The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-04-19

the character Of the surrounding country
and the disposition of Marshall's forces;
and now again John Jordan comes into
action.
A dozen Rebels are grinding at mill,
and dozen honest men come upon
them, steal their corn, and make them
prisoners. The miller Is tall, gaunt
man, and his clothes fit the scout as II
they were made for him. He is dis
unionist, too, and his very raiment
should bear witness against this feeding
of his enemies. 1t does. 1t goes back
to the Rebel camp, and-the scout goes
In 1t. That chameleon face of his Is
smeared with meal, and looks the miller
so we'll that the miller's own wife might
not detect the difference. The night is
dark and rainy and that lessons the
danger; but still he is picking his teeth
In the very jaws of the lion ,-if he can
be called lion, who does nothing but
roar like unto Marshall
Space will not permit me to detail this
midnight ramble; but it gave Garfield
the exact position of the enemy. They
had made stand, and laid an ambus-
cade for him. Strongly posted on a
semi circular hill, at the forks of Middle
Creek, on both sides of the road, with
cannon commanding its whole length
and hidden by the trees, they were
waiting his coming.
The Union commander broke up his
bivouac at 4 in the morning, and began
to move forward. Reaching the valley
of Middle Creek, he encountered some
of the enemy's mounted men, and cap
tured u quantity of stores they were
trying to withdraw from Prestonburg.
Sklrmishing went on until about noon,
when the Rebel piekets were driven
back upon their main body, and then
began the battle. 1t is not my purpose
to describe it; for that has already been
ably done, in thirty lines, by the man
who won it.
1t was q wonderful battle. In the
history of this war there is not another
like it. Measured by the forces engaged,
the valor displayed and the results
which followed it throws into the shade
even the achievements of the mighty
hosts which saved the nation. Eleven
hundred men, without cannon, charge
up a rocky hill, over stumps, over
stones, over fallen trees, over high in
trenchments, right into the face of 900
men and twelve pieces of artillery
For five hours the contest RACES. Now
the Union forces are driven back then
charging up the hills, they regain the
lost ground, and from behind rocks and
trees pour In their murderous volleys.
Then again they are driven back, and
again they charge up the hill, strewing
the ground with corpses. So the bloody
work goes on so the battle wavers till
the setting sun, wheeling below the
hills, glances along the dense line of
rebel steel moving down to envelope the
weary 100. 1t is an awful moment,
big with the fate of Kentucky. AT its
very crisis two figures stand out against
the fading sky boldly defining the fore
ground One is in Union blue. With
a little band of heroes about him, he is
posted on projected rock, which is
SCARED with bullets, and in full view of
both armies. His head is uncovered,
his hair streaming in the wind, his face
upturned in the darkening daylight, and
from his soul is going up a prayer,-a
prayer for Sheldon and Cranor. He
turns his eyes to the northward, and his
lip tightens, as he throws off his coat,
and says to his hundred men: Boys,
we must go at them! !"
The other is in rebel gray. Moving
out to the brow of the opposite hill, and
| placing glass to his eye, he takes a
long look to the northward. He starts,
for he sees something which the other,
on lower ground, does not distinguish.
Soon he wheels horse, and the word
Retreat" echoes along the valley be-
tween them. 1t is his last word for Elk
rifles crack, and the rebel major lies on
the ground qnivering.
The one in blue looks to the north
again, and now, floating proudly among
the trees, he sees the starry banner. 1t
is Sheldon and Cranor! The long ride
of the scout is at last doing its work for
the nation. On they come like the
rushing wind, filling the air with their
shouting. The rescued eleven hundred
take up the strain, and then, above the
swift pursuit, above the lessening con-
flict, above the last boom of the wheel
ing cannon, goes up the wild huzza OF
victory. The gallant Garfield has won