The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-08-22

samuel Baggett! The young man
l mesn," said the captain. "You ar
liable to soldiers duty; therefore 20,
are conscripted; get your horse read,
and follow u.s. r.
The Baggetts all shuddled togetbe
bewildered, men, women and chill
dren; a thunderbolt had fallen i,
their midst. Sam. Baggett and hi
wife, with locked hands, were rivet
ed to the ground, their two children
behind the mother holding to hel
skirts. The aged father and mother
of Sam had stepped between him anc
the soldiers.
The father walked up and placing
his hand on the captains knee, sale
imploringly: Look here, captain
You must let Sam of. Both me auG
the old woman are old and am no,
as piert as l used to be. Sam is oul
mainstay. Besides the boy ain,
much smart no how and he ain,
been overly long married. Now
captain, do the nice thing by US and
let him off,"
"My good man." answered The
captain, Il have nothing to DO with
it, it is the government which orders
me TO recruit the men 1T for duty;
you must apply to the General in
command"
In vain did the aged mother and
the wife cling to Sam-go he must;
the commanding officer hurrying and
pushing until he got Sam mounted
The captain made the parting short,
for be had been in the business for
some time and he was opposed to
scenes which, more or less, enlisted
the feelings Of his men. s E
AS the company wound up the
steep road, the clarion notes of the
bugle echoed aud re-echoed over
those hills, while the deep recesses
Of tue lake catching the sounds from
on high, answered 10 low, dying
notes.
Sam Baggett was in front Of the
company, consequently he could no,
take last lingering look at his
home; but, just then, the deep, trem
bling wiudiugs Of horn wero borue
TO the going soldiers, rising from the
lake below 10 long. plaintive notes.
As the echo answered and re answer
ed the mellow tones, Sam Baggett
broke into loud sobs.
CHAPTER II.
One hundred thousand from the
NOrth--one hundred thousand from
the South--snd the towering ALE
ghaniss to view the contest.
It was the eve of great battle and
darkness overspread mountain and
valley. Far 1T towards the east the
bivouac 6res of tho men in blue glim
mered on the surrounding heights,
while in the darkness below lay the
men in gray.
No starry heavens shonesover the
LAUNDERING hosts, but lowering Ma
ture was gathering its storm laden
clouds amidst flashes Of lightning
and the rumbling of thunder. In
the rear of the men in gray, group
Of officers stood around camp fire
hidden behind the corner of . bill
and kept low by the drizzling rain,
they appeared to be in very ANNA.
ted conversation; another officer join.
ed the group, appearing to have been
sent for.
"Ah, General! am glad you have
come" said the General conn andinq
who occupied the centre Of the
group.
II have been unable" be continu.
ed, go locate the exact force and
position of the different corps of the
Yankees one thing is certain, their
right is the most important position
Of the field and must be taken. Az
you Command my left, to you and
the 4;h belong the honor OF
taking it. Before day you will grad
ually move your men closer to the
enemy. 80 as 10 be close at hand to
make a sudden attack on their out
posts. Batteries C and D of the 9Th
are already stationed to GOV
er your advance"
When the General commanding the
4th reached bis command he
found several Of his officers around a
few smoaldering fires, kept low so as
not to attract the attention Of the en-
envy. In a few words be explained
the orders be had received, and what
lie expected Of his men.
"Auy of you, gentlemen" be ask
ed, "know Of q man who would un
dertake to reconuoitre through the
darkness the exact position of the