Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-09-25

| swered:
| "No, five undertook that we'd have to
turn back, and we'd like as not meet Price
and Mccullough. We've got to get to Cairo,
where General Grant and General Prentiss
are, and then well be able 10 whip all the
| rebels in the country"
You mean that we must cut our way
through the rebels sent TO head us offin
| said Luke.
That's 1t, Captain"
1.-The sooner we get at il tho better, for
they are reinforcing all the time"
| Tho others were of the same opinion, and
| each officer was instructed to see that his
men were in the best condition possible for
| battle. A few minutes were given to the
inspection of guns, and to sec that all were
supplied with ammunition, aud the force
moved on, the cavalry considerably in the
advance.
! 1t was bright autumn morning The
night had been slightly chilly, but as the
sun rosc the dew cvaporated, and il grew
sultry.
Captain Mason, who was well in advance,
| found himself descending wooded slope,
while out on his left was long level
stretch Of land, with vast corn and wheat
fields, cut up and broken by lanes and roads,
with here and there beautiful farm-houses
/ Thcy could only occasionally catch glimpse
OF the valley below, for as they wound down
/ the ridge road, they were most of the time
shut in by green walls of tall trees and
| thick bushes. On either side of them the
ridge sunk away into deep rocky ravines,
the sides Of which were covered with such
a dense underground that the bottom could
| not be seen.
The road ut last made an abrupt turn
! where the ridge terminated and descended
into the valley below. Just as Luke ut the
mead OF his company reached the crest of
the hill, distant shots beyond the first farm
house in the valley reached his cars.
Horsemen could be seen galloping up and
down tho lanes, and for some time il was
impossible TO distinguish friend from foe
Captain Mason drew his company up
along the line of tho bluff above the valley
so as 10 guard tho pass, and waited for the
Colonel, who came galloping forward in
time to meet tho returning cavalry. The
cavalry reported that the enemy were
strongly posted beyond the first farm
| house.
Luke's company, with the cavalry, were
| deployed as slSirmishers, and ordered to ad-
vance until they came upon the enemy
| Alter few words of encouragement to
MS men they descended to the valley and
deployed.
Fences were thrown down, and through
the fields, woods, pastures and meadows
| they began to advance.
Luke halted IN n cornfield below house
to recounoitcr His forces extended on
either sldo or him and but three or four
men were in sight. Tine old farm house on
ms right had peaceful, quiet and home
| like look The great dark-green stalks of
corn rose up on every side, the blades and
rlch stalks forming jungle impenetrable
to the eye. Busy bees werc drowsily hum
ming about from vine TO vine among the
1 ar n p f,,tI
| ripo beans. y sunfiowor turned it's bold
lace 10 the king of light, and shred Of gold
upon tho tall stalk marks where butterfly
fingers unconscious OF danger. The lambs
are oleating IN the far-on pastures and the
| gentle lowing OF cattle on the distant hills
reaches the ear of tho soldier, and seem
maddcninS when no contemplates what is
soon to follow.
There arc no signs OF carnage, but every
thing betokcns tho peace and repose of a
delightful Sabbath morn. Luke moves on
from tho cornflcld into peach orchard
Inc trees seem groaning under their bur-
den OF luscious fruit. He could not resist
the temptation topicl up one of the great
ripe peaches which fell at his feet and eat
it,
Their line, which is now visible some dis
lance either way, he was glad to see was
unbroken. The hungry soldiers vyerc de-
a
bly, taking their last meal
white pun of smoke issued from the
fence below the orchard. Tho enemy has
at last been found. Another, another, and
another shot rang out
Steady, don't shoot until you see your
man." cried the Captain. The firing
seemed to como from g bunch of tall weeds
and grass down under tho hill Steadily
the lie Of skirmishers crawled forward
strainin their eyeo for sight of the enc
my. a fifth shot, and the bullet whizzing
through tho branches OF the tree above
Luke's head brought down half n dozen
rosy-checlred peaches and q shower of
leaves. Luke know the shot was aimed Mt
him
81 see the skunk who shot at you. Cap.p
said Arliansaw Tom, who was but few
feet on Luke's left; "shall / fix 'imln
or course, Tom, IL an enemy's in sight
try your skill"
Arkansaw took step aside and laid his
long rife by tho side of peach tree. A
moment later there came a sharp report.
followed by yell from tho tall grass
and rosin weeds, and a man sprang half
way to his feet and fell back kicking and
struggling.
Shot after shot rang along the sl,irmish
lines, and tho bullets whist.ed like hail
among the trees.
Lie loWi keep close TO the ground ~ said
Luke.
Sdirmishers soon learn that art. The
firing became general, and in q few mo-
ments the enemy began to fall back That
uneasy dread which possessed every man
ut FIRST disappeared as tho enemy began TO
fan back, and with Wild yells tho skirmish-
ers pressed on.
Fearing tho consequences Of hurting
Skirmish limo against line Of battle, Luke
ordered halt. Not over one-half obeyed.
aud the others, with tho cavalry. dashed
peil neil upon the enemy, whom they found
IN solid phalaux ia ~ field just beyond the
orchard fence. a voley like q thunderclap
shook tho earth, strcwing the ground with
dead and dying men and horses. The sur
viyor5 fled, and Captain Mason had all he
could do 70 prevent panic; but he al last
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