Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-08-01
CHAPTER v.


It was not until he had resumed lis march
at the head of his company that Captain
Mason began to blame himself for not hav-
ing asked the name of the fair rebel who
had so strangely impressed him. The peo-
pie at the house were probably new corners,
for he had a few years before known almost
every one in this part Of the country. But
absence at college, and then in another
State, had permitted time to work a won
drous change in the old familiar land
marks. He was marching along with head
bowed, lost in painful reverie. obliyious to
the heavy tread of two hundred feet behind
him, when voice suddenly said:
'sMassa, why didn't 20 burn dat housea"
He looked up, and to his intense amaze
ment he saw the negro, Blackhawk, bare
headed and bare-footed, tramping along at
his side. Blackhawk had an odd way of dis
appearing and appearing when least ex-
pected. He seemed to have the faculty Of
being anywhere in a moment.
''Blackhawz, what arc you doing herea"
he asked; shave you run away from your
master!"
':No, sab; jest thought I'd foller We;
mebbe We might need me-"
s'Do you know the people at that house,
Blackhawk?" asked the young Captain, fix
ing his keen blue eyes on the negro. Black
hawk rccoiled strangely, as If he had
suddenly been touched with c hot iron. The
Captain, puzzled at his strange demeanor,
repeated the question.
ssYes, massa; 1 knows EN-" he said; ''dey
is all secesh."
'What is their namem
Morgan, massa; dat gals ladder an
brudder am boff in de rebel army, an
'twould sarved UNI right to bu'nt dere
house, but I'm glad ye didn't do It."
"Why"
s.Jes cause I'm glad you didn't Some
body orter do It an some 'un will, mebbe."
Look here, you black rascal, if l hear of
you burning any houses iii have you shot"
s.De good Lord bless you, U.assa, won't,
decd won't"
The Captain walked on with his head
bowed trying to malse out the character of
the negro. He had been the slave of Mr..
Neff for twenty years, and he had known
him ever since boyhood, but there had al
ways seemed to be some deep mystery con-
nected with him. There was something in
his nature unfathomable. When next he
looked for Blackhawk he had vanished.
AS the little army advanced their num-
bers continued to hourly increase, until they
had over thousand men. with indifferent
arms and still more Indifferent discipline.
Cairo was forty miles away when they re-
ceived information that JEFF Thompson,
Win IOfco OF feOelS lar superior " tACii
own, was between them and their haven
of safety. Colonel Richard Oglesby, with
splendid Illinois regiment, was somewhere
in their neighborhood, but, despite every eff
fort made on the part of Colonel Smart, he
found it impossible to communicate with
HIM.
Among the recruits received on the march
were about two hundred mounted men,
whom they used as scouts and foragers.
Captain Henry Smart had been chosen
Colonel, but as yet no commissions had
been granted any of the officers, owing to
some disagreement between the Governor
and General Fremont. Colonel Smart had
all the officers of the regiment summoned to
his headquarters one morning, and, with o
face that was very earnest, said:
'Boys, we're goin' to smell gunpowder
before the day is done. The rebels are about
three miles from here on farm, and waitin'
to cut us or"
.sHow many are they in numbera" one Of
the officers asked.
.sDon't know; but they're reported about
three thousand stronR."