Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-07-11

But Just rs hiA finger pressed tho trigger
Luke struck up the gun with his sword
and sent the bullet flying harmlessiy
through the air.
"Dod burn it. what d ye do tibet furi"
ely for your ife," shouted Luke, push
| ing the scout down the hill and starting
after hum. But q black object behind q tree
arrested his attention. It was that mys-
FERROUS old negro, Blackhawk, who had
been . puzzle to him from childhood.
Blackhawk had got away from the boat,
found gun and came to fight. He was
kneeling behind tree, his gun leveled at
the young Confederate whose life Luke had
saved.
"You black scoundrel, dare you fire and I
will run you through" shsuted Luke, plac-
ing the point Of his sword against the
negro's breast.
"He's q Reb. massa, an rs fghtin' tor
free my po' wife an little baby"
''But he was a good master to you, and
if you harm HIM will kill you" He
snatched the negro's gun from his hand
and hurled him down the hill.
They hadhot gone far before they met the
advancing lines Of the Federal army, and
the slkrmishers quickly fell into place and
all pressed CALAMITY up the eminence
through the felled timber. The terrible
thunder of contending armies made the
woods tremble. The Federals passed over
the abattis of fallen trees, though many q
gallant soldier laid down his life in the
effort Luke saw Eddie Reed, one Of his
company, lying with his body in the fork Of
fallen tree, and supposing he was en-
tangled, went to help extricate him, but he
had q bullet in his heart and was dead.
The Union forces drove back the rebel
lines before them. As soon as the cleared
space around the camp was gained, o
charge was ordered, and a terrible hand to
hand fight ensued. The Confederates
numbered eight thousand, but General
Grants forces fell upon them with such i'm
petuosity that after brief but desperate
struggle they broke and fed. A moment
later the stars and bars were run down,
and the stars and stripes mounted into their
place.
The batteries at Columbus commanded
the position, and General Grant knew no
could not long hold the camp. The only
thing that had protected the Union force
from showers of shot and shell was thu
fear the Confederate gunners had Of kill
ing their own friends, for the blues and
difficult to tell friend from foe.
Driven from their camp, the rebels fled
down under the hill. The Union soldiers,
flushed with victory, became wild. Hither
and thither, helter-skelter, they went, re-
gardless of military discipline, and SEEM
ing more like madmen than soldiers. They
plundered and burned the camp and
cheered until they were hoarse. In vain
did General Grant try to get them back to |
the transports. They seemed bent only |
upon the destruction of the enemy's prop |
erty.
"Form yer men," yelled Colonel Smart |
growing white with fury.
"Fall ln-fall in, I" cried Captain Mason.
"Hurrah fur the stars and stripes;
we're the boys that licked the Johnniesw |
yelled Corporal Max, but short distance |
away, swinging an officers liquor case over |
his head.
"Fall in-Max, fall in" Not over half
dozen men in Luke's company were yet in
line, the others running about the camp
A scene of confusion ensued. Officers
frantically swearing, and here and there
dragging soldier to his position, while the
men seemed to have lost their wits and
were whooping and shouting like madmen
A white puff of smoke curled up from one
Of the batteries at Columbus and shell
came circling through the air. It exploded
near the camp and brought the soldiers to
their senses.
In less than five minutes long lines Of
men were fling down the hill from the
camp.
fro m Continued