Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-04-28

envy, and betrayed us to theml What
| too, if thus informed, the enemy were
TO avoid the road by which they would
otherwise have come, and, through oh
scure swamp paths, fall upon our camp
ere we could ''about face" and come
to the rescued Mol mol Though some
thousands were in our command, and
though they came from many a various
and distant State, or foreign realm
came, too, from every pursuit and call
ing, high or low, as nowadays terms
pass current. Though many even had
suffered keen neglect at the hands of
that Republic, for which they had sac
rificed home, and friends, and peace,
and plenty. Though all these things
were patent, my own heart told me,
proudly spoke it, that, 'mongst the
thousands lying in the dark cover of
those Southern woods, there lurked
not one who did not wear upon his
brow, the bearing of a conscious pa
triot.
The only fear then grew from the
apprehension that the enemy had post
poned their attack, and all our careful,
breathless preparations go for naught.
1t was now approaching midnight. -
With some officers, 1 passed over the
plantation to the spot whence emerged
the road on which the enemy were eX-
pected. Most faithfully had every
instruction been carried out. Nearly a
thousand stalwart men rested within
pistol shot, but not figure could be
observed.
at seemed as if their mother earth
Had swallowed up her war-like birth"
With my officers L now partially re-
turned to point equi-distant from each
division of Onr little array. Partially
concealed by some old ruins we stood
close and eXpectant-eye, ear, heart,
attentl A solemn hush hung over the
grounds, and a dark cloud was inst
sweeping over the moon, when my arm
was clutched, and, looking round, L saw
"Sack" bending towards the ground
Then came the whisper, "Dey
is comm, Massa General-'Fore
God, dey is COMMIT" We bent low
Truel All truel A measured tramp
low voices-muffied wheels. They near
ed-louder, though still subdued. vol
ces and commandsi Hark! Lookl Bend
lowl The moment is big with our fate.
The hot blood flashes through my veins.
See againl A small squad emerge from
out the woods. Others follow. The
ranks swell. They spread out Here
comes a field piece, it's wheels still
mulfied. Still forwardl On they come
The main body is now fully abreast,
and measurably past the first portion
Of our command. A single shot from a
single soldier, and all is lostl / almost
gasp for breath lest some of the
thoughtless and inexperienced disclose
our position. No. All is well. The
rebel officers halt their advance, close
mp their troops. Again-"FOrward.
We hear the Uery arord. We see the
officers encouraging their men,
and massing them in solid col
umn! Forward" it is, againl ''Slow
time!" The rear guard is now
in the broad opening. It rapidly
closes up. The head of the Rebel line
has come within a hundred yards of
my main Forward within
Fifty Forward, still, and al
most fancy / see the advance disappear
ing in the gloom of the opposing woodsl
With one accord we now leap upon a
conspicuous pile OF rubbish Simulta-
neously our pistols flash. It is the sig
nall and those woods, but now so sombre
and so still, blaze with a livid flame
Shot, shell and canister crash through
the rebel ranks. Volley succeeds vol
ley-rOar on roar. Then comes the bay
onet, backed by the proud hurrah of
victory. In widest disorder the rebels
wheel as they can to the road from
which they emerged. In VAIN. My boys
are there lined in solid front, and again
the blaze. the roar. In wild despair
the Rebels rush hither and yon. They
beg for mercy. The earth is strewn
with their dead and dying. Their COM
mand seems to have melted away.
cease firing" passes from lip to lip,
and then while the banner of the Re-
public is planted over another victorious
field, we all turn to succor the wounded,
to soothe the pangs of the dying. Great
fires blaze in a circle about the field.
The few prisonersi left unhurt fall
goomily under guard and we await the
slow coming of the morn, catching such
slumber as we can. As the sun rises In
its glory, we bend with a will towards
removing the evidences of that nights
CORY little fieht, and proudly march
back to our old camping ground over
which our colors wave, the more proudly
than ever, and in which we are never
again disturbed until the order comes,
''.ro Vicksburg," and once again-as
proudly as before-we take up our line
of march to other bloody conflicts-to
other glorious victories.
And so, dear reader, it came to pass
that the writer hereof was not only, not
caught by the Texas Rangers, but heard
his name dppLduded In General orders
and found himself addressed by high
er title than any he had held before the
bonnie fight at "BdvOu Metre"