Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-17

HUH any o1 euO ObAC1S.
 All was quiet. A peculiar solemn hush seemed to have fallen over the scene, broken only by the crushing tread of some soldier making his way through the tangled thicket. Luke began to half believe that the enemy had deserted the camp.
 A crow, cawing 2 loudly, was soaring above the tree tops, doubtless annoyed by the presence of the advancing warriors. A blue jay chirped and screamed as it fitted from bush to bush and tree in front of the advancing skirmish line.
 Luke was pressing his way through an almost impenetrable jungle when a shot rang out ou his left. It was the first sound of an enemy. The men had really began to secretly hope that they would find the camp deserted. For single instant the heart of the youthful Captain beat faster, while the blood forsook his cheek.
 Bang! bang! bang! three moro shots in quick succession on the left pronounced the sklrmish as begun. And now the music be- gins on the right First, half a dozen shots lead off, followed bya score, and then a hundred. The crow and blue jay fly away, and every soldier, more eager for shot than prudent, pressed forward.
 Luke strained his eyes for a glimpse of the enemy, and was at last rewarded by dark object moving about among the leaves. Whether one man or a score he knew not, for the bushes almost completely concealed them
 The ball opened in front, and fire, smoke and leaden hail were poured in upon the cen ter of the Union skirmish line. The soldiers stood their ground and fought with wonder full desperation and coolness.
 "Why don't they reinforce us,'' cried Lieutenant Smith. ''We're fightin' a hull army"
 A few moments later the skirmishers were reinforced, and gallantly pressed for ward, pushing the Confederates back two hundred paces or more up the hill, where they made another stand.
 A roar of musketry met the advancing skirmish line, and the woods seemed alive with leaping flames. The bark flew from the shattered trees, limbs, twigs and leaves fell in showers, and bullets whistled like rain about the ears of the soldiers.
 The man on Lulle's right was killed, one on the left fell mortally wounded, Lieutenant Smith received a shot in his arm and retired to the rear, Corporal Max was knocked down by spent ball, and for a few moments the young Captain seemed to stand alone before the enemy
 ''Cap, I be cussed eff we hain't got ter git out O this," cried old Arkansaw Tom, coming up at this moment. "We're fightin' a line O battle."
 Luke had realized this some moments be- fore, but had held hls ground hoping soon to be reinforced. The fire was so heavy that the soldiers had begun to fly.
 "Come on, Cap; fur Gods sake don't stand thar n be killed,'' cried old Tom, seizing his arm and trying to. drag him away. The dense smoke of battle had settled about among the woods, rendering objects invisible twenty paces away.
 As Luke was about to comply with the old falo followed by half dozen men ran forward, shouting:
 "Surrender or dier'
 "Not by Q jugful," yelled Arkansaw Tom, and quick as flash he brought his gun to his shoulder and leveled it at his heart.
 But just as his finger pressed the trigger Luke struck up the gun with his sword and sent the bullet flying harmlessly through the air.
 "Dod burn it. what d ye do thet fur?"
 "Fly for your life,n shouted Luke, push ing the scout down the hill and starting after him. But black object behind tree terious old negro, Blackhawk, who had been puzzle to him from childhood. Blackhawk had got away from the boat, found gun and came to fight. He was kneeling behind a tree, his gun leveled at the young Confederate whose life Luke had saved.
 "You black scoundrel, dare you fire and will run you through,' shouted Luke, plac- ing the point of his sword against the negro's breast.
 "He's Ia Reb massa, an Is fightin' ter free my pol wife an little baby'
 'But he was good master to you, and if you harm him l will kill you" He snatched the negros gun from his hand and hurled him. down the hill. They had not gone far before they met the advancing lines of the Federal army, and the skirmishers quickly fell into place and | all pressed gallantly up the eminence through the felled timber. The terrible thunder of contending armies made the woods tremble. The Federals passed over the abattis of fallen trees, though many a gallant solder laid down his life in the effort. Luke saw Eddie Reed, one of his company, lying with his body in the fork of fallen tree, and supposing he was en- tangled, went to help extrcate him, but he had bullet in his heart and was dead.
 The Union forces drove back the rebel lines before them. As soon as the cleared space around the camp was gained. a charge was ordered, and terrible hand to hand fight ensued. The Confederates numbered eight thousand, but General Grants forces fell upon them with such inn
 
 struggle they broke and fled. A moment later the stars and bars were run down, and the stars and stripes mounted into their place.
 The batteries at Columbus commanded the position, and General Grant knew he could not long hold the camp. The only thing that had protected the Union forces from showers of shot and shell was the fear the Confederate gunners had of kill ing their own friends, for the blues and grays were so mixed up that it was rather difficult to tell friend from foe.
 Driven from their camp, the rebels fled down under the hill. The Union soldiers, flushed with victory, became wild. Hither and thither, helter-skelter, they went, re- gardless of military discipline, and seem. ing more like madmen than soldiers. They plundered and burned the camp and cheered until they were hoarse. In vain did General Grant try to get them back to the transports. They seemed bent only upon the destruction of the enemy's prop | erty.
 "Form yer men," yelled Colonel Smart, | growing white with fury.