Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-18
CHAPTER VIII. rnDr nnNEJ SnN

On the 7th of November, 1861, the Missis slppi rlver was low, so that the banks werc higher than the heads of the men standing on the upper decks of the steamer. From cornfield, woods and all along the shore Confederate rlflemen were blazing away at the retrcating boats. The rebels were back some distance from the river, SO their fro was high and did but little harm. The smole-stacks were thickly peppered with bullets, but only three men were wounded after reachip the boats, two of whom were soldiers, and ono 0 member of Captain Mason'S company.
 On reaching the boat, Blackhawl1, the negro wonder, had laid down his musket and resumed his place as fireman at one of the great furnaces.
 On reaching the deck General Grant, al | most completely worn out by eXertion and the nervous strain, went to the captains room adjoining the pilot-house and threw himself down on a sofa.
 Luke saw him go in, and also noticed a body of rebel sharp-shooters running along the bank.
 "General," he said, looking in at the door, ''1 don't think you are as safe here as you would be below. The rebels are pursuing us along the shore"
 "Are not the gun-boats replying to thems" asked the General, springing to his feet and
  | stood. At this moment there came crash and musket ball entered the room, passed | through the head of the sofa where the | chief had lain and lodged in the foot. l General Grant cast glance at the couch | where he had been reposing, and, taking | the young officers hand ill his, with quiet | smile, said:
 Captain, you have saved my hfe." They went below. The gun-boats, open ing on the enemy, sent shells shrieking and l exploding into the wood and cornfeld. They l were well out in the stream and some dis tance down, so they had to give but little 1 elevation to their guns to clear the banks of the river. Their position nearly enfiladed the enemy marching through the cornfield.
 Luke began to look about for the members of his company. He found Arkansaw Tom, Ned Cotton, Corporal Max and Bill Snow near the stern, firing as rapidly as they could at the heads of the rebels who were peeping over the river banks. | "Dod rot 'im-bet spilled thatns pictur," said Tom, reloading his gun. "Ef they'd only 0 let me brung my rifle I'd laid out | more'n one on 'em."
 The boats soon carried them beyond gun shot, and sped peacefully on their way to Cairo, each now feeling that Belmont had been a great victory, and that he had contrib uted his share toward it. Captain Mason had cause to be proud of the work he had done toward establishing the right of that | grand old flag to wave all over the United l States of America.
 Every man in that conflict, small and in- significant as it was compared to the strug- l gles which followed, gained confidence in himself and that quiet, stern commander, l who was destined to lead the armies of the Nation to final victory.
 The boats returned to Cairo, and a long l period of inactivity followed. A few days after his return from the battlefield, Luke received letter from Lillie Neff. They had | returned shortly after tho troops passed by their house, and learned that he had by his gallantry saved it. She stated that she prayed daily that he and her brother might be spared, and that this cruel war might come to an end. Her letter concluded with
 "Blackhawk has disappeared from the neighborhood, and it is supposed that he has run away I do not understand that strange negro. He has been an enigma to me ever since I was a child. When but a little girl always shuddered when his yell 1 Jewish black eyes met mine. md then