The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-12-05


illuminated with awful display the last
scenes of civil warfare. The enemy re-
ceded up the mountain, and all was still
Federal forces poured in on Sunday; but
on the following day the enemy evac-
uated their stronghold and crossed over
the Rapidan.
But to our story Austin Cameon,
breathing his pure delight under the Fed
eral Standard, acted brave part in the
repulse of Winder's division. The Sew
enty- third Pennsylvania Volunteers had
more than once changed their trout, and
showed the enemy the intrinsic and un-
compromising nature of a volunteer move
ment. The forest charges fell in their
retreat, and Austin's first encounter was
hand to hand. His countryman fell be-
meath the stern and sinewy arm Of the
youth of New Orleans The onset of the
Rebels, under the flag they had despised !,
was followed back by our hero's comrades
in arms. Their front was cut away; but
onward, in intrepid anger, they pushed
and cut them to pieces. They closed,
and, as if shaft rose from beneath their
feet, loud hurrah rang along with re-
verberating thunder through the forest,
and was answered by thousand echoes
from the iDdented solitudes Of the noun
tain. They shocked together, and made a
terrible union a burial compact, whose
embrace bore sacrifice in its fulfillmen.,
and chartered another deed of blood to
the liberty of war.
Austn's first engagement for the Uni
on, the anticipation whereof, seemed ia
tai to his ever again seeing home. He
had encountered his kinsmen in the field
to Illustrate their prosperity and to abol-
ish their pride of secession over their
heaped up graves. But the beginning
had passed, bringing hundreds OF human
lives with it, aud Destiny assumed the die
tatorship of his eventful career. .From the
moment that the first life fell under his
arm, dark ambition nerved his heart to
the execution of more heroic and san
guine deeds He wa snow in the battle,
face to face with the community he had
wroDged and whose interest betrayed,
and no wonder that his bosom beat more
violently and his cheek assumed a deep
pallor in exchange for the southern rose.
A retreat sounded. Prince, Greene,
and Geary appeared, aud again in action
the Seventy third pressed onward. Aus
tin now distinguished himself by taking
the command of his own company = the
officers were killed, wounded, or missing
IA and at their head he rallied them for
the charge On. steadily moved the vol
uuteers = up the steep ascent, like the
Alpine horde of chamois, and almost
breasted the batteries. Up, like the To-
Gust train in their career of destruction
clambered the veteran youths, whose
memory shall live in the storicd chroni-
cles for thousand generations. Austin
encountered again. \ young southerner,
whose ability had raised him to the rank
of Lieutenant Colonel. He appeared to
be about Austn's own age, good SOL
dier, and an ardent patriot. A long
glance passed between them, and their
weapons clashed with fendish stroke. -
The mounted soldier suddenly relaxed
his sword. Austin pressed upon him,
but his antagonist seemed to be only de-
Tending himself. A word was at his
lips; but at the moment his sword fell,
and smote Austin under his chargers
feet. He fell uttering: The Union"
The borseman bent low in his saddle, and
looked upon his face covered with blood;
when our hero, with the last remaining
life leaving him, sprang convulsiveiy to
his feet, and dealt him heavy blow,
which hurled him to the ground. He
sank with groan upon his pale lips, and
the quietness of death stole over him. =
Austin and his cousin Costardo had met af-
ter long separation, but it was as iDvete
rate foes, each compelled in his duty to shed
the blood of the other. They lay side by
side on the cold sanguine grasses of the
glaze; and their spirits were at peace as
they slumbered peacefully amidst the
dim, the clash, and the roar of the battle.
To be continued IN our nert.