Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-04-10
The general turned, stopped, and

h6ep your pretty 1lIlI0 LAG, anu
wave it when and where you like.
You don't know the difference, and [
wish / didn't know the difference.
Here, Zeb, take care of this kid. Boys,
we killed his father by chance yester-
day. Let's take care of it. We can't
do less. and maybe it will bring US
luck. What do you say, boysI'
The wild shout that shook the leaves
of the oak overhead startled the advo-
cate for discipline, and, turning to Zeb,
as he rode away into the night for an
other part Of his camp, he shouted:
"Silencel and Zeb, discipline discip-
line! Dash it, discipline or death, [
say!'' and he was gone.
They gathered about the wide-eyed,
rosy-faced orphan, with his little flag
and red apple, and many a black and
white and not over-clean hand reach
ed out to toy with and stroke the hair
of gold that hung heavy as corn silk
in summer time over the lads shout
ders.
81 found it in the fence corner"
said Zeb, "all shlverin', and its dad
dy and It's nanny dead, shot down
by stray bullets when we stCrmed the
place"
Yes. and dar war rabbit right
aside no him. said black face back
in the dark, over another mans
shoulder.
An golIy, we Ilotched and eat
der rabbit chuckled another black
man,
wall, we'll keep the kid; keep i'm
TILL the COWS come home. And with
a gruut of universal approval from
all as they gradually melted away,
old Zeb hoisted the little one high
upon his colossal shoulders and turn
ed suddenly to look and to listen, for
there was a shout down the hill and
sudden sharp volley Of shots above,
beyond the haystacks. It began 70
look as if this little squad Of raiders
had got into a bite Shouts of the
enemy down the hill; shots Of tbs
enemy up the hill beyond the hay
stacks. Which way should the sur
prised and panic-stricken soldiers
fly? The colossal old Virginia ser
geant, with the child on his massive
shoulders. was the only officer in
charg.y. The blacks were hiding
about behind trees, behind each
other, under saddles, blankets, any
where. The shouts from the advanc-
ing enemy came loud and clear from
below and very near. The campfire,
the song of the soldiers, had done the
mischief. The 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 a plight for a soldier! A bat
tie on hand and baby in his arms.
The old sergeant came near throwing
it away with the heap of negroes hid
ing under the saddles. Where was
StuarG2 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 next years acorn crop III
the trees overhead. He could hear
the clatter of iron h0ofs on the high
bridge to the west. The moon was
settling large and ronnd and low.
over the bare crest Of this hill and
against the moon he could see the
confederate cavalry pouring in i'm
petuous flight. Stuart, the cautious
and wary leader, had escaped.
Come, men! We must follow our
general on foot-any way to get out
of this. Come! By the haystacks and
over the ridgem
The strong man started up the
stony bill TO pass the haystacks. The
child, as if it was afraid it might fall,
wound its left arm affe ctionately
about the gray shock of hair And
that little act saved it; that accidental
show of affection won the old fell
lows heart entirely. Why, he would
not have pitched it aside with the ne
grOes for gold.
Up the hill he led swiftly, the men
following in groups, knots, singly,
unarmed, limplng, leaning, erect, in
all manners of ways, only so as to es-
cape the ferocious federals charging
u } the hill from below. They would
see the points of the bayonets enter
ing their camp, by the light of the
burning fence rails. as they fed out
of it, and the blac color had fled
from all the flying confederates as
they neared the haystacks.
Here the gray-headed old sergeant,
with the child on his shoulder, paused
moment right under the hay stacks
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 aud de
moralized confederates huddled close
and helpless up and after the grizzled
old giant, who stood there looking
out which way to lead them, with the
child on his shoulder, It's arm hugging
the great shaggy head, and waving
the flag.
The tall gray soldier threw up his
hand TO his brow and looked out I'M
derhls broad palm TO try and see
which way to lead.
Suddenly the haystacks blazed out
before him, and the whole scene was
bright as day. The federals had been
waiting for the confederates to come
and now, as they stood there, huddled
together and helpless as sheep, they
fired the haystaC Ks in their path of