National Republican., 1883-04-12

turned 10 me and said:
81 don't like this business at ALL Things
are too quiet in front to suit me. We are far
ther ahead now than our own limo Of battle,
and If we once cross this road don't think
many of us will get back"
There are your orders though"
| "Contound the orders You don't think
I'm afraid to go into their internal line, do
| youp
| "Oh, pshawi Itisn't a question Of courage.
You know that. SO far as that is concerned,
I'd rather be just now under my mothers
bed, chawing gum than to be squatting on
this road here expecting every moment TO
have three or four thousand Johnnies' on my
| back, screeching and clawing like hellions."
"Hark Did you hear thatp
The :, that" was a tremendous yell from the
left that rose shrill and clear above the deep
toned roar of musketry, and it was immedi-
ately answered by ringing cheer.
That's u reb charge. If they make ground
Wen have TO light out Of this lively"
As matter Of fact we were in q critical
position, and, though our action could have
but little effect on the result of the battle, we
were decidedly interested in the result TO us
as individuals. We listened intently for the
retrogression of the firing in either direction.
For few moments 1t receded toward our
rear, showing an advantage gained for the
confederates, but our line could not have
fallen back many yards when a defiant union
cheer rang through the woods and tho firing
moved back to its former position.
The bushes behind us rustled and snapped,
and long line of flushed, eager faces peered
| out into the road.
"By Georgcp exclaimed the captain as he
looked into the brave expectant faces; 1--WE
half mind to put the boys in and go for
that gun. What do you think of iii"
"What would you do with it provided you
got itP' inquired Lieut. X. at would take
till 3 o'clock next week to get IL through this
brush; and I'll bet a dollar and sixty-three
cents (this was the lieutenant's favorite
raise y that gun isn't there without good
support"
proud as G. Columbus when he first sighted
the lights on Guanahani; send squad down
this road, and Pm a goat If they go far with
out getting all the information they can lug
back herep'
"That's business" said Capt. D., take as
many men as you want and drive ahead"
had moved the appointment of the SMELL
ing committee, but had not expected to be
selected as chairman. My idea did not seem
quite as important rs it had when l brought
it forward, but as there was no such thing,
under the circumstances as a declination of
the homer, proceeded to carry out tho in
structions Picking out three men, of whose
quickness of eye and ear l had previous
knowledge, 1 headed the procession and
moved down the road
"When you get back" were the captains
last words we will be either here or in front
Of the road or behind it," aud with this ex-
ceedingly definite information we parted.
A few PAGES to the left the track curved
slightly to the rear. On both sides the eshrub-
berry rose dense as wall. Standing on tiptoe
and looking to the right the eye glanced
along uniform surface of green leaves that
quivered under the conclusion of the air pro-
duced by the terrific firing. On the left, at
intervals of a few PAGES each, the face of n
union soldier and the dark muzzle of his rifle
looked out to the 'front.' but these evidences
of the presence of friends served only to make
the solitude more oppressive. The soil of the
road was dark, heavy red, as if saturated
with veinous blood. The sunlight looked
in on this trench cut through the thick un-
dergrowth with an unnatural yellow glare,
and the shadows of the afternoon lay sullen
and portentious inside their clean cut borders.
Halo! where now, lieutenant?" called
out guarded voice as we passed along near
the left flank of our skirmish line. 1t was
the captain Of the other company on duty
with us.
Scouting for information. Have you
seen anything down here2"
"Only few wounded men of ours and one
reb with hole through his shoulder. They
say our line of battle ends about couple Of
hundred yards from here; right over there -
pointings to the left-"and the Johnnie's
line overlaps ours but you can't see any
thing. The brush is thicker than hair on
dogs backv y
"Where does this road go?"
at curves sharp to the front at that turn"
he replied, indicating with his finger the
point few yards ahead, where the track
seemed to run square against the bank of
browse. you'll find something around
there easy enoughw
"Shall send you back word when 1 find
themW
"oh no; we'll hear you when you get
there" was the significant response
At the turn we passed the last man, keep
ing guard with eye and gun on the narrow
passage.
"Now boys" said I, "you've got to look
sharp and act quick. You, Rowland, come
with me- [IIo was an old deer hunter from
the woods from the upper Delaware river,
and his eyesight was as keen as that of
hawk. Take that side of the road and I'll
take tis. The other two keep back five or six
PAGES, and all of you go as close to the bushes
rs you can. When you drop on anything get
good look ut it and dodge into the brush.
That's all. Now, come on"
L need not deny that the service was of such
a nature that l felt a little flutter of nervous
ness but the men with me l knew to be alb
solutey without fear, and to have betrayed
the least desire to shirk would have brought
upon me disgrace which no officer would
willingly court-the contempt of brave men
under his command. There was beside, an
excitement in the thing which kept the pulse
full and color in the cheek.
Stepping as cautiously on the red earth as if
we were treading on carpet Of the finest
lace, we moved forward. For distance Of
possibly seventy-flve yards the road ran
nearly straight, and in this space not a living
thing was in sight. Looking down that bare
stretch of highway was like standing on the
edge of time and gazing into eternity. The
actions of my companion so interested me
that after we had travelled few yards lost
almost all sense of the duty we were on in
watching him. With head well up, and his
gun resting in the hollow of his left arm, he
strobe on at an easy gait. i noticed that he
gave little attention to the road in front, but
his restless eye was continually rowing over
the expanse of foliage TO the right and left !
darting from one point to another with the |
rapidity of a flash of light. Moving along ap-
parently without the least tension of muscle |
every sense, knew, was on the alert. Not a |
movement of the tangled vegetation escaped |
him. Even the canopy of branches and leaves |
overhead came under his surveillance At |
intervals of about u rod he raised himself on |
his toes and swept glance around as If he |
would pierce even the secrets hidden by the |
interlaced brambles Then ON again, rs yigi- |
liant as the dragon that guarded the golden |
apples of the Hesperdes.
Before us the ground rose slightly and then
dropped, the track passing over the crest like |
a broad red ribbon and reappearing on the |
next swell just before passing out of sight at |
the turn.
lIa! They're comingp
could detect nothing in front, but knew |
from Rowland's movements that il was no |
false alarm. He had backed halfway into the |