The National tribune., 1886-05-13

The shock of the discharge threw Me TO My
knees aud in the struggle TO regain My feet i
burst the lashings that held the hateful hOwitzer
on Ny back, and il fell 10 the ground. A great
Joy swelled My heart the instant was relieved
OF the CALLING burden, and forgot that was
wearied 70 exhaustion. In the flash Of an eye
] was tearing through the orchard. In another
] had leaped the fence into the dear old pasture,
aud was once moro amid the surroundings Of
Ny innocent and happy youth. j rolled over
haif-dozen times in the excess OF My JOY, and
after giving My CALLED back comforting rub
on the yielding sod, turned My attention 20
the progress Of the battle had so inauspiciously
inauguated.
learned afterward from the mule that car
ried the ammunition that at Gannaway's sharp
order Atkins and his henchmen lifted up the
howitzer and mounted il ON a stump, from
which it had the barnyard in good range. j
could hear it now, pounding away very indus
triously and sending shells crashing and clat-
tering through the cribs barns and sheds, and
whirling the planks and clapbosrds through
the air very promiscuously.
"Ole Atkins he les frOwin' hisself deed he
is, !" came from neighboring fence-corner in
voice that was very familiar, and equally dear
90 Me- lie got q chance now TO hurt some
body widdout gittin hurt hisself an You kin
bet 70 life be am a-gwine TO do all de deb
bilment he kin while he hab de chance. Jes'
heah him, won't yer"
To know that Jimson was by NY side, and
out of danger from the internal riot that was
now going on beyond the house, filled My cup
OF enjoyment toward the brim. gave express
sion TO My Joy in little whinny and ran up
10 him.
lie saw the look OF inquiry in My eloquent,
luminous eyes, and went on.
{" 70 see, Muley, waz right behind yo' when
Atkins tux 70 ober & dc hill, an / jes' fought
would bust wid latin when yo begun turnin
round an Atkins and de Kunnel an de old
whisky-head Majah an de rest OF dem gun q
huntdeir holes jest like so many cotton tail r.D-
bits when a tom-cat light among 'em. / done
got behind big tree afO Atkins git ready TO
fiah, an i was habin' lots o. fun seem de
nddehS slzeot out, when long came de Maah
and said he done wanted datter tree TO his
self an Glib me a kick, an told me TO hunt
anudder one. For a minnit j was awfully
slneeHed. fo' de muzzle of datter gun went right
er past dis chile O. perdition's head, so hit did,
and done look bigger N bahn-dO, so hit did.
Den cut down frOO de ohchard an cum heah.
I'm a-gWinc up TO de house an see Miss Jasmin,
soon's hit gifts me- healthy in datter neighbo'-
hood"
Beyond the house the din was rapidly grow
ing Ia intensity. The rattle of carbines re-
y0lgers musizets and shOtguns, the yell Of the
charging rebels, the defiant cheers Of the stub
born UniOnisis and the neighing Of excited
horses, mingled with the sharp yOwl of the
hOWitzcr and the crash of the shells.
The happenings that followed My uncere-
mOniOus departure from the immediate scene
OF strife / subsequently learned from equine
acquainiauccs who aided in maintaining both
sides Of the row. The attack was a genuine
surprise Tor the Union soldiers, who had no in
timatiOn OF IL before the first shots of The
alarmed picllets startled the morning air, and
were followed by the yells of their enemies
who came rushing IN almost on the heels OF the
flying videts
Barnard's company was CHARTERED In the
tobaecOshed, as Hirschmyer had said, with
their horses fastened TO a long picket-rope
stretched some distance in rear Of Che shed
Hard service, sickness and death had reduced
the company 60 less than 50 men fit for duty
but they were all good soldiers.
About half Of Capt. Grimsteds company
which was as greatly reduced in numbers a,
Barnards, was stationed nearly mile away
watching fork Of the roads Squads from
both the companies had been sent of day OF
twO before under command OF their Lieutenant,
% patrol the roads in adjoining COuntiet
against irregular bands Of rebel sympath izcu
who were annoying the Onion people 80 that
altogether, tiannnway's attack was fortunately
arranged for him. for Barnard had at most bat 2.
men 10 meet iIiE FIRST onset, with IS more undel
GTimstcd 70 come 20 his assistance and encounter
nearly double that number led by the bold and
determined Gaunaway.
Barnard's practice was 10 have himself callel
an hour before daylight every morning, and
spend the time until dawn making the rount
Of The guards. seeing that all were awake ant
attentive. tic was walking along the left O
his picket-llne when the attack began on thi
right aud lac ran 30 the shed, where the half
dressed tnen were hurriedly forming. an,
mounted the horse which his servant had al
ready saddlcd.
IN their rush toward the tobacco-shed Tn
line lod by Gannaway was brought up standinl
by an unremembered Obstacle-a stout raj
fence. which was made still more bOthersom
by q slOyenly growth Of blackberry briers an,
elder bushes In ia corners. The pickets VIII
knew the paths through this mad heir wa,
back without difficulty, but the line of charg
ing hOTsemcn was brought 10 a stsndstill, unit
gaps could be opened for their PASSAGE Order
ing One-half Of his men 10 remain on foot Il
line, and use their carbinos Barnard put him
self AZ the head Of the remainder, who wer
mounted. ID was yet 80 dark that the rebel
could only be distinguished from the bushe
and the icnoe-o0rneE By their moving aronn
and shouting. GnnnaWayiE voice could 4
heard imPairntly urging forward the men, win
were cropping around, 70 tear the rails from IA
cllngiua embrace Of the trumpet flower vino
and the briers. The sound enragcd Barnard
aud be- shouted
I" Capt Gannaway, Is that you again, 70
cath breaking scoundrelf"
D0u't waste your breath IN insults. sab.
shouted ihe kentuckiBn back, I'll give vo
need 70 ail W have Of il when We get throne
thif fence. slh."
Al that moment a shell from the howitzs
struck d stack Of fodder, and n an instant
was a mHss ~ Games that lighted up evcrythin
for rods around by he aid the rebels ouiclll
throw down q aap. through which Gannawa
started, followed ~ his men At that momeI
Barnard shouted tO has mem
DTow pistol! ForwaFd-(hargCi /" aud
another instant he and they were ompiying the
reToiyeir into tbcirenelniesa at short range IN
sudaeuncss 81 the onset nj the moment ths
his men were hampered by the fence took Gar
nRway at a Disadvantages, and part Of his noe
ree9iled behind the fence throwing into col
fusion the Others who were trying 20 eros
Sannaway shouted sayagely at then
anu, with those Immediately around hir
rode straight toward Barnard. The latter hs
empted hs revolver, a. had most Of his me-
theirs. JIG moved toward the rebels at a slo
trot, with has revolver presented, az il he we
waiting iili ho got closer before firing. Meth
oid Gannhway fire as he came on, but held n
pistol up NJ iils face, IA III intending 10 Ere "A
mpaneni thc sights fairly covered his opponen
Ihe latter OWNED ilis intention aud giving 4
fbaud the peculiar twir witt which he used
Jerk stones when @ boy. sent his pistol fair
inio tue rebel Captains face with a force Ga