The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-22
Written for the Sunday Crescent
BARTRELLE.
CHAPTER xu-coSrSuED.

toned SO near. Unable 70 Withstand the
terrible onset of the Rangers, they had fallen
rapidly back upon the main body and reported
their encounter with irsble the force they
actually engaged. Under these circumstances
the entire regiment was started at once iin
pursuit
Bratrelles debouch from the road they had
expected him to take, for the time effectually
concealed from them his intentions. But his
non-appearance at the ford began TO open
their eyes. From their guides they ascer-
tanned that there was still another crossing
higher up, at a place called the sup river
road" To this spot then the Union COM
mander FASTENED, anxious to reach it before
the Rangers had effected a crossing. But in
this he was destined to disappointment For
when on attaining an eminence, on the oppo-
site bank of the river, greatly to his chagrin,
he discovered the rear guard of the Rangers,
leisurely ascending the long stretch that lay
beyond. Hishopes of forming an ambuscade
were thus destroyed; but with his greatly
superior numbers, he thought something
might be effected in the way of pursuit. No
sooner thought of than he attempted to put
| his design into execution. A glance behind
showed Bartrelle this new peril. The regi-
ment had made every arrangement for an
active and energetic pursuit, and, as fast as
the nature of the ground would permit, was
pushing forward in the chase.
Tn meet this emergency in his march, like
wise commander, Bartrelle quickly disposed
his forces. He divided his troops into two bat
tallions, and dismounting on of these, posted
them in the rear. The other he held in
reserve.
The place selected by Bartrelle was emil
nelly fit for his purpose. On the left of his
position heavy growth of underbr lsh, run
ming transversely right and left, grew to the
very borders of the road The brush was of
luxuriant growth, and was of the tough,
thomy, crab-apple species, so that their huge
hooked branches interlocked with each other,
formed anatural cheUaa,r de tri5e. The barrier
was impossible for either man or horse, and
extended to the bluffs of the river miles
away. =.
To the right of the Rangers, and parallel
with the road they were traversing, rose high
butte, visible for miles and miles beyond, and
most singular in its formation, not unlike the
core which crosses the summit of the noun.
tan Perote Its sides were perfectly vertile
and rose in the air nearly fifty feet.
Bartrelle Immediately took position here.
Throwing themselves across the road, the
dismounted men guarded the semi-circle in
front, while being on foot they did not
obstruct the fire Of the mounted men in the
rear Nor in fact had they scarcely semi
circle to guard, for the place was enlbeyed,
sort of re-entering angle formed by two
oblque faces of the cliff Thus his position
was fanked by a wall of rock on one side and
the impenetrable prairie chapparal ON the
other
When the enemy noted these preparations
for conflict, shouts of exultation followed. |
They saw, as they supposed, the Ranger cap |
tain voluntarily placing himself in position |
from which retreat seemed impossible. On |
catching sight Of him, they feared, that being |
mounted ON swift horses, he meditated escap- |
ing by their speed; but on ascertaining that |
he had no such intention, their exultant |
rejoicing would not be restrained. But they |
little knew the man with whom they had to |
deal A few months later they would have |
watched those calm manoeuvres with jealous |
scrutiny. Now they only thought of trapping |
the apparently unwary Confederate.
But the pursuers came on. A depression
in the ground hid from them the hundred |
leyeled tubes which were waiting only for the
ascending slope to bear their victims within
range On they came-the heads of their |
horses are already visible, and in another
moment the erect, soldierly bodies of the
enemy come into view. Scarcely hundred |
yards divided the ranks Of the pursued and
the puIsuers. The enemy at last perceives
his danger-too late-quick and stern the
words
Ready, frel" echoed along the Ranger
line, and long, loud report, accompanied by
a column of flame rushed ont on the air.
There was a break and surge in the enemy's
lines, and horses bearing four score empty
saddles dashed madly down the hill But
the foe were brave. No towards these Raj
lying the broken ranks, scarcely minute
had passed before the front battalion, at full |
charge, again appeared over the hill And
again they were met by the memorable fre-it
rushed through their ranks with the havoc
of canister and grape. 1t is terrible wall
of shot and flame, which brightens and burns
in the very faces of the enemy. But the
Federal column still rushes on, their swords |
rising as with one impulse. while man and
officer leap forward into the very jaws of |
death. Clouds of smoke roll over the thick |
forest of bushes and settle along the surface
of the cliff. The combatants are hid from
view by the rolling smoke; but shout and
saber clang, and scream and groan echo from
its bosom. The deadly clang of sword against
sword, the death cry and the wild hurral, |
mingle in one fendish chorus. A moment |
more and the wild scene breaks.
Back from the bloody gorge breaks horse
and rider, each recoiling on the rank behind
him, until men and horses whirl together in |
indiscriminate confusion. Plunging out from |
tho ernbrasura tha Rononru cbarr,a fl,a onar,.,