The Irish standard., 1889-04-27
ICopyriQhted, 1881

Whether any Of them lad been killed er
wounded the Union recruits could not de-
termine, though next morning puddle Of
blood close to tree was discovered. Bin
Snow, the only man touched on the Union
side, lad slight desh wound in his arm.
Captain Smart made no effort to pursue
the enemy but coutented himself to remain
behind the fence with his forces for - -.
or two after they had disapr- Ihe
attacking force was eviden''j ;soout e2uaA
TO his own, aud failing to make complete
surprise, or even take advantage OF the
partial surprise, they had deemed it best to
retreat.
Sleep was s. stranger to the eyes Of the
uew soldiers the remainder OF that night.
When morning came NOT % sign OF al enemy
could be found. 1t was the general Deief
th1st tue opposing force would renew The
battle at daylight, but when it came they
were 1aany miles away. and only the bullet
shattered oaks and fences remained to 1eAA
that a. con1lic. bad ragged there pu5 few
hours before.
rne recruits. elated at their victory,
seemed to have suddenly developed into
veterans. In their enthusiasm they wanted
to be led at once against Lexington, winch
Price was supposed to be investing with "a
LGISJt; iON:,iy wv - SAAA Wv ~
ono hundred thousand men.
I1ie recruits were again il turmoil Tor
the lack Of q leader Two days were spent
in trying to devise some general mode OF
action. Luke, Disguised with military
organization which seemed TO stronger
shan 81 rope OF sane, was half incl ined to
desart aud seek the service OF his country
elsewhere
They were Instant ly threatening TO
break up ard go off in different directions.
each company to ITSELF Nothing but the
knowledge that providing bands OF Lonfsd-
crates svarned everywhere held them TO-
pether st t5igget. On the evening OF The
third day man mounted GU q lt.ded horse
rode into camp with tie startling iuIel!i~
fonao that Lexington had fallen Oh the 2eth
Of September, the day before.
All hope Of reaching Lexington was
abandonod and without any leader the
:.imy was in a deplorable condition. Sur
rounded by che enemy, cut Off from friends
antl conyulsed WITH internal strife, their
condition was somewhat precarious.
Some wanted to go to St. Louis, others to
ssrrir gfeld, and another day was spent at
s'agget arguing which course they should
t:Ae, when a messenger came with nrders
from somewhere for them to move to Cairo
that, Of course, settled their destination,
b1t there were many minor details to he.
consulted il: regard to tho rnarcll. Captain
En.art still had nominal command OF the
Scrces, bus his authority was liable to be
usnrpea at any time.
s,v pressing, into service such teams as
ss,uid he found, they managed to organize a
;s1nall baggage train and prepared Tor the
march. I.ulst's voluntary suggestions TO
xre&a extent helped Il, pour oil OH tho
tronnied waters, anG brought him invo the
favorable notice at his superiors.
a. last The march WAS bagun, anu to
yu!ze's astonishrneEt, as well as delight, he
foln0 shat their course took thel, down the
1,ossG which led past Mr.. Neff's farmhouse
The whole country was wild with ALARM,
sna they frequently found farni- houses &C.
serted. Those deserted homes were plaza-
;area By the recruits, who seemed to have
ECO IDEAS Of wai above that Of pillage. Cay
t1,;1 Smart and many Others die aM they
could 10 prevent plumber and insults, but a
SAD lack OF military discipline rendered
,MeEl powerless.
'Captaiu Smart Luke said, as they wers
Daarching down the great turnpike which
led past the farm Of Nj. NefF, twill you not
4eb me have ~ small detail, and go forward
10 R&CtU Il laTIl-llCuStj StDOllC II!S NlllCS lI
our advanced"
sHNhy dye want to do thats'' the Captain
asked.
''Those people are Gy frieuds."
ARE they rebelss''
"ssoue may be--some are not: out havs
swoxu thai the young g1rl and That helpless
olh nuan shall nos suffer insults which I
havs, st,eu heaped apon the inoffensive ard
wesk by these soldiers"
Captain Srnart, remembering the aG
vantage }uke's suggestions had been to
him, said:
"rIi give ye any four men in my compa~
ny. ys want, # ye tt1nk they l,e enough to
protect the people I've tried t. stop their
stena;n' but it doxl't seem ia MY power. 1t
you kin do it, yer welcome T. the detail"
Having the privilege Of making his own
aaIsstion, Luke chose his mess-Arkansaw
Tom, Ned Cotton. Bill Swain and Corporal
MAX Bits wound was trihing, and did
not jisabla aim.
"Wh hat PC wans US t. do?'' asked Arkan-
SAW Tom, SIS they hurried down the road
rast the advance guard.
you are 20 protect q house."
'sWhose?"
s'AIs. Jordan Nef's."
e'un;on or secesha"
:'Tiaa family are divided. The only sou is
il, the Confederate army"
"1hey'll burn the house,
"You must not let them. The house and
inmates must be shielded from insult"
eff go say It, we'll perfect 'em, eff it costa
us our lives.'
s'That is what want you to de-"
"It's settled" said old .Arkansaw Tom.
aWe'u perfect ZEN, ur bite the dust tryin'."
gne old familiar farmhouse was at last
Ia s.ght, and Luke felt his heart beating
high with hope and expectation as he neared
il.
vi will SEQ her once nore,'' he thought.
"She will Know that have done this fer
her sake, and thas next to my country she
n the dearest object ct life"
How peaceful and quiet seemed the pleas
Ant old country home. The tall poplars
sad stately el1ns lowered above the broad
lawn, and their leaves rustled in the breeze.
The focks were bleating on the hills, and
distant tinklng of cow-bells came to his
ears. Pigs were grunting in the fence
aprnars, and busy bees humned from flow
u 10 flower. The strange silence abous
tho house caused an uneasy feeling to come
svaY him. When they reached the gate
~. 4 Z onVo