Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-25

breastwork, and although the latter was no
more than four feet higher than the bot
tom,' yet, as 1t curved around on either side
until 1t met the river, a better position
could hardly be conceived of. Wood and
water on the spot, the river for our rear de-
fenss, and the prairie wall for our front, n
wonder that We gave a cheer when We
found ii, and no wonder, either that we de-
terminsd not to return to the main body,
but to send back two messengers, and fol
ourselves, to camp for the night and await
Burlison's arrival
"An notion of fighting passed away, and
We foolishly imagined that our present. sit
uation was unknown to the enemy. We
were about as wise as the silly bird that
hides her head in the bush, and thinks her.
self perfectly safe until fire in tie rear con-
vinces her too late Of her error. We had not
been In our new camp moro than an hour
before Mexican women began to come in
with 'polonces' and 'tortillas' for sale We
bought of their wares, and they imme
diately after leaving camp, went up Il
Bexar and reported our exact number
found afterwards that they had stated ouI
fource at ninety-two, which it was at the
time, although two men were subsequently,
sent back to Burlisou.
Might drew on We made our fires,
cooked our suppers eat, drank, smoked, ami
were merry. guard was SGT, and one BY
one the rest departed for ths land Of Nod.
Although camped on a bottom / slept like
a top. Towards morning my neighbor-I
almost said bed-fellow, for our blankets
touched-srasped my leg gently, and woke
mo up.
"'Histp he said in q low voice.
@'What is itr inquired 1, in half asleep
and thoroughly cross tone.
@'Hush, for your lifer he replied in .
whisper; listen, do you hear AnythingF
Like Bottoms was all ears in a mo-
ment. Above the noise made by the rush.
ing waters at our feet, 1 heard a mournful
and dismal sound, as like the low moan Of a
dog as anything that 1 could compare it to.
~'Pshawp said I, it's nothing but a wolf
or a hounl.'
".Yes,' replied my companion, who was no
other than the noted Col Bowie Yes, you
are right; there are wolves about, but they
sound you hear Is the creak of artillery
wheels
"'Let us alarm our men instantly said L
"'No such thing he answered: keep still;
those rascals are upon the opposite side OF
the river and they expect to surprise US
Let them think so, If possible. until they
make the attack. That wheel has saved US
You do not hear 1t again. and you will not,
for il they havs no means Of quieting II,
thay'l send bae for grease I'll bet now
that those whelts are bound round with
straw or rags, AID that the horses feet are
covered with cloth or buckskin, to prevent
any sound from reaching US Unless some
thing goes wrong with them when they ford
the stream, you will hear nothing further
until the artillery speaks
at was . fortunate thing for US that they
were obliged to cross not more than 200
yards below the camp, for had they come
down on the prairies side, we would prob
ably not have heard them, - We would have
been to the windward.
Bowie went cautiously about the camp,
and arousing few old scouts to help him.
soon had every man in camp awake and pre-
pared, without the least noise being made in
the premature revsille.
ave spread ourselves entirely around our
small piece Of bottom land, facing the
prairie, knowing that thence must come the
attack Presently We heard the enemy cross
the river. Had our senses not been sharp
ened to the utmost by q knowledge Of the
impending and imminent danger, We prob
ably could not have distinguished the slight
! noise attending their crossing, from the
rushing sweep Of the river; but so pro.
ternaturally acute did our hearing become,
that the low med words of cc;nmand could
be distinctly separated from the other
surrounding Sounds There was just aiI
enough to convey the slightest noss to u.
without ther being sufficient to disturb even
leaf
@At last they were all over, and then
slowly and carefully did they march round
to take post on our front, preparatory b
their attended attack We could hear them
range themselves, but thick mist was rising
from the river, and everything was by this
time concealed from our eyes. We could
even hear them unlimber the cannon, and
were very sure that they were in reach OF
our rifles What weary moments were thoss
as We lay, silent as the grave, expecting
, every instant to hear the roar, AMI feel the
hurtling storm Of their artillery. But ths
fog had Disconnected them, and althou b
was but little past 8 when We were frs
alarmed, the ruddy tint impaired to the
dense mass Of vapor, now told Us plainly
that the sun was rising
Never can forget that weary watching
but its prolonged anxiety was as nth ng Il
the dreadful feeling Of suspense We peri
enced when the fog commenced lifting, and
we could see the feet Of the horses and the
lower part of the wheels Of the artillery. A
this moment word was whispered cautiously
through the ranks for each man to pick ou
his mark, and to fro from a rest, at the wort
Of command Higher and higher the fog
drew up 1t was evident that the decisive
moment was at hand. Officers passed in
front of the line Of horse, issuing orders.
"'Take tree whispered Bowie to me
take tree, the nearest one TO our breast
work that you can
"A cool breeze fans our fevered cheeks
| dense mass Of vapor rolls up as a curtain
there stands the horse fully revealed, ther,
are the cannon, there the gunners whirlins
their matches there the trumpeter with hi
instrument already at his lips to sound tn,
| charge AL this we saw. but only saw it
| for at this very instant the matches were ex
tended towards tho cannon, the horsemer
| drove their long rowsls deep into the horses
| sides, but ere the iron storm burst forth, ert
the horses had made the first leap, or tn,
/ trumpeter blown his first note, a stentoriar
voice from our ranks shouted 'Firer
"Down went horss and rider, down gun
| shot met careeriny in mid-air. The confu
| sion in their ranks was indescribable
Checked in full career, the horses wheele,
| and ran; every man at the CUR was shot
down, and for . moment we thought thai
the contest was over. But no; th,y knew
| our numerical weakness too well, and hav.
| ing again formed, hero they came dashing
! up in splendid style The strife was now tC
| obtain tho mastery of the artillery. W,
darei not take them, and determined tha,
| they should not
| "'Fire it to them in the face and eyes
boys shouted Bowie never mind theil
| backs
"Up they came, and just as the leading
| squadron reached the guns, down went
| every man Of the front rank, and away
| went the rest.
Another charge, and the same result
then came bold attempt to withdraw tn
cannon without our line Of fire, and her
more courage was exhibited than l hav
| ever seen in Mexicans since. They sur
rounded the guns, dismounted some men
and absolutely gave us a harmless salute
| but again every artillery-man bit the dust
"The enemy. forced to abandon their field
| pieces, once more retreated, and their Off
GERS svi IDENTIFY held a long and warm con
sultation i'll full sight, but out of our line o
fire. Some Of our men wished to make q
| r,lsh for the cannon hut In have haer