The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-05-26
is road where the woods extend to
within fifty feet ofthe route"

"No, another; there's plain be.
tween the two, hnt the second woods
will hide US whe2 We 60 out of the
first"
dead us to the road; but take care
that we are not discovered; for-you
know the penalty"
We retraced our steps; for I want
ed to take all precautions possible to
prevent our being seen, convinced
that the captain would keep his
word. AT the end of quarter of an
hour we arrived at the spot; there
was about three miles from one wood
to the other. All was quiet around
us. We entered the wide space, and
so far so well; but when within TWEEN
ty feet of the other wood, we were
met by terrible fire of musketry.
ooh, but hold" said / to the cap
tain. 1T appears as if the Russians
have had the very same idea as we."
had no time to say more; i,
seemed TO me as if the mountains
had descended on my head. 1t was
the butt of the captains rifle. ]
saw some fire and blood, reeled and
fell.
When l came to myself again ii
was night; | did not know where
was; | was ignorant of what had
happened; l remembered nothing
else, only that my head was fright
fully heavy. Iput my hand there; !
felt my bloody locks clipging to my
forehead; l saw my shirt full Of
blood; around me lay dead bodies,
then / recollected all.
/ wanted to rise, but it seemed as
if the earth trembled, and / was oh
iged TO rest, at first, until strength
had returned little. I remembered
that there was a spring running g
few yards from where I lay. drag
ged myself thither on my knees
bathed my wounds, and drank few
mouthfuls. 1t did me good. Then
thought of my poor wife, and the
anxiety she must he suffering. This
gave me courage. / looked about
and in short time was on the way
1t appears that the body l hac
guided had fought and retreated by
the same road | had taken. Al
along the route | saw corpses, bu
soon | didn't see any, where, i
seems, Tie enemy ceased to pursue
l kept on about a quarter IF az
hour, when l saw the house; between
it and The woods there was an npel
space where we used to pasture GU
flock, and at about two-thlrds of til,
distance across, / perceived by tn
light of the moon something like
PROSTATE man. / marched towart
it. Having gone few steps Their
was no doubt. saw by the sainin!
, of his epaulets that it was soldier
! l looked at him. 1t was my captain
/ then called aloud, as | was in til
+, habit of doing when / returned, t
, announce my coming. My wife re
cognized my voice and ran out.
= ran toward her, and she fell almos
f dead into my arms.
She had passed frightful day
t they had fought all day about th
r house. She had heard the whole da
the fire Of musketry, the cannon
e which roared in the valley. inter
j. rupted her, pointing to the body Q
e the captain.
y els he dead?" cried she.
"Dead or not" replied I, che mus
|. be carried into the house. If be i
yet living, we must try our best t
e save him; if dead, we must retur
}. his papers to his regiment, as the
are no doubt valuable. Go and pre-
S pare litter"
S Rose ran to the house. I took th
e captain in my arms, and carried bill
j. little way; but l was not stron
Il enough yet. Nevertheless | sui
d ceeded. Wessundressed the captain
d there were three wounds by bay'
o nets in his breast, but he was nj
o dead.
Well, now, | became embarrasse'
J. for | was not a doctor; but though
l. that wine, which did good in the il
side, could not hurt on the outsid
I got bottle of the best in plate
| made some bandages, and ! al
u piled them on his wounds. In tt