Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-08-28
CHATTER w.

The British infantry advanced rap
idly, believing that they had at last
found the enemy whom they had
been seeking. In the dead soldier they
recognized one OF their scouts sent out
to beat the woods, and the capture of
the officer was readily surmised.
Speedily satisfied that an overwhelm-
ing force was approaching, George gave
in his turn four whistles and with all
his men retreated rapidly to the main
body.
Angus horse had been intercepted.
SO the boy. now mounted again and
deeply mortified at his emotion and
faintness, began telling the major what
had happened, in a shame-faced way.
The captured officer, still more embar-
raSed, stood near, while several smil-
inc veterans looked on and listened.
Poor Angus hoped for nothing better
than "A few reasSuring words to the
effect that he would eventually O.. ever
his qualms and obtain steadier nerves,
when to his unbounded surprise Graham
took him by the hand said warmly:
II congratulate you, sir. you are
but a boy in years, but no pian ever did
IA Drawer thing than you did in giving
those signals. You have probably
saved my brothers life, and have GER
tainly rendered us all a great service.
If George had been captured we might
have been surprised. | promote you
on the spot to the rank of the officer
you captured, and guarantee that the
governor will confirm my action. Act
as my aid for the present. Ha! George,
what's your reportP'
The enemy are coming through the
woods, first a heavy skirmish line. and
then IA force that we can't cope with
"We'l give them a volley before we
retire. Judging by young Mclntire
here, each one of us is good for two.
Gentlcmen,' to his officers, dead your
men forward into the woods a short
distance; keep them in cover rs far a.
possible. Fire deliberately and retire
rapidly when the bugle sounds re-
treat
These orders were carried out, but
the British, SO far from being checked,
rushed forward savagely, and Graham
saw that, with his inadequate force, it
was time he retired 70 some place of
safety, for both his men and horses
would soon be in sore need of more
extended rest and refreshment. Ac-
cordingly, he led his men rapidly to-
ward the road, passing for several
miles over high ground which would
give views of the surrounding country.
Angus rejoiced in the fact that every
step taken brought him nearer home;
and it must be admitted that BY this
time he was homcsick indeed. He
knew that his mother would hear ex-
aggerated accounts of the fight at
Chal lotte the night before and that
her anxiety would be beyond descrip-
ton. While the majors words and his
promotion had heartened him not a lit
tie. he was almost MORALLY weary and
painfully oppressed by the scenes he
had passed through. His nerves
were becoming unstrung and himself a
prey TO morbid ~fancies. which are often
hard to combat in times of great physi-
cal depression. Wal was far more ter
rible than he had ever imagined it to
be. He had not dreamed of passing
through such experiences when he had
ridden away in the sunny noon of the
previous day. Expecting merely to
gather the news, possibly TO fire a few
shots at long range from behind good
cover, he had. on the contrary found
himself drawn into a whirlpool Of strife
and compelled to face emergencies cal
culated to shake the nerves of "a vet
eran. He could not get over the terri
bic W inspired by the fact that he
had faced death himself, and, what was
worse, that he had inflicted death.
Burton was older and toox things
more lightly than Angus. Perhaps,
also, he was not capable of receiving
such deep impressions as his young
comrade, and, Moreover, his experience
had not been so tragic. He generous
" exaggerated AL the Majors praise
and even made the boys laugh rs they
pursued their march, by a comical
picture of the scene. Tell you what
It's, Gus, when you upset that British
officer you stuck IA taller feather in
Iyour cap than any of the rest OF us
young fellows will ever obtain. How
Ella will crow over you and your
trophies. You have n pair Of pistols
that any one might be proud Of, and
the Ensign's sword is much more suited
to your hand than the bic saber ! pick
ed up for you last night
s.There'll be toe much cooling when
you two meet TO leave time tor crow