The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-26

here for 60 minutes"
81 can take care of myself pretty well, as far
as that's concerned, Capt Perkins" replied
Graves-as indeed, he could. 80 if you like
this place. it's all the same to me-"
"Mr Norton, scatter some pickets about here
and let the men dsmount; but hold on, hold
on; look over TO our right, just this side
the woods, Isn't that q line OF menf lt is, by
all that's goodl There, now Ghey turn by the
right flank and move along the edge OF the
timber and cut towards the road Norton, let
the men get into line with carbines ready. by
George! they act as If they meant 10 charge Us.
There come another squad OF them, and more
vet. l think, Capt Stanley, you had better
put your guns ia position.
This was instantly done, one gun being I'M
Numbered in the road and the other in the field
on the right of the way.
But the force in front of them did not appear
anxious TO come TO close quarters. They moved
in plain sight from the position where they
had first been seen into the road, and then, be-
fore Stanley could withdraw the canister with
which he had loaded and substitute longer
range proectile they had disappeared from
sight ia the distance.
Chow many of them were there, Capt. Per-
kins?u said Graves.
About 600"
"Yes should say about 300"
ave must have come upon them before they
expected u.s." said Perkins. I'VE have come
at good gait for the past hour. l wont halt
here now but keep on after them. Forward!
Another mile brought them to plantation
on the right of the road The buildings had
been abandoned by their owner, though the
furniture of the house still remained and some
farming tools and one or two very dllapidated
plantation wagons yet encountered the adJoIn-
ing sheds Here the bayou again ran close to
their line of march, running Immediately at
the rear of the cluster of buildings But the
Estrella was nowhere TO be seen.
Il doubt if there is sufficient water for her
to come anywhere near here" said Graves.
al shsuld think not. Why, can almost leap
my horse over 1t" said Stanley, rldlng down
to the edge of the water.
"There goes her whistle now" said Perkins;
and they all heard succession OF short. sharp
shrieks of the steam whistle from a direction
down the bayou, and at an apparent distance OF
a mile Cook wants to speak to us. And
there 60 her guns" he continued, as the boom
ing of heavy artillery came on their ears
"Yes; those are big guns" said Stanley.
"And musketry, by Heavens!" said Graves.
The sound of every variety of firearms now
came in a confused rattle from the direction OF
the steamer and the three officers looked at each
other for an instant without speaking. They had
evidently left force of the enemy IN their rear,
and as the party of COnfederates they were i0l-
lowing were more than their own force, they
military error In short, they were likely to
be surrounded. No one was in the least sur
prised when their picket, a hundred yards mp
the road came galloping in with the report
that "the rebels are moving down on US,
stretched from the bayou to the swamp"
81 don't want to fall back without hack at
those fellows" said Perkins, as brave man as
ever drew a sword land if / did, those fell
lows in our rear will have something to say.
4 pr0n0Se make a stand right here"
There was hut little time to consult, but both
Stanley and Graves agreed that their present
position was as strong as any they were likely
to get into Perkins ordered his men to dis
mount, giving their horses into charge OF
few of their number, and to line the fences and
outbuildinss, which afforded excellent shelter
to man and beast. The two guns were placed
in battery at favorable positions, and had fired
one or two shots at the advancing line of the
enemy, when the body of Confederates that had
been in conflict with the Estreila showed itself
moving towards the plantation. boldly formed
into column in the road, and our friends saw
themselves surrounded by force Of the enemy
greatly exceeding their own.
"a never ought to have been caught IN this
way" muttered Perkins; my reputation as
cavalry officer is gone forever"
But as he spoke Stanley was sighting gun
at the advancing column of the enemy, and the
remorseof Perkins was drowned in his delight as
he saw one of his fayorite spherical-case shot
burst right in the midst of the impudent foe and
drive them, scattered, into the fields where they
deployed. Still they advanced till, coming
within easy rife shot, part of our dismounted
cavalry Were called by Perkins TO engage the
new corners. and soon the plantation buildings
were the center of fire from all points. Once or
twice the enemy on each side advanced as if TO
storm, but coming within canister range they
fell back before the hot fire of the cannon.
SWELL said Graves TO Stanley, this is not
SO bad, after all. j don't need TO make any
report TO the General The guns are doing
that fast enough. Besides. the Estrella will 60
back and tell what she has seen. 1t is certain
the rebels were waiting for her in those woods,
and having given her dose they hope to pick
US up. But if they can't get US within two
hours they never can. We can hold out that
time, can't WEI"
"Yes. and for two days if our ammunition
would hold out. As it is, we have enough for
all day; it takes some time TO dispose of 100
rounds TO a gun, with judiciOus firing"
'And have you that much?"
"Yes; YOU see, there are 10 rounds in the
chest On the gun-limber, then 40 rounds in
each Of the three chests of the caissons- Per-
kins, your men have cartridges enough, haven't
they?"
u think so, though have told them not to
waste any. How is it with you?"
was Just telling Graves | had plenty"
"Then VIC are all safe" said the cavalry Cap
tain; but do wish We had little something
to eat"
"This living on the country, Graves" said
Stanley, is just what l supposed it would be-
We haven't seen thing to eat since We left
camp. To be sure we couldn't have brought
wagons along on this scout; but what would
give now for that choice collection and selection
buried in that old army wagon at Berwick
Bay"
had transferred the stores from the wagon to
the caissOn, stood near and heard the CONVEX
sstion. His heart died within him. When his
caisson had been selected in place of the one
left behind, he had never doubted that the
exchange had been made by his Captain for his
own personal benefit, so that he might indulge
his favorite hobby at his pleasure. This view
of the matter had been somewhat shaken by
the fact that the caisson was brought along on
what ali knew might be serious business; for
the Sergeant had never known his Captain to
indulge at the expense of duty: and now that
they were caught in a trap, and he heard the
Captain calmly relying for ammunition OH
boxes that contained delicaces, he felt his blood
run cold.
off he finds il out, and me by at the time, Pm
dead man." be said TO himself, and endeav-
ored to keep himself cool and in an easy frame
of mind by cursing the No. 3 man of his gun
for not thumbing the vent properly.
Itwas quite true that the Estrela was unable
to move so far up the Teche as Perkins had adj
vaBced. Her commander moved along, keep
ing as well as he could in company with the
land pSrty 50 long as he had sniff cient water