The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-10-18


Wlde-eyed, rosy-faced orphan with its
little flag and red apple, and many
black and white and not over-clean
hand reached out to toy with and stroke
the hair of gold that hung heavy as
corn silk IN summer time over the lads
shoulders.
L found it in the fence corner" said
Aeb, AL shiverin', and its daddy and
ITS nanny dead, shot down by stray
bullets when We stormed the place"
Yes, and dey war a rabbit right aside
nb HIM, said black face back in the
dark, over another mans shoulder.
An golly, we kotched and eat der
rabbit, chucbled another black man.
Wal, We'll keep the kid; keep i'm
TILL the COWS come home" And with a
grunt of universal approval from all as
they gradually melted away, old Zeb
holsted the little one high up on his
colossal shoulders, and turned suddenly
to look and listen, for there was shout
down the hill and sudden sharp volley
OF shots above, beyond the hay stacks.
Which way should the surprised and
panlc-stricken soldiers fly? The colos-
sal old Virginia sergeant, with the child
on his massive shoulders, was the only
officer in charge. The blacks were
hiding about behind trees, behind each
other under saddnles, blakets, anywhere.
The shouts OF the advancing enemy
came loud and clear from below and
very near. The campfire, the song of
the soldiers, had done the mischief
This little squad of ragged, panic
stricken night raiders was doomed
The leaves began to fall like autumn
time over old Zeb, the tall and angular
old sergeant
What plight for soldier A battle
on hand and a babe in his arms. The
old sergeant came near throwing it
away with the heap of negroes, hiding
away under the saddles. Where was
Stuart? The sergeant put his hand to
his ear and leaned to listen as best he
could between the sharp volleys from
below, that were running the prospects
OF the next years acorn crop In the trees
overhead. He could hear the CHATTER of
lroI, hoofs on the high ridge to the
west. The moon was setting large and
round and low. Over the bare crest of
this hill and against the moon he could
see the confederate cavalry pouring
III lmpetuOus flight. Stuart, the eau
tlous and wary lrader, had escaped.
Come men! We must follow our
general on foot-any way to get ont of
this. Comel Up by the hay stacks
and over the ridge"
The strong man started up the stony
hill to pass the hay stacks. The child.
as it was afraid it might fall, wound it's
left arm affectionately about the great
gray shock OF hair. And that little act
saved it; that accidental show of affec-
ton won the old fellows heart entirely.
Why, he would not have pitched it
aside with the terrified negroes for gold.
Up the hill he led swiftly, the men fol-
lowing IN groups, knots, singly, armed,
unarmed, Gmping, leaning, erect in all
manners OF ways, only so as to escape
the ferocious Federals, charging up the
hill from below. They could see the
points of shining bayonets entering
their emp, by the light of the burning
fence rails, as they fed out of it, and
the black color had nearly all faded
from the flying Confederates as they
neared the haystacks.
Here the gray-headed old sergeant,
with the child on his shoulder, paused
for a moment right under the hay stack
to get his bearings. The moon had
fallen down behind the crest of the hill
1t was nearly dark now. The Federal
bayonets were only few steps in the
rear. The ragged and demoralized
Confederates huddled close and help
less up and after the tall and grizzled
old giant, who stood there looking out
which way to lead them, with the child
on his shoulder, its little left arm hug
glng the great shaggy gray head, its
right one holding the flag.
The tall, gray soldier threw up bis
great, heavy hand to his brow and looked
out under his broad palm to try and see
which way to lead. Suddenly the hay
stacks blazed out before him, and the
whole scene was bright as day. The
Federals had been waiting for the Con-
federates to come. And now as thev
stood there, huddled together and help
less as sheep, they found the hay stacks
in their path of retreat, and stood there
behind them, before them, around them,
to shoot them down in the light they
had kindled.
1t was matchless and magnificent
sight No scene SO bright, no sunlight
brighter! It pleased the child, excited
and delighted it. What could it care
for the long line of cleaning guns lev
eled few rods away in the rear?
What did it know of the death hiding
down in every cleaning gunbarrel of
that compact mass of uniformed men
just before? Nothing at all. It's little
heart leapt with wonder and delight at
the beautiful uniforms, the discipline,
the quick action in which every gun was
brought instantly to the shoulder The
bayonets were beautiful-the cleaning
bayonets all in the bright light.
The child seemed to think this a part
of the celebration, and in the fullness
of its delight, Just as the Federal Off
Ger drew his sword, and was giving the
general word FIRE." the child, holding
tight on to the great grizzled head with
It's left hand, and, as if to contribute its
part to the celebration, waved its little
flag there IN the glare and light. And
IN that awful stiffness which always
comes before any dreadful catastrophe
plped out in its shrill little voice, as it
raised itself higher for the occasion:
"Foff of July"
Put IL upon record in gold and red
that the Federal officer lowered the
point of his sword. The heavy breeches
of the guns struck the stony ground
with thud. The line of blue divided,
and the old gray Confederate, with his
little charge on his shoulder still way
ing the little flag, passed on through
the line, while cheer after cheer shook
the bul!et-rlddled leaves overhead.
And this is the story of the old Con
federate soldier of the Shenandoah,
who had missed the train on the line of
Progress, down in old Virginia.