The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-06-14
CHAPTER vi.
nM 10 REIMONT

OAptdln mason knew That IL ue TeIuS0Q 10
either make the half dozen Confederates
prisoners or shoot them down in their
tracks he would be censured. But with
his warm, sympathetic heart appealing for
the brother of the girl dearer than life, he
determined to set military authority at de-
fiance.
"You once had me in your power and
spared me, " sad the young Captain, after
an awkward silence of few seconds. 81
would be more than monster to refuse
you your liberty
THANK you, Luke. don't ask this for
myself"
The friends advanced and met half way
between their forces. Leaning from his
horse he grasped the hand of his friend, who
was standing on the ground. Captain Mason
said:
ALBERT, it will be all I can do to call
those men of, as their blood is up and they
are desperate Ishall do my best, though"
"Thank you, it is all you can do"
"Thls will be the last time we can meet
as friends on the field of carnage. Though
/ shall not raise my hand against you my
self, the conflict is too desperate for one to
screen the other"
81 know it, Luke. God bless you, my
friend, farewell"
zone moment before you go-where il
Lille" asked Luke.
"At home, 1 suppose"
"She was not when we came by, and l
wanted so much to see her. If you meet
her, tell her that for her sake her
brothers life shall ever be safe. But longer
delay is dangerous, go-fiy while you can"
1--WE can not travel with him."
Leave HIM, then.''
"No, would die before did that"
"Who is he!"
"Captain Jasper Morgan"
1.-THE son Of Colonel Morganr'
eyes"
"was it Colonel Morgan whom we
fought!'
1T was"
Farewell"
Again those friends. one standing in the
ranks of one army and one in another,
clasped hands, gazed for moment into each
others faces and parteo.
"Have they surrendered" one of the
cavalry officers asked, as Luke came back
10 his mounted men.
"No, it's only a detail to care for the
wounded; let them 60"
"And not make prisoners Of thema"
"Yes, it is best / will be responsible If
the order Is wrong. To arms, right about"
The cavalrymen wheeled their horses
about and, with the Captain at their head,
went laundering from the wood, down the
hill to the valley below. Shots could be
heard a mile or so down the valley, and
there being probability of the enemy cut
ting them OF, he had them hasten with all
speed to the main force.
As Luke dismodnted from his horse near
where the fight had been hottest, he could
not but shudder. It was the first glimpse
of carnage he had ever had. The fence
over which the conflict had been was badly
shattered with bullets and buck-shot, and
in places was completely thrown down.
Lying on his back upon the lately mown
meadow was middle aged man in his shirt
sleeves, looking like farmer in peaceful
slumber. A bullet had pierced his heart,
and his features were not distorted or
unnatural. But a few rods away, at the
brink of the horse-poud, lay red. headed
boy Of about seventeen summers, shot in
the head.
An old, white-haired man had fallen on
his face with his gun under him. Three
dead Confederates lay piled against the
fence. The Union dead, twelve in number,
u
peach orchard beyond.
''Glad yer back" said the Colonel, coming
up to where Luke stood gazing on the
scene. I'VE can't wait here long. We're
having the dead and wounded gathered up
and cared for, and we must be goln' or We'll
have twenty thousand Johnny rebs all
around u.s."
By the middle of the afternoon the little
ha 20 Nair In
the hurry and confusion Captain Mason's
indulgence to his Confederate friend was
not reported.
The soldiers, angered at the resist
ance they had met, became more OPP
pressive to the people whose country
they were passing through. Houses
were pillaged and burned, and the man of
civilization became barbarian and a rob-
Der. They were greatly aggravated by the
taunts of the Confederate women. who
waved rebel flags in their faces and cheered
"Jeff Davis and the Southern Confeder-
acy." At such times some forgot they were
gentlemen and gave insult for insult, usual
~ leaving the smoking ruins of a once
happy home as a terrible example of foolish
insolence.
Hundreds of frightened and oppressed
Union men were constantly flocking to them
for protection, aud next day after the fight
Colonel Smart had over Thousand unarmed |
men, who had to be fed. Having no pro-
vision train foraging became An absolute
Being in the enemy's country |
some of these foraging expeditions were at !
tended with great danger and many were |
The ridiculous adventures.
ITO BE CONTINUED