The Springdale news., 1889-05-31

pun IOSC bhO bNN v dlJDI dACNi, anu IL EA w sultry.
 Captain Mason, who was well in advance, found himself descending a wooded slope, while out on his left was q long, level stretch of land, with vast corn and wheat fields, cut up and broken by lanes and roads, with here and there beautiful farm-houscs. They could only occasionally catcha glimpse of the valley below, for as they wound down the ndge road, they were most of the time shut in by green walls of tall trees and thick bushes. On either side of them the ridge sunk away into deep rocky ravncs, the sides of which were covered with such a dense undergroWth that the bottom could not be seen.
 The road at last made an abrupt turn where the ridge terminated and descended into the valley below Just as Luke at the head of his company reached the crest of the hill, distant shots beyond the first farm house in the valley reached his ears. Horsemen could be seen galloPmg up and down the lanes, and for some time it was iaae. be to distinguish friend from foe.
 Captain Mason drew his company mp along the line of the bluff above the valley so as to guard the pass, and waited for the Colonel, who came gallopmg forward in time to meet the returning cavalry. The cavalry reported that the enemy were strongly posted beyond the first farm house.
 Lukes company, with the cavalry, were deployed as skirmishers, and ordered to ad- vance until they came upon the enemy After few words of encouragement to 4lls men they descended to the valley and deploycd
 Fences were thrown down, and through the fields, woods, pastures and meadows they began to advance.
 Luke halted III cornfeld below q house to rcconnoiter His forces extended on either side of him and but three or four men were in sight. The old farm house on his right had q peaceful, quiet and home like look. The great dark-green stalks of corn rose up on every side, the blades and rich stalks forming q jungle impcnctrablc to the eye. Busy bees were drOWslly Hum ming about from vine to vine, among the corn or lighting on the heavy pods of full. ripe beans. A sunlower turned it's bold face to the king of light and a shred Of gold upon the tall stalk marks where butterfly fingers unconscious of danger. The lambs are beating in the far-Off pastures, and tho gentle lowing of cattle on the distant hills reaches the ear of the soldier, and seem maddenng when he cOntemplates what is soon to follow.
 There are no signs of carnage, but every l thlng bctOkens the peace and rcposc Of a | delightful Sabbath morn. Luke moves on | from the cornfieId into peach orchard. 1 Tue trees seem grooming under their bur den of luscious fruit He could not resist the temptation to pick up one of the great ripe peaches which fell at his feet and eat 1t.
 Their line, which is now visible some dis tance either way, he was glad to see was unbroken The hungry soldiers were de vouring the peaches, many of them proba bly, taking their last meal. A white puff of smoke issued from the fence below the orchard. The enemy has at last been found. Another another, and another shot rang out
 "Steady, don't shoot until you see your man." cried the Captain The firing seemed to come from bunch of tall weeds and grass down under the hlll. Steadily the line of skirmishers crawlcd forward, strainn 2 their eyes for sight of tho enc my A fifth shot, and the bullet whlzzing 2 through the branches of the tree above Lukc's head brought down half Q dozen rosy-cheeltcd peaches and shower of 1 leaves Luke knew the shot was aimed at him
 II see the skunk who shot at you, Gap, ? said Arkansaw Tom, who was but a few feet on Llke's left; " shall | fix 'im:' "Of course, Tom, if an enemys in sight try your skill"
 Arkansaw took step aside and laid his | long rifle by the side of a peach tree. A moment later there came 8 sharp report, followed by yell from the tall grass and rosin weeds, and man sprang half way to his feet and fell back kicking and struggling
 Shot after shot rang along the skirmish lines, and the bullets whistled like hail among the trees.
 :" Lie low; keep close to the ground n' said Luke.
 Skirmishers soon learn that art. The firing became general, and ill a few mo- mentS the enemy began to fall back. That uneasy dread which possessed every man at first disappeared as the enemy began to fall back, and with wlld yclls the skirmish- CTS pressed on.
 Fearing the consequences of hurling a sklrmish line against line of battle, Luke ordered a halt Not over onc-half obeycd, and the others. with the cavalry, dashed pell nell upon the enemy, whom they found
 in solid phalaux in q field just beyond the orchard fence. A volley like thunderclap shook the earth, strewing the ground with dead and dying men and horses. The sur vivors fled, and Captain Mason had all he could do to prevent q panic; but he at last checked the headlong flight of the most i'm petuous, and the firing was resumed at long range
 Crouching close to the ground the skir- mshers crept to the fence and opened fire on the rebels, who returned it, and bullets whizzed like hail about them.
 "I SNOW, Cap'n, we can't stand this long" said Arkansaw Tom, who was crouch ing in a fence corner on Luke's left. "We're fightin' the hull bllin' O 'em."
 The Captain was about to give the order to fall back, when he heard the stentorian voice of Colonel Smart in their rear shout;
 "On the right by file into lne, an be gol dinged quick about it!'
 Like veterans the new recruits wheeled nobly into line and advanced to the fence row. In a moment both lines of battle were wrapt in flame and smoke Whistling shots, dying groans, the crles of the wounded and the shouts of the cOmbatants, mingled with the incessant rattle of small arms, awed all peaceful sounds of nature to silence.
 The Union forces seemed reused to a pitch of enthusiasm bordering unto frenzy. Their only hope was to break through the enemy's ranks and press on to Cairo The rebels, astounded and dismayed at the vlgor- GUS assault from force whose numbers they had all along underestimated, gave way and began retreat, weich threatened 10 be panic.
 A small body of Confederate cavalry was saen to turn of to the left and enter a l grove oi trees about ono mile from tho con-