Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-01-30

At that moment you could have heard a pin
drop in that squar. Both Tut and Bill fired
but one discharge followed the other 80 quick
that its hard to say which went of first. Tut'
was famous shot, but be missed this time
| the ball from his pistol went over Bills head
The instant Bill fred, without waitin to see ei
he had hit Tut, he wheeled on his heels and
pointed his pistol at TUFTS friends. who had
already drawn their weepons.
Aren't yer satisfied, gentlemen ? cried
Bill, as cool as an alligator. Put up your
here And they put 'em up, and said it war 9
far fight"
"What became OF Tut p 1 asked of the
Captain, who had stopped at this point of his
story, and was very deliberately engaged in
reflling his empty glass.
"Oh! Dave ? He was a plucky felIer as
ever drew trigger but, Lord bless yer it was
no use. Bill never shoots twice at the same
man, and his ball went through Dawes heart.
He stood stock-still fer a second or two, then
raised his arm as if ter FIRE again, then he
sawyed little, staggered three or four steps
and then fell dead.
Bill and his friends wanted ter have the
thing done regular, so went up ter the JUS
tice, and Bill delivered himself up. A jury
was drawn Bill was tried and cleared Il G
next day. 1t was proved that it was a case ol
self-defense. Don't yer see, Colonel r''
l answered that l afraid that did no,
see that point very clearly.
Well, well!' he replied with an air o
compassion, O. you haven't drunk any whiskey
that's what's the matter With yer" And then
putting his hand on my shoulder with half
mysterious hsl,-conscious look in his face, he
muttered, in a whisper:
" The fact IS, thar ,Sas an undsrcurrsnt Of q
,roman in that fight -
The story of the duel was yet fresh from the
lips of the Captain when its hero appeared in
the manner already described. After a few
moments conversation Bill excused himself,
saving
am goin out on the prarer piece to see
the sick wife of my mate. ! should be glad
to meet yer at the hotel this afternoon, Ker-
nel.'
." will 20 there to meet you," replied.
Good day, gentlemen" said the scout, as
he saluted the party and mounting the black
horse who had been standing quiet, unhitched
he waved his hand over the animals head. Re-
sponsive to the signal, she shot forward as the
arrow leaves the bow, and they both disappear
ed up the road in a cloud of dust.
" That man is the most remarkable charsc-
ter have met in four years active service
said lieutenant of cavalry as the party re-
sumed their seats. - He and his mate-the
man who secuted with him-sttempted the
most daring feat that ever heard Of"
As there appeared to be no business on hand
at the moment the party urged the lieutenant
to tell the story.
i" can't tell the thing as it was" said the
young officer. 1t was beyond description.
One could only hold their breath and feel. Ii
happened when our regiment was attached to
Curts's command, in the expedition down into
ArLa Ora daC W " the advance
;; and began to feel the enemy, no appeared in
greater strength than at any time before. We
were all rather uneasy, for there we're rumors
that Kirby Smith had come up from Texas
with all his force and we were only strong
re counoitripg party a fight just then nigh,
have been bad for US. We made big noise
with sright battery, and stretched our cavalry
out Ia the open and opposite to the rebel cav
airy, who were drawn up in line of battle on
the slope of the prairie about thousand yards
away There we sat for half an hour, now
and then banging at each other. but both par
ties keeping pretty we'll their line of battle
They waited for US to pitch in. We were
waiting until more of our infantry should
come.
1t was getting to be stupid work, however
and we we're all hoping something would turI
up when We noticed two men ride out from
the centre of their line and move toward us
At the first instant we paid but little heed &c
them, supposing 1t some act OF rebel bravado
when we saw quite commotion all along the
enemy's front, and then they commenced tr-
ing at the two riders, and then their line wa;
al enveloped with smoke, out of which horse.
men dashed in pursuit. The two riders KEEP
we'll together, coming straight for US. Theu
we knew they were trying TO escape, and the
Colone. deployed our company as skirmlshers
| 70 do lRh
although, as | watched the pursued and their
pursuers, and found the two men had halted al
what | could now see was a deep ditch, the
moments seemed to be hours !; and when they
turned l thought they were going TO give
! themselves up. But no; in the face OF tina
awful fire they deliberately tnrned back to gel
| space for a good run at the ditch. This CAV,
! time fer two of their pursuers to get within
few yards of hem, when they stopped, evident
! y in doubt as to the meaning of this retro
grade movement. But they did not remair
| long in doubt, tor the two turned again
and, with a shout, rushed for the ditch, ant
then we we're neer enough to see that the,
were lid Bill and his mate. Bills compan
| ion never reached the ditch. He and his hors,
, must have been shot at the same time, 70
they went down together and did not ris
again
Bill did not get a scratch. He spoke t,
Black Nell, the mare we saw just now, VIII
knew as well as her master that there was lif
and death in that twenty-feet ditch, and tha
she must jump it and at 1t she went with
big rush. l never saw a more magnihcen
sight Bill gave the mare her head. and turn
ing in his saddle fred twice, killing both Of hi
| pursuers, Who were within few lengths @
him. They went out of their saddles lik
stones, Just as Black Nell flew into the air an
landed safely on CIR side of the ditch. In
moment both the daring scout and the brav
mare were in our midst, while our men cheer
ed and yelled like mad.
We asked Bill why he ran such risk, whe
he could have stolen iuto our lines during th
night
sOh,' said he, mate and l wanted to sho'
them cussed rehs what Union soldier couI
do. We've been with them now for more tina
month, and heard nothiog but brag. w
thought we'd take it out of them. But :
and Bill looked across the green-sward
where his companion still lay motionless-'
they have killed my mate they shall pay bi
price for it.
Bill must have brought valuable informa
tion.'' continued the Lieutenant, " for he wa
at once sent to t4e General, and in an hou
We had changed position, and foiled a fan
movement of the rebels"
went to the hotel during the afternoon I
keep the scouts appointment The large ROOF
of the hotel in Springfield is perhaps the Ger
tral point of attraction in the city. It fronte
on the street, and served in several capacitie
1t was sort of exchange for those who ha
nothing better to do than to go there. 1t WI
reception-rnom, parlor, and office; but j
distio guished and most fascinating charscteri
tic was The bar, which occupied one entire en-
of the apart. ent. Technically, the bar is Il
|, , counter upon which the polite official piac
his viands Practically, the bar is represente
in the long rows of bottles, and cut-glass {
: canters, and the glasses and goblets of {
shapes and sizes suited to the various liquors