The National tribune., 1886-07-01
CHAPTFR XVIII.
IooPYRIsHT lSs6,l

! hind low hill which ran parallel with the
northern side of the rebel stronghold. We
were entirely concealed from the view of those
/ whom we proposed 10 attack. The top of the
/ hill was thiekly covered with second-growth
/ Of scrub-oaks chestnuts and elms. and on the
side toward the rebels this sank down into a
copse of sasSafras and sumach and raspberry
and blackberry briers, which filed the cor
ners Of fence along the upper side of field
/ that sloped downwards toward another rail
! fence. Beyond this was the road, and across
1 that the log barricade.
The field had lain fallow for some time and
was covered with a network Of deWberry and
4 trumpet flower vines.
When Grimsted had reached the point desig-
mated by the loyal old Kentuckian who had
volunteered as guide, he halted his company
and spurred Me up through the dripping tim
Der for a reconnaissance. Just beyond the top
of the hill he dsmounted and crept forward
! through the sassafras and sumach to the fence
! from which the rebel stronghold was in plain
view. He studied the position ettentively for
a minute or two
II was evident that the attack Of Barnard on
the west face of the Notifications was receiving
almost the entire attention of the rebels, for
there were comparatively few on the north
front, and many of these, overcome by fatigue,
were partially or wholly asleep, with their
heads resting against the logs.
When Grimsted came back to Ne, twisting
his roach with his forefnger, i could not help
seeing that his face was lighted up with sin
lister satisfaction that boded no good to the
gentry in whose society / had passed the Win
4 ter at Possum Snout
"If them internal fences were only out o. the
way it'd Just be prime" he communed with
himself, as he flung long and bony leg over
the cantle of the saddle and lifted about 100
/ pounds of solid Ohio manhood on TO My back,
/ I'd form the boys in line at the edge OF the
wood aud go down on the gallop, and be on top
o them hounds before they ID be fairly awake.
| / would MT ask for anything better. The
horses d go over them logs like birds, but the
! fences and the briers that these shiftless farm
ers leave in the corners are too much for the
1 horses to get over. I'll have TO rush the boys
forward on foot and take the chances of bring
ing the whole gang to this side before We get
| there"
Hastily returning to where his men were
| still sitting in the saddle he ordered them 10
dismount and tie their horses TO trees. They
stripped Off their soaked oyercoats that the
weight Of them might not impede the swift
ness Of their rush.
Captain" said the Orderly Sergeant, as
these dispositions were being made, had mt
we better leave a few boys with the horses to
bring them forward if we need 'em. IL those
fellows break wen need the horses TO catch
'en. If we're repulsed well need 'em to get
away on"
TO the trees as j ordered. Ten minutes from
now we'll either be having all the opportunity
and leisure we want TO come back here and un-
tie 'em, or them fellers down there (pointing
over his shoulder with his thumb) will own
them and everything on our dead bodies that
they think worth taking"
The man seemed TO swell up and grow taller
with the excitement of the imminent struggle.
His voice rose 10 the fervid pitch and sing song
tone that came 10 him in the moments when the
Spirit moved him deeply" in class or camp meet
ing, and he unconsciously changed from the Ian
guage Of the tactics TO the diction of the ex-
horter, but his hearers were too much wrought
up to notice the incongruity. He addressed
his men:
" Harken. my brethren for this day we serve
the God OF Battles. Let every man call upon
the Lord and look TO his carbine and revolver.
Make certain that they're both loaded, and
that the caps are good. Don't take no chance
at all about the caps, but If you have the least
misgiving put on fresh ones Let every brother
whirl the cylinder Of his revolver around to
make sure that IL will turn We'll slip through
the timber and brush until we come 10 the
edge Of the field, when we must 20 forward on
a rush for the other fence. When We get there
every boy must get over as best he can. light
on his feet IN the road, raise the yell and drive
straight for the saw-logs. Don't a benighted
! sinner Of you, my brethren, utter a cheer or
fire shot until we're Jumping over the logs
Don't stop 10 pick up soul that's stricken and
, falls by the waysise. The best way, my breth-
J ren, 10 help the wounded is TO whip the de-
graded sons Of Moloch behind them logs. Save
every bullet till we're face to face and man to
man on the other side Of them logs. Then don't
miss sinner-don't waste cartridge Have
your mans head or breast in point-blank range
and then put your bali squarely into it. Harken
20 this counsel, brethren, as you never harkened
10 any counsel and admonitiOn before in al
. your life. Forward now in the name Of the
Lord"
: Grimsted was the only one that remained
: mounted. He reined Ne around TO the head o
. the company, and We started.
We erept through the timber and brush until
' We came TO where the fence was broken by
: broad gap made 10 allow the passage OF oxer
: dragging whole tree down the hill 10 be cut
; into frewOod. At this point the head Of tb,
4 column came in sight Of the rebels, and tht
: pace was changed from a cautious walk TO quicl
: time by Grimsted prodding Ne in the llanl
' with his cruel spurs. The men, no less cage
. than their leader. closed up behind as, with n,
!. one tagging OF falling behind.
The rebels seemed at first startled at the un
: expected appearance of so many men in tha
: quarter, and so rapidly was My mind actin,
D that the seconds which passed before a sho
: was fred at Us seemed an hour Of agony o
. apprehension. Then some one sent shot a
= Grimsted, which hummed sharply past Ny ear
. The long excitement had unstrung Ny nerves
a and i made startled jump.
9 "Confound you, son Of Balaam, stop tina
c'er," said Grimsted, digging his spurs into NJ,
N shapely sides.
"A This did not prevent more shots coming an,
" coming closer, and / quiyered in every limit
: We were now halfway down, but had 10 chez
= Our pace 10 a walk TO get across q deep gull
. which had been cut across the road by th
recent rains.
Is The side Of the stronghold facing Us wa
:. y now lined with men, who did not crouch be
q hind the logs, but stood mp and fired at Us a
T. rapidly as they could load.
" Grimsted, being In the lead and the onl
=. mounted man, was the mark that most Of th
a. guns were leveled at and the bullets humme
10 and spatted about in the most terrifying wa,
a One creased My vOluptously- grounded flank, an
- another buried itself in the ground betwee
q Ny forelegs. IN My fright / could no MOI
~ help plnnging than could help breathing an
IA the angry Grimstcd struck Ne over the hea
in with his revolver
y, Quit your vile and wicked monkey-shine
A. A. you addle-pAted brute" he said. You air
nd helping yourself nor me by your fool cApers
D. had not contemplated for n moment that
at WAS 10 be called upon 70 breast such n storm
,l- death as was now gathering in front. / ha
90 confidently expected that Ny usual good 70
ng tune would attend Ne, and would be allowe
sEr 70 occupy a position neither prominent nt
dangerous while the fght was being fought on
e. had always had a contempt for the fools
ca horses who allow their riders 10 spur them I'M
on the very jaws OF death, and had vowed thi