The Irish standard., 1889-05-04
CHAPTER VIII.
FORT DONELSON.

On the 9TH Of November, 1851, che Missis-
sippi river was low, so thai the banks were
higher than the heads Of the men standing
on the upper decks OF the steamer. From
corndeld, w9ods and all along the shore
Confederate rlfiemen were blazing away at
the retreating boats. The rebels were back
some distance from the river, so their fire
was high and did but Little harm. The
smoke-stacks were thickly reppered with
bullets, but only three men were wounded
after reachin the boats, two Of whom were
soldiers, and one a member Of Captain
Mason's company.
negro wonder, bad 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 exerticn and
the nervous strain, went 20 the captains
room adjoining the pilotrhouse and threw
himself down On B sofa.
Luke saw him go in, and also noticed q
body of rebel sharp-shooters running along
tho bank.
General" he said, looking in at the door,
II dome think you are as safe here as you
would be below. The rebels are pursuing
US along the shore"
care not the gun-boats replying to thera?'
asked the General, springing to his feet and
going TO the door where Captain Mason
stood. At this moment there came crash
and musket bali entered the room, passed
through the head of the sofa where the
chief had lain and lodged IN the foot.
General Grant cast a. glance at the couch
where he had been reposing, and, taking
the Young officers hand in his, with a quiet
smile, said:
"Captain, you have saved my llfe.''
They went below. The gun-bcats, open
ing on the enemy, sent shells shricking and
exploding into the wood and cornf1eld. They
were we'll out in the stream and some dis
tance down, so they had to give but little
elevation to their guns to clear the banks Of
the river. Their position nearly entiladed
the enemy marching through the cornhcld.
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 we're
peeping over the river banks.
"Dod rot 'im-bet spilled that'ns pictur,"
said Tom, reloading his gun. ''Ef they'd
only q let me brung my rifle I'd laid out
more'n one on 'enl.'
The boats soon carried them beyond gum
SuOL, duu Spcu pCGCc1 uAIy OA oASAA rSJ
to Cairo, each now feeling that Belmont had
been 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
States Of America.
Every man in that conflict: small and in
significant as it was compared to the strug-
giles which followed, gained confidence in
himself and that quiet, stern commander,
who was destined to lead the armies of the
Nation to final victory.
The boats returned to Cairo, and long
period of inactivity followed. A. few days
after his return from the battlefield, Luke
received letter from Lille Neff They had
returned shortly after the troops passed
by their house. and learned that he had by
his gallantry saved 1t. 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:
tsBlackhawk has disappeared from the
neighborhood, and it is supposed that he
has run away. ! do not understand that
strar ge negro. He has been an enigma to-
me ever since ] was child. When but a
little girl always shuddered when his yel-
lowish black eyes met mine, and l then