" said he, as Arden
turned ghastly white. " am Tom Pat
son, and you shall never quit this field
alive"
In another moment their blades cross.
ed, and it was instantly apparent that Ar,
den was no match for his adversary =
His sword was soon beaten from his grasp
and he was borne to the ground by Tom
"Fer Gods sake, spare me. y cried the
PROSTATE man, as he looked appealingly
UP in the face of his enemy.
There was no mercy in the counte
nance that met his gaze-nothing bu
deadly hatred
"Ask mercy Of your Godl" cried Tom
rs he plunged hissword through Arden I
throat.
A low gasp, few violent contortion
of his body, and Paul Arden had passed
from earth.
Tom remounted his horse, and sool
reached the road, and then set out at
quick gallop to rejoin his friends. He ha'
not proceeded far when he saw five or 81
horsemen coming furiously toward him
A glance at their uniforms convinced hin
they were rebels flying from the battl
field.
cit is useless for me to attempt to es
cape fgsm them,' he said to himself ian
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