The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-08-26


ahead as fast as possible. If they showed
any signs of giving way he was to charge
them. Then with Angus and dozen
Others George made a rapid detour, struck
a wood-road in the forest and cautiously
yet swiftly, approached the wagon train,
somewhat in the rear of its centre. he
and his men were lost in the shadows of
the dense pines which sighed mournfully
in the night wind as if presagiug the
bloody scenes soon to be enacted. While the
partisans were hidden the numbering wa
gon train was seen passing on the road in
dim outline.
Gus" he said, "You and Eph. romkins
shoot two of the horses and stop the train.
The rest of us will then act according to
circumstances"
The drivers were urging the horses to
the utmost, feeling that every foot of pro-
gress was so much gained IN the race for
safety. A general sense of apprehension
enhanced by the hurried night departure,
prevailed every mind. The beacon fires,
the frequent rifle reports in the distance
added also to the alarm of the infantry
who walked beside the wagons. There
fore when out of the deep gloom of the
adjoining forest leaped two flashes and
horses fell, stopping two wagons, the i'm
mediate escort, recalling much bitter ex-
perience, began to fear the worst. An
officer rushed up and ordered charge in
the direction of the shots. He had scarce
ly spoken before he fell under bullet
from Georges rifle. Then brave SER
geant sprang forward, crying, "Follow
me-" Under his example mary rushed
after him.
six steps forward and give 'em a
volley; then all scatter" George order
ed.
The sergeant and two ,or three of his
men went down. Then the woods rang
with score of shots from the British in
fantry, but the dusky, flying forms in the
distance presented no target
Pressed upon by Burton, and his con-
stantly increasing band, the rear cavalry
guard had, unconsciously, drawn nearer
and nearer the train. In the breast of each
man was a secret impulse to get away from
region so full of hostility and danger,
and this impulse had the effect of quick
ening the retreat. When, therefore, the
firing caused by George and his followers,
was heard, the commanding officer found
it easy to believe that it was his duty to
advance rapidly to the point of attack.
His order "Trot, march," was gladly obey.
ed.
Other orders were given, however, on
which they had not counted. Burton,
keenly on the alert, also heard the firing
and saw the quick, forward movement of
the dragons before him. Instantly came
his shout "Into the road, fiankers. Those
who have sabres to the front. March
four abreast. Yell like catamounts;
charged"
Away they went, his thirty odd men
making noise enough for hundred. The
British dragons were appalled, at this sud
den and apparently organized attack
upon their rear. 1t did not indicate the
helter-skelter pursuit of raw recruits, bat
rather the action of trained continental
cavalry of unknown numbers. There was
no chance, no time to investigate in the
narrow road, and by such light as was
given by the moon. The firing and con-
fusion in front was increasing. After
momentary hesitation the rear guard gave
way to panic which spread like wildfire to
the infantry escort. One and all fed for
ward or dashed into the forest
to escape the furious onset
of the partisans. Some were cut down,
others surrendered. Still more escaped
through the woods, while the majority, by
dint of hoof and foot, reached the heavy
British support, which was sent back to
repel the attack. Burton, however, had
attained his wish, and enjoyed the wild
excitement of riding straight at his enc
mics, sabre in hand"
1t will be remembered that ii had been
Georges tactics to cut the wagon train in
two. At the point where the first two hor
ses had been shot, he and his followers
kept up such an effective fire that nothing
could be done. The partisans were on
foot, having left their steeds well back in
the forest. Dodging from tree to tree
their locality was unknown except ms
flashes from their rifles revealed it mo-
mentarily, and the effort to find and dis
lodge them was soon abandoned. Mean
while, the drivers beyond the break in the
train had urged forward their teams on
the run and so had escaped, for it was
Georges policy to produce as wide gap
as possible between the wagons he had
cut off and those permitted to pass on.
The desperate efforts made, for a brief
time, to get the delayed wagons forward
were frustrated. The moment any one
appeared prominent in giving useful or
ders or effective service he was shot. Then
came the mad rush of the flying dragoons
drivers abandoned their teams, and with
the infantry escort, Joined the forward
stampede, the partisans followed until
checked by the British support already
mentioned. They did not give way be-
fore this, but taking to the woods, began
such an effective fire, that the enemy
again retreated abandoning the wagons,
finally. In order to make sure of their
prey, however. place was speedily found
where the vehicles could be turned, and
soon twenty heavily laden wagons were
headed towards Charlotte again, as they
had been nineteen days before. Now,
however, the drivers and escort were ex-
ultant Wings, proud and happy over their
success, and feeling that they had cap.
tured something that would make good,
| in part, their terrible losses.
The haggard, careworn villagers, whose
lives had been made burden by the
British occupation, greeted the cavalcade
IN the dawn with shouts of rejoicing.
Friends and relatives, long parted, en-
braced each other, and even wept for Joy.
Indeed, never before, in the old North
State, had there been such hand
shaking.
George Graham modestly defined to re-
ceive any of the spoils himself. That