Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-08-22

placed IN command of it. Muster your men
as soon as you can and report to me how
many answer to roll call"
Luke had each company call it's roll, and
made out his reports, which he forwarded
promptly to headquarters.
One evening he was again summoned to
brigade headquarters. Generals Grant,
Smith, Wallace and McClernand were there
awaiting him. He was informed that on
the 21st OF the present month February,
1S63) they designed moving on Clarkville,
and seven days later to Nashville, unless
orders to the contrary were received.
'What we want, Captain Mason, is for you
TO mako reconnaissance along the roads
leading to these two cities,n said General
McClernand. 1.-THE country is said to be
overrun with bands of Confederates, and
we want you with sufficient force to start
tonight and go out at least a dozen miles
and report to us to- morrow, or jus. as early
as you can. Will you do it,"
II will try" he unhesitatingly answered.
That's all any man could ask" said the
conqueror of Donelson. 'How many men
do you wants''
Fifty light horse will be amply sufi-
Gent"
''Take your pick from the army"
After selecting the cavalrymen suited to
his service he chose in addition his four
tried and trusty Observation-Disclosures Tom,
Max, Snow and Cotton-and securing the
best horses to be found, with NEGRO guide,
started at once upon their perilous expedi-
ton.
The night was too dark for any object to
be seen, and as Luke rode at the side of
the guide he held cooked pistol in his
right hand.
us it woods all the way to Clarkvillea"
he asked the guide.
Yes, boss, bout all de way, reckin',"
the negro answered. "Dar am some
fields"
"Are the people about here loyala"
"No, boss; dey's all secesh."
"Then we can expect no favors from
them"
"Dey'd cut our heads off # dey could.'
81 heah bosses feet comm down tn road,
Cap'n," said old Arkansaw Tom, who was
just behind Luke.
"How many do you think they area"
asked Luke, checking his horse
"a hull passed.
"Dey am not friens," said the guide
Luke determined to give them a wide
berth, and ordered the guide to take them
to some safe spot at the roadside, where
they halted and waited for the horsemen to
go by. The heavy splashlng of horses feet
could be heard by the Union cavalry.
men to pass Luke knew there must be at
least twenty-five of them. His strange
guide declared there were thirty. This
guides voice seemed strangely familiar to
Luke He had not seen his features, as he
had never met him by daylight, or even by
the light of a torch, or he would have recog-
nized him. 1t was not until he said:
"Come on, now, Massa Luke!' that he
recognized him.
Blackhawkl" he gasped.
Yes, massa."
"Why are you herel Where have you
beena"
"Tryin' ter help save dis Union, Massa
Luke, N sot my chllun free. KNOWS cherry
foot o. dis country, kase useter live heah !;
but dey's gone now, massa, an we kin go
on.''
They had not gone more than three
miles when they came to large, d-fash-
Toned Southern planters house, standing on
the top of a commanding eminence. From
the windows there flashed brilliant lights,
and an unusual excitement seemed to per-
wade the building from attic to cellar.
Lights from gilded chandeliers shining
through the broad, deep windows fell across
a delightful lawn, and showed a number of
horses hitched to the fence.
Mason halted his command and called
Captain Lawrence, of the cavalry, to his
side, and asked Blacl1hawk who lived in the
house.
Colonel Lucas, sah," the guide on
swered.
sis he a Confederates"
eyes, sab, dey am secesh, an specks dey
am now gittin' ready to 60 off ter Nash
Vile"
Captain Lawrence at this moment came
up to where Luke sat at the head of the
command, and Captain Mason said:
Captain Lawrence, believe there are
several officers in that house, and it's our
duty to arrest them?'
81 am with you," the Captain answered.
"More than likely there are also women
and children in the house, SO caution your
men not to injure them, if possible"
The troops were divided into two parties,
Captain Lawrence having command of one
and Captain Mason of the other.
It was arranged for Luke to attack from
the south and Captain Lawrence to come in
from the east, completely fanking the
building, and they hoped to prevent any
from escaping
Dismounting q short distance from the
fence on the south, Luke left the horses in
charge of a small guard, and, followed by
Arkansaw Tom and others, he crept up the
hedgerow on the south. The dim outline