Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-04-25

prevent dQN bOu0u lIOlu TodCuluk US.
Unless something goes wrong with
them when they ford the stream, You
will hear nothing further until the ar
tlllery speaks.
1t was a very fortunate thing for US
that they we're obliged to cross not more
then 200 yards below the camp, for
had they come down on the prairie
side we would probably not have
heard them, as we would have been to
the windward.
Bowie went cautiously about the
camp, and aroused few old scouts to
help him, soon had every man in camp
awake and prepared without the least
noise being made in the premature re-
veille.
We spread ourselves entirely around
our small piece of bottom land, facing
tae prairie. knowing that thence must
come the attack, Presently we heard
the enemy cross the river. Had our
sense not been sharpened to the ut
most by knowledge of impending and
imminent danger, we probably could
not have distinguished the slight
noise attending their crossing from the
rushing sweep of the river; but so pre-
ternaturally acute did our hearing be-
come that the low toned words of COM
mand could be distinctly seperate from
the other surrounding sounds. There
was just air enough TO convey the
slightest noise to us without their
being sufficient to disturb even leaf
At last they we're all over, and then
slowly and carefully did they march
round to take post on our front, pre-
paratory to their intended attack. We
could hear them range themselves,
but thick mist was raising from the
river. and everything was by this time
concealed from our eyes. We could
even hear them unlimber the cannon,
and were very sure they were in reach
of our rifles. What weary moments
we're those, as we lay silent as the
grave, expecting every instant to hear
the roar and feel the hurtling storm of
their artillery. But the fog had dis
concerted them, and although it was
but little past when we we're first
alarmed, the ruddy 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 nothing to the dreadful feeling of
suspense we experienced 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 cau-
tiously though the ranks for each man
to pick out his mark, and to FIRE from
a rest aG the word of command. 1t was
evident that the decisive moment was
at hand. Officers passed in front of
the line OF horses issuing orders.
Take tree whispered Rowie to
me, take tree, the nearest one to our
breastwork that you cam
A cool breeze fans our fevered
cheeks. the dense mass of vapor rolls
up as curtain; there stand the horses
fully revealed, there are the cannons.
there the gunners whirling their match
es. there the trumpeter with his in
strument already at his lips to sound
the charge. All this we saw, but only
saw it, for at this very instant the
were extended towards the
cannon, the horsemen drove their long
rowels deep into the horses sides, but
ere the iron storm burst forth, ere the
horses made the first leap, or the
trvmpeter blown his first note, stem
torian voice froA our ranks shouted
sFire!'
Down went horse and rider, down
gunner and trumpeter, and rife ball
and grape shot met career in midair.
The confusion in their ranks was in
describable. Checked in full career,
the horses wheeled and ran; every man
at the guns was shot down, and for a
mome.t we thought that the contest
was over. But no; they knew our
weakness to we'll, and hav-
ing again formed, here they came
dashing up in splendid style. The
strife was now to obtain the mastry of
the artillery. We dared not take them
and determined that they should not.
Give it TO them in the face and
eyes, boys!, shouted Bowie; never
mind their backs
Up they came, and just as the lead.
ing squadron reached the guns down
went every man of the front rank, and
away went the rest.
Another charge, and the sama l. =
suit; then came bold attempt to with.
draw the cannon without our line of
fire, and here more courage was exhlb-
tied than I have ever seen in Mexicans
since. They surrounded the guns,
dismounted 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 a long and
warm consultation, In full sight, but
out of our line of fire. Some of our
men wished to make rush for the
cannon, but to have been caught upon