Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-10-02

u part OF the corn-n I'D and the tall bottom
grass. Tho fog rapidly rolled away, and
tho FURNISHED arms of tho blue-coats gilt
tered with dazzling brightness In the morn
ing sun
Before the foot of the hill was reached a
halt was made and slxirmishers deploycd
Captain Mason with his entire company
was thrown forward upon the skirmish
line He first deploycd in platoons, then
in tours, and finally placed each man u rod
from any of the others.
All was quiet. A peculiar solemn hush
seemed to have fallen over the scene
broken only by the crushing tread of som,
soldier making his way through the tanglcs
thiclSet. Luke began to half believe tina
the enemy had deserted tho camp.
crow, cawing loudly. was soaring abov,
the tree tops, doubtless annoyed by the
presence OF the advancing warriors. A
blue jay chirpcd and screamed as il fitted
from bush TO bush and trco in front of the
advancing slxirmish line.
Luke was pressing his way through ar
almost impenctrable jungle when shot
rang out on his left IL was the first sound
of an enemy. The men had really began 10
secretly hope that they would find the camp
deserted. For single instant tho heart OF
tho youthful Captain beat faster, while tbs
blood forsoolS his cheek.
quick succession on the left pronounced the
skwmish as begun. And now tho music be
gins on the right. First, half dozen shots
lead of. followed by n score, and then
hundred The crow and blue jay fly away,
and every soldier, moro eager for n shot
than prudent, pressed forward.
Luke strained his eyes for glimpse OF the
enemy, and was Mt last rewarded by dark
object moving about among the leaves.
Whether ono man or n score he knew not,
for the bushes almost completely concealed
them.
The ball opened in front, aud fire, smoke
and lcadcn hail were poured in upon the con
ter of the Union skirmish line. Tho soldiers
stood their ground and fought with wonder
full desperation and GOODNESS.
"Why don't they reinforce us" cried
Lieutenant Smith. Were fghtih' n hull
army"
A few moments later the skirmishers
were reinforced, and gallantly pressed for
ward, pushing the Confcderdtcs back two
hundred PAGES or moro up the hill, where
they made another stand.
n roar OF muskctry met the advancing
skirmish line, and the woods seemed alive
with leaping flames. The bark few from
the shattered trees, limbs, twigs aud leaves
fell in showers, and bullets whistlcd like
Tho man on Lule's right was killed,
one on the left fell mortally wounded,
Lieutenant Smith received shot in his
arm aud retired to the rear, Corporal Max
was knocked down by spent ball, and for
few moments tho young Captain seemed to
stand alone before the enemy.
'Cap, / be cusscd cf We hain't got ter
SIT out o. this" cried old Arkansaw Tom.
comingup at this moment. "Werc iightin'
n line o. battle"
Luke had realized this some moments be.
fore, but had held his 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 IN be killed" cried old Tom,
SEEING his arm and trying to drag him
away. The dense smoke of battle had
settled about among tho woods, rendering
objects invisible twenty PAGES away.
As Luke was about to comply with tho
old scouts request Confederate officer
followed by half dozen men ran forward,
shouting:
surrender or dier'
p" Not by a joyful" yelled Arliansaw Tom.
and quick as flash me brought his gun to his
shoulder and leveled it at his heart.
But just as his finger pressed the trigger
Luke struck up tho gun with his sword
and sent the bullet flying harmlessIy
through the air
"Dod burn it, what ID We do thct furlr
Fly for your lifo,' shouted Luke push
ing the scout down the hill and starting
after HIM. But black object behind a tree
arrested his attention. 1t WIS that mvs.
FERROUS old negro, Blackhavk, who had
been puzzle to him from childhood.
Blackhawk had got away from the boat.
found gun and came TO fight He was
kneeiing behind tree, his gun lcvelcd al
the young Confederate whose life Luke had
saved
"You black scoundrel, dare you fire and
will riu you through" shouted Luke, plac-
ing the point of his sword against the
Negroes breast
Hes Reb massa, an rs 1ightin' ter
free my POI wife an little baby"
but he was Il good master to you, and
IT you harm him l will kill you He
snatched the ncgro's gun from his hand
and hurled him down the hill.
They had not gone far before they met tie
advancing lines of the Federal army. and
the skirmishers quickly fell into place and
all pressed calamity up the eminence
through tho fclled timber The terrible
thunder of contcuding armies made the
woods tremble. The Fcderals passed over
tho abattis Of fallen trees, though many q
gallant soldier laid down his life in the
effort Luke saw Eddie Rccd, one Of his
company, lying with his body in the fork OF
fallen tree, and supposing he was On
tangled, went TO help cxtrcatc him, but he
had bullet in his heart aud was dead.
The Union forces drove back the rebel
lines before them. As soon as the cleared
space around the camp was gained.
charge was ordered and "a terrible hand TO
hand fight ensucd. The Confcdcratcs
numbered eight thousand, but General
Grants forces fell upon them with such i'm
pctuosity that after brief but desperate
struggle they broke and fed A moment
later the stars and bars were run down.
aud the stars and stripes mounted into their
place.
The batteries at Columbus commanded
the position, and General Grant knew bc
could not long hold tho camp. The ONLY
thing that had protected the Union forces
from showers OF shot and shell was the
fear the Confederate guuncrs had Of kin.
ing their own friends, for the blues and
grays were so mixed up that 10 was rather
difficult TO ten friend from foo.
Driven from their camp the rebels fled
down under the hill Tho Union soldiers
flushed with victory, became wild Hthcr
and thither, heller SHELTER, they went re-
gardlcss Of military discipline and seem.
ing more like madmcn than soldiers They
plundcrcd and burned The camp and
checrcd until they were hoarsc. In vain
did General Grant try to get them back TO
tho transports. They seemed bent oniy
frHaI q DO. loot