Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-10-15

its nanny dead, shot down by stray
bullets when we stormed the place."
Eyes, and dey war rabbit right aside
ub him, " said black face back in the
dark, over another mans shoulder,
An golly, we kotched and eat der
rabbit" chuckled another black man.
"Wal, we'll keep the kid; keep i'm
till the COWS come home" And with q
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
panic.stricken soldiers Ay2 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 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 clatter of
troll 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
in impetuous fight. Stuart, the eau
tious and wary leader, had escaped.
Come menl We must follow our
general on foot-any way to get ont of
this. Come! 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, imping, 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 headed old sergeant,
with the child on his shoulder, paused
for 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 HELM.
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, it's little left arm hug
ging the great shaggy gray head, its
right one holding the flag.
| The tall, gray soldier threw up hi
great, heavy hand to his brow and looked
out under his broad palm to try and SET
which way to lead. Suddenly the ha,
stacks blazed out before him, and tn,
whole scene was bright as day. Th'
FedeHals had been waiting for the Con
federates to come. And now as the,
stood there, huddled together and help
less as sheep, they found the hay stack
in their path of retreat, and stood ther,
behind them, before them, around then,
to shoot them down in the light the,
had kindled.
1t was matchless and magnifcen
sight! No scene so bright, no sunleh
brighter! 1t pleased the child, excite
and delighted it. What could it car
for the long line of cleaning guns lev
eled a few rods away in the rear
What did it know of the death hidin
down in every cleaning guh-barrel Q
that compact mass of Uniformed me,
just before? Nothing at all. Its it'll
heart leapt with wonder and delight a
the beautiful uniforms, the discipline
the quick action in which every gun wa
brought Instantly to the shoulder. Tn
bayOnets we're beautiful gleamin
bayonets all in the bright light.
The child seemed to think this pal
OF the celebration, and in the fullnes
of it's delight, Just as the Federal off
Ger drew his sword, and was giving tn
general word ''Firer" the Child, holdin
tight on to the great grizzled head wit
its left hand, and, as if to contribute it
part to the celebration, waved it's littl
flag there IN the glare and light. An
in that awful stiffness which Away
comes before any dreadful catastrophe
piped out in it's shrill little voice, as
raised itself higher for the occasion:
"Fof of july"
Put it upon record in gold and re,
that the Federal officer lowered tn,
point of his sword. The heavy breeche
of the guns struck the stony groun,
with thud. The line of blue divided
and the old gray Confederate, with hi
! little charge on his shoulder still wav
ing the little flag, passed on through
the line. while cheer after cheer shoe
the bullet-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 q
Progress, down in old Virginia.