The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1885-06-27
UNDER FIRE.

UNDER FlKE.
Dangerous Target Practice OF Now
York Artillorymon
Some time before the war Prcsby.
terian clergyman from New Hampshire
went South, with his family, for the
benefit Of his health lilo purchased n
little firm in Virginia, about three miles
from Washington, access to which was
hal by the way OF Georgetown and the
Aqucduct Bridge. lie gradually failed
in health. however, aud died, leaving q
widow Mrs Gayc. and two girls and
two boy,. At the breaking out Of the
war In 1861. after the Confederate line.
were driven back few miles, fortilica.
tions were constructed around Wash
ington for the protection Of the National
capital They consisted OF chain ol
forts arranged In nearly circle. Thl,
line crossed the Potomac near Chain
Bridge above Georgetown, extending
thence 10 Arlington Heights and some
distance below. recrossing tho river be.
tween Long Bridge and Alexandria,
aud 80 on around until the circle wa,
complete. With this line. and about q
milo and hall from Fort Smith, sltlr
atel on n little emincncc, was. Mrs,
Gnyo,' mo lest home, protected now
from the Confclerntcs. but suffering
more. perhaps, from the Union troops
Many regiments were cncamped neal
by, and little by little her timber ant
fences aud stock and crops disappeared
until there was scarcely anything lef
save the house and tho land Even thu
cook stove was missing one morning
Very frequently at night she wa
aroused by the beating Of "the long
roll" the shouting Of words Of com
mand aud tho tramping Of regiments
as they swiftly formed In line Of battle
10 meet the expected enemy.
II was u midsummer morning In
1861. Out 10 the fields and over in th,
city Il was scorching hot But In Mrs
Cages house, protected as II was fron
the rays OF the sun by tho abnndan
foliage of the great oaks which sur
rounded ID, the heat was not opprcs
siye. Mrs. Cages was In tho sitting
room reading paper The eide
daughter WIS In Washington. Charley
the elder son. who was then neal
twelve years Of are. was playing will
the dog on the porch. II was peace
full. quiet picture Of Virginia country
life. Suddenly there came n loud
whistling, screaming sound. foIlowe,
by terrific explosion directly over thu
house.
"Whyr' calculated Mrs Gayes. II,
she started from her seat. "whas 1
heavy clap Of" thunder, she wa
about 10 say, but the nnmistakabli
humming, twauging sounds which fol
lowed close upon tho explosion. will
the falling Of leaves and broker
branches from the trees, told her II wa
q shell from some heavy gun.
Is II possible they are making Al
attack" she said
The children now came running IN
from their play. and one of them cried
out. "Oh. mammal the lightning hal
struck the trees" Mrs. Gayes wen
out on the porch and looked ant
listened. but nothing unusual could b'
seen or heard.
"lt was n SHE'LL" said she IL OK
peci gun at one Of tho forts went OF
accidentally"
Wei" said Charley. =" when theI
load their guns | wish they'd poln
them toward Richmond. They ough
10 be- ashamed Of themselves" "
f" don't think We shall b. troubled
any MORE said the mother. rs she re
turned 10 tho sltting-room followed By
the children. She had but Just re
sumed her seat when another shell
buried itself In the earth few rod
from the house and burst, throwing uJ
clouds Of dust and dirt.
what can Il mean7n said Mrs
Caves.
II know what Il means, mammal
cried Charley. THAT New York regi
mont which has Just been sent over h
Fort Smith has put up target in on
field. and the fellows Afe firing al u.
wish was n General I'D put ever
one Of them in the guard honsel'
The boy was right In his surmise, nnc
In few moments another missile
thrown from one ~ the huge siege gum
with which the fort was armed struck /
quarter of mile away and Cant
Bounding or richocheting toward th'
house. striking the ground at interval
In H. mad course, something as a ston'
when thrown violently upon the watcl
skips along the surface. With a shriel
like demon Il plunged through tn
garden. destroying everything In u
path. filled the air with dust. gave tw,
or three mors screeches. and iinalll
burst over near tue road. Mrs Gaye
turned pale
''Come down into the collar will
me. oil OF you. said she. aud the,
obe,ed with alacrity. After she has
quieted Eliza. the negro servant. VIII
was alternately praying TO de goo,
Lord and 10 "Afissus Gayes" TO saw
her. she saidi
Charley. you must run up 10 Mr.
Persons just as fast as you can. an
ask him to 70 around TO the fort an
have the firing stopped. And you ~
main at Mr.. Persons uni ] | send 70
You. Don't come back. You arr nc
afraid TO 60, are your
mo. mamma. I'm not afraid" sr
swered The brave little fellow, ~ b
clsspsd his mothers hand little tighteI
Il knew you would not be, and nos
a. soon as the next she'll comes I wan
you 20 90" When Il came she kisse
him. and said "No~. nv brave ncv
rum
She you'd gladly have gone herzell
but she thought Il better 20 remain tha
she might 10 with the other tuo chi
dren IN case the hpnse should he sfrnc
snd burned 4 cost her = struggle I
send her son forth on such . pefilou