Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-01-13

when it was captured by them.
The artillery duel did not last long
it did not pay on either side. The in
tended crossing had been foiled, and
that was enough for us. So General
Getty drew off his guns at nightfali
and the enemy appeared next day to
have done the same.
Not gun, or even a Confederate
picket, could be seen by daylight from
our side of the river. Masked by
swamp and forest growth, they were
there yet, however, as a night-scout in
a canoe made by the writer soon after
discovered.
In pouring rain-storm the writer
dropped down the river from Suffolk
in an old canoe, keeping close on the
western shore, listening to every
sound, keeping eyes open as we'll as
ears. 1t was pitch dark, the river
fairly boiled in the seething rain, and
the dip OF my paddle could not have
been heard boats length away.
Nearly three miles had been covered,
when the sound of mems voices talk
ing, in low tone, and seeming to be
very near, reached me. 10 check the
SohOC Wy 1SdSuluS tuc LuuAuy UOtGOul
with long pole felt for in the bot
tom OF the boat, was my instantaneous
action.
Then a glimmer of light on the cy-
press trees on the swampy shore
showed [ was near q camp or guard
fire.
Careful not to touch an overhanging
branch or to make any noise, for l
knew not how near l might be to a
sentinel, l pushed the canoe to the
shore. Fortune favored me. I found
10y feeling, rather than seeing, that 1
was just under an old wood-wharf,
where boats had landed to take off
cord-wood, such as was used on the
river steamboats, that navigated the
stream before the war.
Pushing the boat in, I laid her
alongside the land under this wharf,
and crept out on the bank after fasten-
ing her to Spite. Listening, ] heard
the tramp of a sentinel outside of me
on the wharf. Safe in the darkness, I
cIrept higher up the bank. guided by
the lights reflected on the trees, and
IN few minutes found myself on an
etartn-worh in the old woodward, look
ing over into camp of forty or fifty
men just back of battery of seven
guns, all masked by bushes, but COW
erlng the wharf where I landed and
the river-front
The most of the men were asleep in
shelter-tents, but few under canvas
shed near the campfire were playing
cards, despite the pelting rain. They
W, We're the night-guard without doubt.
These were talking and laughing in
10" tone, little dreaming that Yank
was SO near, anxious to know if
spades were trumps just then.
1t took me about ten minutes to
study out the landing-see what guns
bore on the wharf, estimate the force
ny the number of shelter tents, and
then backed off like turtle on my
hands and knees, and got to the canoe.
Dropping noiselessly down stream
elll l was clear of danger, I padded
across to the other side of the river,
landed and concealed my canoe, and
made my way back on foot to our lines
at Suffolk.
reporting at headquarters that there
was battery left which might be
- 'Aiy ~ ulBut, ny surprise anu
sudden assault, and which would be a
communal danger and menace if left
alone' plans were at once laid for its
capture.
1.-Two nights after, the Eighty ninth
, ,new ork, Colonel England in COM
nland, was detailed for the work, and,
s Ml'n the writer as guide and pilot,
started down the river at midnight in
SNAIL 81, steamer to do the work.
Vs. Inc night was dark, and the boat
wa was allowed to drift in silence until
, ,m' was actually abreast the old wharf.
a ne men, with bayonets fixed, were
decks. - 'Aooo " N
.,o men we were actually abreast and
use e.;o 10 the old wharf, then steam was
1.'en' and IN minute more the boat
no -,