Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-06-02


The sharp-shooter with the Bohemian
was Lieutenant, and an old hunter from
Michigan. Directly opposite was poin
from which there were flashes whose fire.
quency indicated its occupancy by some
industrious rebel. The latter was alert.
The holding of cap up the side of hill
would draw his fire in a second, and it was
always given with marvellous accuracy.
Him our sharp-shooter went for. Getting
his heavy telescope rifle in position, he
would touch the trigger the moment the
puff ofsmoke would issue from the hole
of his antagonists. BY and by the thing
was suddenly reciprocated The Lieuten-
ant fired at the flash, and almost simulta-
neously a bullet cut the bark above his
head.
"There are two of them. - he remarked
land they have got spot on me-
And now, every time the Lieutenant
pulled the trigger he got bullet in re-
turn. The shots were a tri1e high at first,
but they commenced dropping little
closer each time, until they finally tore
through The top OF his cap. Look here"
said he, ''this won't do. The next bullet
that fellow sends is going through my
head. What is that?" he suddenly ejac-
ulated, as his eye caught something over
among the riie-pits.
The Bohemian peeped cautiously out.
Exactly on that portion of the rifie-pit op-
posite, from whence had come the shooting
referred to, there stood man in home
spun, waving white handkerchief The
firing on both sides suddenly ceased
''See here,n he called across the ravine
you cowardly Yankee, son of - behind
that tree, come out from there, will you ?"
The Lieutenant rose and, rifle in hand,
stepped squarely out from behind the tree.
"What do you want?
"I,want a fair shot at you, you coward
ly son, etc.
I'm your man" the Lieutenant banded
back.
care you loaded P" he asked.
mo; are your
mo"
The man in homespun'reached for a
cartridge. The Lieutenant loaded from a
flask. Both men stood out fairly, the one
npon the crest OF the rife-pit, and the 9TH
er upon the crest Of the brow of the ravine.
Both drove the lead home, capped their
pieces and fired at so nearly the same Sec
ond that the whistle of the rebels bullet
and the report of the Lieutenant's rifle
were heard by the Bohemian, as it were,
at once.
Both men gazed eagerly, to see the eff
feet of the shots, and then both fell to re-
loading. In less time than it takes to tell
it, both had loaded and fired again and
again without effect.
A third and fourth exchange followed,
and each time so well timed that they APP
peared to be single shot. The face of
the Lieutenant was deadly pale. but his
nerves seemed firm as iron. After the
fourth shot, he said:
I'VE are firing too fast I'll fix him
next time"
The pieces were brought to, the shout
der the fifth time, but only the rebels gun
exploded. The bullet whistled close to,
but harmlessly by, the head of the other
The rebel looked over, to see the effect
of his shot, and saw his opponent standing
with his piece to his shoulder. He COM
pretended the situation instantly. Just
then the Lieutenants rifle was heard, and
the man in homespun went backward and
disappeared. Whether he was shot, or
threw himself backward, to avoid the shot,
never knew. It was only few hours
later, that the, mob of homespun fellows
came yelling over the same line of rifle
pits. They had their guns in their hands,
and were evidently coming our way, and, :
being convinced of this, the Bohemian
and Lieutenant fell back in good order, at
a2:40 gait, and never saw that portion of
the rebel rifle.-pits again. IL