The Springdale news., 1889-06-21

bad condition, and will have to reerganire and be filled with recruits, but this can not be done now, and for the present you will be placed in command of 1t. Muster your men as soon as you can and report to me how many answer to roll call Luke had each company call it's roll, and made out his reports, which he forwarded promptly to headquarters. One evening he was agaln summoned to brigade headquarters. Generals Grant, Smith, Wallace and MeClernand were there awaiting him. He was informed that on the Fist of the present month (February, 1S62) they designed moving on Clarkvllle, and seven days later to Nashville unless orders to the contrary were received.
 ''What we want Captain Mason,is for you to make reconnaissance along the roads leading to these two cites," said General McC1ernand 'The country is said to be overrun with. bands of Coufederates and we want you with a sufficient force to start to night and go out at least dozen miles and report to us tomorrow, or just as early as you can. Will you do itsn
 Il will try" he uuhesitatingly answered.
 That's all any man could ask" said the conqueror of Donelson. "How many men do you wanta'
 Fifty light horse will be amply aufi- cientn
 "Take your pick from the army,n
 After selecting the cavalrymen suited to his service he chose in addition his four tried and trusty friends-Arkansaw Tom, Max, Snow and Cotton-and securing the best horses to be found, with negro guide, started at once upon their perilous expedi- tion.
 The night was too dark for any object to be seen, and as Luke rode at the side of the guide he held a cooked pistol Tn his right hand.
 'Is it woods all the way to Clarkvillel" he asked the guide.
 |" Yes, boss, bout all de way, reckin'," the negro answered. Dar am some fields"
 [" Are the people about here loyali'
 "No, boss; dey,s all secesh."
 linen we can expect no favors from them.n
 "Dey'd cut our heads off f dey could.n
 s'I heah hosses feet comin' down tn road, Gap'n,n said old Arkansaw Tom, who was just behind Luke.
 q How many do you think they are'' asked Luke. checking his horse. A hull passel- "Dey am not friens," said the guide Luke determined to give them wide berth, and ordered the guide 10 take them to some safe spot at the roadside, where l they halted and waited for the horsemen to go by. The heavy splashlng of horses feet could be heard by the Union cavalry.
 From the length of time it took the horse men to pass Luke knew there must be at least twenty-five of them His strange guide declared there were thirty. This guides voice seemed strangely familiar to I IJa bad tCt hn had never met him by daylight, or even by the light of torch, or he would have reeog- nzed him. It was not unul he said;
 " Come on, now, Massa Luke!" that he recognized him.
 l. Blackhawkln he gasped
 Yes, massa.n
 "Why are you herei Where have you beenl'
 's Tryin' ter help save dis Union, Massa Luke n sot my chilun free. l knows ebery foot O dis country, kase l Hseter live heah {; but dey's gone now, massa, an we kin go on.n
 They had not gone more than three miles when they came to a large, old fash toned Southern planters house, standing on the top of d commanding eminence- From the windows there flashed brilliant lights, and all unusual excitement seemed to per | Naue tHe DulIuln8 iioiH dLllC tp CtiAaI.
 Lights from gilded chandeliers shining through the broad deep windows fell across delightful lawn, and showed a number of | horses hitched to the fence.
 Mason halted his command and called Captain Lawrence, of the cavalry, to hls side, and asked BlaekhaWk who Lived in the house.
 '' Colonel Lucas, sah, the ga!de an swered.
 "Is he a ConfederateH
 s Yes, sah, dcy am secesh, an specks dey am now gittin' ready to go off ter Nash yille.'a
 Captain Lawrence at this moment came up to where Luke sat at the head of the command, and Captain Mason sad:
 '' Captain LaWrcIs.e, l believe there are several officers in thsrt house, and it's our duty to arrest themta
 :. am with you, the Captain answered.
 More than likely there are also women and children ill the house. so caution your men not to injure them. if possible'
 The troops were divided into two parties, ], Captain Lawrence having command of one and Captain Mason of the other,
 It was arranged for Luke to attack from the south and Captain Lawrence to come in from the east, completely flanking the 1 building, and they hoped to prevent any 1 from escaping. Dismounting a short distance from the 1 fence on the south, Luke left the horses in charge of small guard, and followed by | Arkansaw Tom and others, he crept mp the 1 bpd dgerotv an the cpntb The dim outline