Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-08

EVERY day, aud all day long, we
pegged away thus at each other"
Myself-"And the Carolina helped you
still, Uncle2"
Our Uncle-"Nol poor dear the
brutes managed to get couple of
screamers (the biggest sort Of guns)
into position, and blew her out of the
water But we had larger ship-the
Louisiana-which took her place, and
scored the enemy quite as badly"
Jem-"Do tell US who was governor
| of the State at that time 2"
Our Uncle" Claiborne; and q
precious poltroon be was, with set Of
| fellows about him in the Legislature as
scary as rabbits He had control over
the State ammunition, but actually re.
fused to give it up to our General Jack
son sent for him. He came trembling,
with face the color of parboied pota'
toes.
jackson roared, in voice that might
have been heard half mile away: II
you don't send me balls and powder in.
stantly, Governor, I'll chop off your head
and have it remmcd into one OF those
feld-pieces I ff+@
"The balls and powder were not long
in arriving after that I"
Myself-" What do you really think
| Gen. Jackson would have chopped OF
the Governors head if he had refused to
obey him2"
Our Uncle (very seriously)-"To be
sure he would; and without minutes
hesitation "
Jem (opsning his eyes in astonishment)
"Aud rammed the head down can
non
Our Uncle positively y)-"Of course.
What other use could he have put it to,
the obstinate, worthless neddle 2"
Both boys together" But, surely,
that would have been wrong and cruel p
Our Uacle with dogged frown)-
Nothing of the sort What was &
stupid Governors head-piece worth
compared with the salvation of greai
city, a great State, great country
Children, don't talk nonsense 2"
Jsm-" We're as mum as mice, Uncle
now won't you go on to the other battle
the last great fight, | mean p
Our Uncle" Pshaw, ysu are getting
sleepy"
Boys (reproachfuIly)-" How can you
say so p
Our Uncle" Why, then, we'1 II take a
glass of wine round, to keep US q going.
He spoke as if half reluctant to pro-
ceed, but we both knew that nothing de-
| lighted him 30 much as to talk of this
battle, and every time be contrived some
how to relate what we had not heard
before, and thus to keep up our interest.
Our Uncle--"The 9Th of January,
1915, fell upon Sunday. Our camp re-
msined quiet all night, kut the British
soldiers had been bawling and singing
at the top of their voices. We could hear
them diatinctly. A thick, cold mist rolled
from the river across the plain, and partly
concealed it. Suddenly a great rocket
darted up above their lines, played back
ward aud forward in the air, and then
dropped into the Mississippi. Dead
silence followed. 1t was now barely day
light. Peering through the gloom, we
could just catch the CLINT of the redcoats
advancing in two vast columns. That
upon the left came most rapidly on; two
or three thousand men, veterans too
They massei upon three of our batteries,
behind which stood, cool and determined,
Gen. Carroll's Tennessee RihemeH, sup
ported oy regiment OF hentuekians,
under Gen. Adair.
"0ur guns opened on the advance, cut
ting long, fearful, bloody lanes through
its very heart. ] want fer off myself,
having been sent with an order to Adair.
At every discharge of our cannon could
see shattered arms, legs, and entire
bodies sometimes, hurled shockingly into
the air But the regiment reformed and
came steadily onward. At last they we're
within two hundred yards of us, within
range of four lines of sharp-shooters,
every mothers son of whom could hit q
bulls eye at that distance.
"'Now, men, shouted Carroll, Fire I
Directly our mud embankments
looked like volcano in full eruption.
Twelve-pounders, six-pounders, rifles,
muskets, beloved and crashed together.
"Still the enemy staggered forward,
although one-half their number had been
killed, and all their commanding officers
excepting General Gibbes) were dis
sbled Soon, however, they began to
reel and stagger like drunksrds.
"' Where, we heard some frantically
exclaim, where are the fascine and
scaling lsddersf we have no means of
crossing the ditehl' Another terrible
volley from our position, at only hun
dred yards now, and the column shivered
-halted-broke Their general shouted
and swore BE rode like a madman
along the disordered ranks. Bat none
of woman born could have reformed un-
der such Ere. 1t was simply impossi-
BILE. So the confusion gave place to
rout. They hastily retreated. Some in
experienced fellows amoag us set up a
mighty shout, declaring that the day was
won
"S,Op that noise. you fools2' cried
Carroll; wait till you're out Of the wood 7 |
" He had scarcely spoken vhen-their
lately broken lines, splendidly dressed
again, as If for parade, and with a pow
erful reinforcement of Scotch Highland |
ers-the enemy advanced more quickly |
aud resolutely than before. Two gene
rails, mAgnihcently uniformed, Zone, We |
aftsrward learned. was Gen. Gibbes, the |
other Major General Packenhsm, CON
naadeF-in-chief Of all the British forces, /
ed the assault The tall Highlanders, |