Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-04-27

very gray in the darkness was observed get
ting up from behind log. In an instant
one of the officers had him by the collar.
"Who are youi" was demanded in a whis.
per, but at the muzzle Of a cooked revolver.
Zone OF the train men, responded the
poor wretch, shivering between fright and
cold, in a voice not too audible.
what have you been lying here under
fire all dayf'
"Yesn
"Then lie down again, and make yourself
comfortable till morning. Or, stay; can't
you find your way into the block housei
Only be careful that the picket just outside
don't shoot you You might better have
gone for a soldier and kept yourself out OF
danger.n
After this colloquy the party passed on,
and soon entered the open field. 1t proved to
have been cornfield, and the stalks, cut
after the fashion of the country, We're still
standing about three feet high. TO move
silently through such rustling obstruction
was impossible, and the passage of the party
through the stubble sounded to their own
ears like the rush of IA cyclone. But they
failed TO rouse or disturb the enemy, and
after few minutes walk came to the bank
of the stream opposite the block house.
low whistle from the guide was answered by
u
and after the soldier had forded the stream
to explain he returned and piloted the officers
across the railroad bridge and into the pres.
ence of the officer in command.
The information obtained from this gentle
man was not reassuring He had seen the
battalions of Hood marching in between that
point and Nashville all day, and there was
put one road possibly open. This would be
found by recrossing the bridge and keeping
down the right bank of the stream nearly to
the point where the Murfreesborough turn
pike crossed the creek, At the crossing there
was n bridge, but this bridge would undoubt-
eddy be found picketed by the enemy Just
above the bridge, however, there was a ford,
and by crossing this ford there was possible
chance of slipping by the enemy'S camps and
reaching the city The general direction
could be found by observing the reflection OF
the city's gas lights on the clouds. But there
was one almost fatal objection to even this
route. The right bank of the stream on its
winding course led so nearly to the other
block house that the party in passing would be
almost certain to fall into the right flank of
the enemys skirmish line, if it still remained
in position. There was n hope that, in def
erence to the weather, it might have been
withdrawn TO some place of shelter; not a
very military dependence it is true, but the
old adage of the drowning man and the straw
will always be well illustrated on such occa-
sions.
There was nothing to do then but to pro-
coed. The old guide was dismissed to his
post to report progress, and the commandant
of the block house called for two volunteers
from among his own men to act as guides for
the officers in their desperate endeavors to
penetrate the lines of the enemy. Two brave
Fol, 10 ba
with revolvers, and announced themselves
ready for the service. Possibly, however,
they should not be called brave for having
volunteered. 1t was really a situation where
more courage was required to stay than to
go. But these men proved themselves brave
in the event.
Recrossing the bridge the party now
six good men, well armed with
revolvers, though carrying no other weap
ons, began their perilous march down the
bank of the stream. They decided to move
in Indian file, keeping just the distance apart
that would enable each person to see the back
of his next leader through the darkness. This
was TO prevent disaster TO the entire party if
any member was captured or fell. They had
not marched far before the wisdom of this
order of march was discovered. The party
was approaching, but at the same time en-
standing on a slight elevation and dimly out
lined against the sky
''Halt!n rang out of the darkness "A few
steps in advance of the leaders of the line.
But the party did not halt. On the con-
trary, every man faced promptly about and
struck out precipitately for the rear. This
brought the line to moving by the other
flank, with one of the officers in the lead.
Holding his way few hundred feet in the
new direction, followed by his compatriots.
he came to fence. This he surmounted
orecipitately after the well known method |
IF a somersault sustained on the top rail,
and once over, he moved by the left flank,
so as to keep under the protecting shelter of
he barrier. The entire party one after an
other, initiated his movements and rivaled |
MS celebrity. They followed, and change |
n the direction of the fence soon led again |
IN the direction of the dwelling, but further |
10 the right and presumably nearer to the |
enemy than the line over which the pas |
sage had before been attempted
"Surely,n soliloQuized the leading officer |
in this darkness we shall slip by unob-
served"
Halt" was tho quick response Of some
apparently mind reading sentinel not ten |
'eet away. This time the line halted, but all
except the two most advanced officers threw |
selves fiat upon the ground. These two
thought themselves discovered, and main-
ainsd their perpendicular.
"Nho goes there" grufly again came the
voice of the challenger
Friend" was the equally grutf though
more sullen, if pacific, response
Whose command do you belong tor
Here was poser. These officers did not
wen know who they had been fighting
brp tbn Il |
lot even able to lie successfully. A painful
ilence followed, but it was soon broken.
"Whose command, l say" came the re-
terated inquiry, and the voice had acquired
hard, metallic ring.
Still silence.
"Shall we fire upon themF' came in a
carcely audible voice
Eyes, ffreln came the response.
Bangl Bangl Bangl
Merciful heavensl three empty guns, and
y the flash they had been aimed in the
'rong direction. The officers had not even
cen seen. Some benignant sprite had APP
arently made the challenged party play the
and the bedeviled picket had
red at the sound. But this offered the OPP
for a new departure. Turning |
uickly upon his heel, the officer in the ad- I
ance caught his nearest companion by the
rm, and together they sped OFF into the |
ladows at a pace that would have defied the |
of breech loader. But the party | ,
ing prone upon the ground We're still more !
Irtunate.
Mount mount your horses, boys, quicklyi =
here is something wrong here" came the
oice Of the officer in charge of the pickets,
i'd the command was promptly obeyed.
hen there began at once such tramping of $
'ofs and rattling of equipments that the I
)sition of the picket line was completely
a.,I y1, 90 - I