Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-04-03

u
ished arms glittering in the bright sun
shine and making an imposing show.
But thinking ouly of their dastardly
! and wanton acts, and that they were
only vulnerable men like themselves,
the excited crowd speedily revolved to
follow and harrasS them.
LET us have revenge - cried one {:
"reveuge for our comrades, shot down
in cold blood !"
"Aye, let us follow aud shoot them
down in the same way - exclaimed
another.
"Who is to lead us ?' asked a third.
eve want no leader ~ shouted a
fourth. "Let every mal do his duty
by himself, and shoot the scoundrels
wherever he can reach them"
With this the people set up 4 wild
shout of approval aud Immediately
the crowd began to scatter, most of
them taking direction of the retFeating
army, following with the majority.
On coming up within bullet range of
the rear gaurd, we opened upon them Il
general fire, and saw some five or six of
them drop from the ranks.
They Immediately replied with vol
ley, hitting four Of our party and kill
ing two, one of whom fell dead beside
me.
Upon this we Immediately scattered,
leaping the fences and taking to the
fields, each man acting tor himself.
Loading my gun, | ran forward
and, getting under cover of some
bushes, | selected my man, and fired a.
gain-the others generally acting in the
same manner.
Thus, without concert, and without
any regular leader, we began mode of
warfare best suited to our circ umstan-
ceS and condition and which, during
that long, hot day-and il was uncOm-
monty hot for the season-cost many
soldier, the very flower of the British
army, his life.
l shall make no attempt to give you
a detailed account of that days fight
in fact, do not think / could If
would ; for [ am getting Well advanced
in years now, and my memory is be-
ginning to fail me. Indeed, SO far as |
was concerned, it would only be Il rep
etition of loading, getting new posi-.
tion, firing, and keeping out OF the way
of tt e fianking parties-.which did all
in their power to protect the main
body-running down, shooting, and
bayonetting the provincials wherever
they could. Our men completely lined
the way Of the retreating army-fred
from every bush, house, fence, or covert,
and even the open fields and some
tines main tanned a running fight,
where the harrassed enemy had a good
opportunity for pursuit.
From being in the rear, l gradually
made my way beyond the head Of the
advanced column and having secret
ed myself behind a large Ioci, | was
waiting for them to come up to a Ger
tain aim, when suddenly two soldiers,
who had been thrown forward as scouts,
approached me unperceiYed. The first
intimat ION | had of their presence was
by two shots, fired at a distance OF less
than twenty yardS--one bali passing
through my hat, and the other through
the heshy part Of my left arm, the scar
of which still retain.
By the time / had got upon my feet,
they were in the act of rushing upon
me with their bayonets, one couple of
feet or so in advance of the other.
There was no time to be lost and tax.
ing rapid sight at the foremost, | pull
ed the trigger but, from some cause,
my gun for the first time that day miss
ed fire.
| was now so situated, with the rock
behind me, it that was impossible for me
to escape and as my foes came bound
ing forward, with loud yell5 and bitter
curses, thought my last hour had
come.
As quick as lightning l cooked my
gun again and again pulled the trigger,
with the muzze almost touching The
breast OF the nearest.
This time, thank Heaven ! the piece
did its duty, and lodged the contents
in the very heart Of my foe, who fell
back dead, without even a groan.
The next moment the bayonet of his
companion passed through my side,
with so much force as to drive me back
against the rock, inflicting a severe and
dangerous wound, and holding me
completely in his power.
For a few moments I struggled to
extricate myself, but rapidly grew weak
and faint when, finding me sinking
to the earth, the soldier withdrew his
weapon and made another quick
thrust.
Tn his haste he missed me nearly al