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

ON TO BELMONT.
Captain Mason knew that if he refused to
| either make the half dozen Confederates
| prisoners or shoot them down in their
| tracks he would be censured. But with
| his warm, sympathetic heart appealing for
the brother of the girl dearer than life, he
determined to set military authority at de-
! fiance.
"You once had me in your power and
| spared me-" said the young Captain, after
| an awkward silence of few seconds. II
| would be moro than a monster to refuse
| you your liberty"
THANK you, Luke. don't ask this for
| myself"
The friends advanced and met half way
| between their forces. Leaning from his
| horse he grasped the hand of his friend, who
| was standing on the ground. Captain Mason
said:
ALBERT, it will be all I can do to call
| those men off, as their blood is up and they
| are desperate. l shall do my best, though
"Thank you, it is all you can do"
"Thls will be the last time we can meet
as friends on the field of carnage. Though
shall not raise my hand against you my
self, the conflict is too desperate for one to
screen the other.'
81 know it, Luke. God bless you, my
friend, farewell"
Zone moment before you go-where il
Lillie?" asked Luke.
"At home, l suppose"
"She was not when we came by, and
wanted so much to see her. If you meet
her, tell her that for her sake her
brothers. life shall ever be safe. But longer
delay is dangerous, go-f1y while you can"
1--WE can not travel with him."
Leave HIM, Them
'.No, would die before did that
"Who is he!'
"Captain Jasper Morgan"
1.-THE son of Colonel Morgan"
eyes"
"Was it Colonel Morgan whom we
foughts'
1T was"
"FareweIl.n
Again those friends, one standing in the
ranks of one army and one in another,
clasped hands, gazed for momentinto each
others faces and parteo.
"Have they surrendered" one of the
cavalry officers asked, as Luke came back
TO his mounted men.
"No, it's only detail to care for the
wounded; let them go.''
"And not make prisoners of thema'
Yes, it is best. will be responsible II
the order IS wrong. To arms, right about"
The cavalrymen wheeled their horses
about and, with the Captain at their head,
hill to the valley below. Shots could be
heard a mile or so down the valley, and
there being probability of the enemy cut
ting them off, he had them hasten with all
speed to the main force.
As Luke dismounted from his horse near
where the fight had been hottest, he could
not but shudder. It was the first glimpse
of carnage he had ever had. The fence
over which the conflict had been was badly
shattered with bullets and buck-shot, and
in places was completely thrown down.
Lying on his back upon the lately mown
meadow was middle aged man in his shirt
sleeves, looking like. farmer in peaceful
slumber. A bullet had pierced his heart,
and his features were not distorted or
unnatural. But few rods away, at the
brink of the horse-pond, lay red headed
boy of about seventeen summers, shot in
the head.
his face with his gun under him. Three
dead Confederates lay piled against the
fence. The Union dead, twelve in number,
lay scattered about in the corn-feld and
peach orchard beyond.
s'Glad yer back" said the Colonel, coming
up to where Luke stood gazing on the
scene. 1--WE can't wait here long. We're
having the dead and wounded gathered up
and cared for, and we must be goln' or We'll
udNc t"Cuty luOuSdA0 CoAAiiJ 1CDS 1A
around u.s.
By the middle of the afternoon the little
army was again on the road to Cairo. In
the hurry and confusion Captain Mason's
indulgence to his Confederate friend was
not reported.
The soldiers, angered at the resist
ance they had met, became more OPP
pressive to the people whose country
they were passing through. Houses
were pillaged and burned, and the man Of
civilization became barbarian and rob-
Der. They were greatly aggravated by the
taunts of the Confederate women, who
waved rebel flags in their faces and cheered
"Jeff Davis and the Southern Confeder-
acy." AT such times some forgot they were
gentlemen and gave insult for insult, usual
ly leaving the smoking ruins of once
happy home as terrible example of foolish
insolence.
Hundreds of frightened and oppressed
Union men were constantly fiocking tothem
for protection, and next day after the fight
Colonel Smart had over a thousand unarmed
men, who had to be fed. Having no pro-
vision train foraging became an absolute
necessity. Being in the enemy's country
some OF these foraging expeditions were at
tended with great danger and many were |
the ridiculous adventures.