Wichita eagle., 1889-06-07

tended attack We could hear them range
themselves, but thick mist was rising from
the river, and everything was by this time
concealed from our eyes We could even
hear them unlinber the cannon, and were
very sure that they were in reach OF our
rifles What weary moments were those, as
we lay silent as the grave, expecting every
instant to hear the roar and feel the hurting
storm Of their artillery. But the fog had
disconnected them, and although it was but
little past when we were first alarmed, the
rudy tint impaired to the dense mass OF
vapor now told us plainly that the sun was
rising.
Never can I forget that weary watching,
but its prolonged anxiety was as nothing to
the dreadful feeling of suspense we e1pe-
rierced when the fog commenced lifting, and
we could see the feet Of the horses and the
lower part Of the wheels Of the artillery. At
this moment word was whispered cautiously
through the ranks for each man to pick out
his mark, and to fire from rest at the word
Of command Higher and higher the fog drew
I'D. 1t was evident that the decisive moment
was at hand Officers passed in front Of the
line of horses issuing orders.
take a tree" whispered Bowie to me,
''take tree, the nearest one to our breast
work that you can"
A cool breeze fans our fevered cheeks, the
dense mass Of vapor rolls up as a curtain
there stand the horses fully revealed, there
are the cannons, there the gunners whirling
their matches, there the trumpeter with his
instrument already at his lips to sound the
charge. All this we saw. but only saw it, for
ut this very instant the matches wer4 ex-
tended towards the cannon, the horsemen
drove their long rowels deep into the horses
sides, but ere the iron storm burst forth, ere
the horses had made the first leap, or the
trumpeter blown his first note, stentorian
voice from our ranks shouted "Firer
Down went horse and rider, down gunner
and trumpeter, and rifle ball and grape shot
met careering in midair. The confusion in
| their ranks was ipdescribable. Checked in
full career. the horses wheeled and ran; every
man at the guns was shot down, and for q
moment we thought that the contest was
| over But no; they knew our numerical
weakness too well. and having again formed,
here they came dashing up in splendid style.
| The strife was now to obtain the mastery Of
! the artillery. We dared not take them and
determined that they should not.
ssGive it TO them In the face and eyes,
| boysIn shouted Bowie; never mind their
| backs"
Up they came, and just as the leading
squadron reached the guns down went every
| man Of the front rank, and away went the
| rest.
Another charge, and the same result; then
came O bold attempt to withdraw the cannon
without our line of fire, and here more cour-
age was exhibited than ! have ever seen In
| Mexicans since They surrounded the guns,
| dis1nounted some men and absolutely gave us
| harmless salute, but again every artillery
man bit the dust.
The enemy, forced to abandon their field
pieces, once more retreated, and their officers
evidently held long and warm consultation,
| in full sight, but out of our line Of fire. Some
of our men wished to make q rush for the
cannon, but to have been caught upon the
prairie would have been their destruction,
and the proposition was decidedly overruled.
The enemy were In trouble; the men had
apparently had quite enough Of it, and we
could see the officers whipping them into the
ranks with their swords.
On they came again, and as they drew
near Bowies voice Is heard once more:
''Steady, boyS, steady wait your timel"
We did; and firmly believe that three out
of four Of our shots told. The destruction
was awful; no Mexican could stand it. A;
they broke In confusion, mantle sergeant
major-dropped from his horse, hammer in
hand, and endeavored to spike one Of tbs
guns. He fell, shot through the head. Our
men, no longer to be restrained, now dashed
out upon the prairie, seized the guns, and the
| fight was over.
! Had they done this before the enemy were
thoroughly disheartened and cut up not one
of us would have lived to tell the tale, but al
the fight was fairly taken out of our foes.
The field was won with no greater los:
upon our side than two men slightly wound
ed. Bowie approached me.
Colonel said he, II believe this Is your
first fight What tree did you takeT'
II could not tell for the life Of me-" said /
"WeI, come with me, and Ill show it tx
you," he answered; and, taking me few
steps, pointed out sapling about six niche:
through. "a pretty shield for full grown
man." said he, and I thought SO, too.
We did not wait for another visit from oul
Mexican friends, but, having spiked the can
non, we threw them into the river, carried
off the ammunition, and made the best of oul
way back to Burlison's camp.-The True Flag