Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-12-31
CHAPTER X.
THE MouNTAGNEER's REVENGE.

THE MOUNTAGNEER's REVENGE
Harry Glon's first feeling when he found
the battle was really over, was that of citation
that the crisis to which he had looked for
ward with 50 much apprehension, had passed
without his receiving any bodily harm. This
was soon replaced by regret that the long
coveted opportunity had been suffered to pass
unimprovcd. and still another strong senti-
mcnt-that keen sense of disappointment
which comes when we have braccd ourselves
up to encounter an emergency, and it van
ishes There is the feeling of waste of valu-
able accumulated energy which is as painful
as TINT of energy misapplied.
Still further, he felt sadly that the day of
his vindration had been again postponed
over another weary period of probation.
All around was intense enthusiasm, grow
ing stronger every instant. 1t was the first
battle that the victors had been engaged in,
and they felt the tumutuous joy that the
first triumph brings to young soldiers 1t
was the first encounter upon the soil of Ken
tuckv it was the first victory between the
Cumberland mountains and the Mississippi
river, and the loss of the victors va, in,ig-
niii'aut compared with that of the VAN
pushed.
The cold drouch from the skies, the drCary
mud-evcn the dead and wounded-werc for
! gotten in the iublation at the sight of the
lately insolont foe flying in confusion down
the mountain side, rocking for nothing 50
much as for personal safety.
The band continued to play patriotic airs
| and the cannon to thunder long after the last
! Confederate had disappeared i'll the thick
woods at the bottom of the gloomy gorge.
\ detail of men and some wagons were sent
| la X after the regiments baggage, and the
: rest of the boys, after few minutes survey
! Of the battlefield were set to work building
! fires, cooking ratons and preparing from the
! branches and brush such shelter as could he
/ made to do substitute duty for The tents left
| behind
Little as was Harry 8 normal inclination to
manual labor, it was less than ever now. with
these emotions STRUGGLING in bis mind and
leaving his comrades hard at work, he wan
dered Off to where Hooscr Knob, q command
ing cmincnce on the left of the battlefield,
seemed to offer tAc hest view Of the retreat of
the forces of Zollico.icr. Arriving there, he
pushed on down tho slope to where the
enemy's line had Stood and where now were
groups OF men in blue uniforms, searching
for trophies of the fight. In ono place n mus
h2t would be found; in another q cap with a
silver star, or a canteen quantity fashioned
from alternate slaves of red and white cedar.
Ea b find was proclaimed by the discoverer,
and he was Immediately surrounded by a
group to earnestly inspect and discuss il. It
was still tho first year of the war; the next
year "trophics' were left to rot unnoticed on
the batilcfells they covered.
Harry took no interest III the relic hunting,
but walked onward toward another promi-
uencc that gave hopes Of q good view of the
Confcdorates. The glimpscs he gained from
tbs of Tic -,;r~.nC mass Of furi'iv,s inillmcd
him Win The excitement OF the chaSc-of the
most exciting of chasrs. a man hunt. He
forgot Lis fears, forgot how far behind he
was having al the others, and became eager
only to see more of this fGso mating sd t
Before ne WAS aware of it, he was t!Ircc or
four mites from the gap.
Here a point ran boldly down from the
mountain INTO the valley, and ended in a
bare knob that overlooked the narrow creek
bottom, along which the beaten host was
forging its way. Harry unhesitatingly de
seconded to this, and stood gazing at tho
swarning horde below. 1t was a sight to
rivct the attention. The narrow level space
through which the crec!, moandercd between
two parallel ranges of heights was crowded
a. far a, he could see with an army which
defeat had degraded to demorali1od mob.
well-nigh disappeared. HorsCmcn and foot
men, infantry, cavalry and artillery, officers
and priya,.S. ambulances creakiug under
their load Of wounded and dying, ponderous
artillery FORCES, wagons loaded with food,
WAGONS loaded with ammunition, and wagons
loaded with Injuries for the dccctatiun Of
the hi-hor otliccrs-all huddied and crowded
together. and struggled forward with fever
ish haste over the logs rocks, gulicS and the
deep waters of the swollen stream, and up
its slippery banks, through the quiz k,uuds
and qun"nies which every passing foot and
wheel beat into a still more Erevous obstacle
for those that followed. Hopelcssly tagged
horses fell for the last time under the mcrci-
less blows of their frightened masters, and
added thor great bulks to the impcdmentS
Of the road
The men were sullcn and depressed-ca
I down bV the WretChednesS of earth and sky
and cmbi,tercd against their officers and each
other for the blood uscles,ly shed-opprcssed
with hunger and WEAKNESS, and momentarily
fearful that new misfortuneS were about
to descend upon them. In brief, it was one
of the Saddcst spectaclcs that human history
can present: that of beaten and disorgan
lied army in full retreat, and an army slnew
to sodicr-hip and discipline as to be able t.
mako nothing but the worst out Of So great q
calanty-it was a rout after rcpulNc.
Nearly all the passing thousands were toe
much rugro,,cd in the mi,erics of their toll
some progress to notice the hluo-coated figure
, ON the bare knob above the road But tho
rear of the fIgitiveS was brought up by d
squad # mon moving much more l,surcly
and some show of oitcr. They Oil not
PLUNGE into tire mas, OF mtu aud animals and
. / Wolff .l.~ anal etruH. d. with Them ia ia,