The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-06-14

"No, Il we undertook that we'd have to
turn back, and we'd like as not meet Price
and Mccullough. We've got to get to Cairo,
where General Grant and General Prentiss
are, and then We'll be able to whip all the
rebels in the country"
"You mean that we must cut our way
through the rebels sent to head Us offf'
said Luke.
That's 1t, Captain"
"The sooner we get at it the better, for
they are reinforcing all the time"
The others were of the same opinion, and
each officer was instructed to see that his
men were in the best condition possible for
battle A few minutes were given to the
inspection of guns, and to see that all were
supplied with ammunition, and the force
moved on, the cavalry considerably in the
advance.
1t was bright autumn morning. The
night had been slightly chilly, but as the
sun rose the dew evaporated, and It grew
| sultry.
Captain Mason, who was well in advance.
found himself descending 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-houses.
They could only occasionally catch glimpse
of the valley below, for as they wound down
the ridge road, they were most of the time
shut in by green walls of tall trees and
| thick bushes. On either side of them 1he
ridge sunk away into deep rocky ravines,
the sides of which were covered with such
| dense underground 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 galloring up and
down the lanes, and for some time it was
impossible to distinguish friend from foe.
Captain Mason drew his company up
along the line of the bluff above the valley
so as to guard the pass, and waited for the
Colonel, -ho came galloping forward in
time to meet the returning cavalry. The
cavalry reported that the enemy were
strongly posted beyond the first farm
house.
Luke's 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
his men they descended to the valley and
deployed.
Fences were thrown down, and through
the fields, woods, pastures and meadows
they began to advance.
Luke halted in a cornfield below house
to reconnoiter. His forces extended on
either side Of him and but three or four
men were in sight. The old farmhouse on
his right had a peaceful, quiet and home
like look. The great dark-green stalks of
corn rose up on every side, the blades and
rich stalks forming jungle impenetrable
to the eye Busy bees were drowsily hum
ming about from vine to vine, among the
corn or lighting on the heavy pods Of full,
ripe beans. A srnf1ower turned its 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 bleating in the far-of pastures, and the
gentle lowing of cattle on the distant hills
reaches the ear of the soldier, and seem
maddening when he contemplates what is
soon to follow.
There are no signs Of carnage, but every
thing betokens the peace and repose of a
delightful Sabbath morn. Luke moves on
from the cornfield into peach orchard.
The trees seem groaning 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
it.
Their line, which is now visible some dis.
lance 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 a bunch of tall weeds
and grass down under the hill. Steadily
the line of sliirmishers crawled forward,
strainin g their eyes for sight of the enc
my A fifth shot, and the bullet whizzing
through the branches Of the tree above
Luke's head brought down half dozen
rosy-cheeled peaches and shower Of
leaves. Luke knew the shot was aimed at
him
81 see the skunk who shot at you, Cap"
said Arkansaw Tom, who was but few
feet on Lukes left; "shall 1 fix 'ima"
"Of course, Tom, IL an enemy's in sight
try your skill"
Arkansaw took step aside and laid his
long rife by the side Of a peach tree. A
moment later there came a sharp report,
followed by q 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 tho bullets whist!ed like hail
among the trees.
"Lie low; keep close to the ground ~ said
Luke.
Skirmishers soon learn that art. The
firing became general, and in 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 wild yells the skirmish-
ers pressed on.
Fearing the consequences Of hurting q
skirmish line against line Of battle, Luke
ordered q halt. Not over one-half obeyed,
and the others, with the cavalry, dashed
pell nell upon the enemy, whom they found
in solid phalanx in field just beyond the
orchard fence. A volley like thundcrclap
shook the earth, strewing the ground with
dead and dying men and horses. The sur
vivors fed, and Captain Mason had all he
could do to prevent a panic; but he at last
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