The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-07-05
Copyrighted, 1ss9.1
CHAPTER IX.-CoNrrNrEp,

| derS 1urt'
"A fire would make US an excellent mark
for the rebel gunners."
ard about as soon be shot as to be freez-
in to death here" growled Max.
Night set in bleak and cherries. The
shrill north wind whistled through the de-
nuded branches of the trees, and the shiv-
ering soldiers bent their wretched bodies
nearer to the earth. At midnight it was
snowiu and soon a carpet of white was
spread over the earth. The wretched men,
shivering and crouching before the blast,
scarce could move to shake of the fakes
that were covering them like mantle of
! white.
"Cap, don't We hear some one comin'r'
old Arkausaw Tom asked.
Luke listened. and could hear the faint
tread of footsteps coming over the frozen
ground He Immediately dispatched his or
DERBY to the Colonel. asking permission to
capture the bold sdventurers. who had evil
IDENTIFY come out to recounoiter
Without consulting any higher authority
Colonel Smart told him to go ahead"
| tom. Max. Ned. Bill" said the Captain,
| calling over the names of those whom he
knew could be trusted. Silent as shadows
| they rose to their feet, glided to his side.
| and the five stole out upon the cleared space
between them and the fort. It was now so
dark that no object could be seen a dozen
PAGES away. The shrill north wind seemed
TO pierce thenrto the bone
Suddenly they stopped. Whispers were
heard ahead. The snow was falling fast,
aud the scouts crept through it near
enough to discover half a dozen men, evil
IDENTIFY Confederate officers, grouped to-
gether engaged in conversation.
! Luke determined to cut them OF and make
captives of them, but, while moving in be.
tween them and the fort. the unlucky
Max stumbled and fell, making "a much
noise as if an OK had dropped from the
moon Three Of the rebels fired at them
and took to their heels.
"Come quick, We've no time to lose, if we
want to take them" whispered Captain Ma
son, running at full >,eed, hoping to cut
| them on
Max and Snow blazed away. but missed.
| Cotton and Tom then fired their muskets,
and a man fell. The frozen ground was
rough and stumpy. Luke. being swift of
foot, distanced his companions and was
gaining on the hindmost man, who flew for
life toward the fort.
Suddenly the pursued, without checking
his speed, drew a revolver and emptied half
dozen chambers in almost as many sec
onds at Luke. Though tlse bullets few un-
comfortably near the young officers head,
| he was unharmed, and with drawn sword
did not halt for single moment. The fuRi-
tive had partially turned his head when he
fired, and did not see the stump before him
until he had stumbled and fallen over it.
Before he could rise Luke was upon him
with upifted sword.
"SurrenderI' he cried, in q voice hoarse
with passion. The answer came from the
ground IN a voice firm and defiant:
Never to a Yankee. Strike if You will"
At sound of the voice Luke's arm fell
powerless at his side. and he turned away.
All his hearts tenderest feelings had been
reused by the sound of that voice.
They have escaped u.s." he said to his
companions whom he met coming toward
him. Get back to your ranks. for we are
too close now
On their way back they picked up the
man that had fallen. who proved to be
rebel Lieutenant. The ball had pierced his
heart, killing him instantly.
Luke said nothing about his adventure
with the Confederate who had emptied his
revolver at him. The remainder of the night
was quietly but miserably passed. At day
break the entIre line of shiverlug. qualling,
haIf-fruzen soldiers were reused by the cry:
Here they Gomez
Yes, by jimmy, thar they come. bag
and baggage said Araan5aw Tom, selzlng
his gun and starting to MS feet
Luke, who had been sitting at the root of
tree in a slight do5e. was up in 4 moment.
A long line of grey coats could be seen
coming over the euemy's works, forming
4 la h.l1
on their haversacks, canteeus, blankets
and knapsacks, az il they were going on
march
They've come ter stay, n brought grub
n blankets SAID old Tom.
The long roll sounded, calling every man
to battle In three minutes the whole line
was formed. On with tremendous yells
they came, and the work of death began.
First q few dropping shots, like the patter
Of rain shower, and then came n storm of
fire and leaden hail. 1t was kept up.
Nearer and nearer the contending lines ap-
preached. and fiercer and fiercer grew the
conflict. Luke glanced along their line. half
concealed with smoke, from which the
angry blazes constantly flashed. The blaze
from those guns never entirely died away,
but in titful running flames continued to
dance along the line.
Lvke's men were falling on every side.
The ground was strewn with dead and
dying, and the awful work still went on.
Cheer after cheer, yell upon yell, as if
tends incarnate were at work, shook the
very air The woods were filed with
smoke. and trees thickly peppered with
bullets.
Were out o. ammunition, cartridges give
out" yelled Max
Hundreds of others were in the same con-
dition, and the men became so alarmed that
a stampede was threatened.
Captain Mason knew that not twenty
PAGES under the hill there were tons of am
munition. He told his orderly to go out and
bring it, but he stood like one stupefied
Then he spoke TO duty sergeant, and while
directing him what to do bullet killed the
poor fellow at his Captains feet. Lieuten-
ant Smith was already amorg the slain, and
the Second Lieutenant wounded. The Cap
tain did not dare leave his command, for
they were ready to nv at a moments no.
tice, and ammunition could not be brought.
At this moment the enemy charged with
fixed bayonets, and Netherlands brigade
fell back in disorder.
The fight began shortly after daylight, and
{ was now nearly neon
The rebels had not driven the Union
troops far before General Grant arrived
with reinforcements, and the WORKOUT, dis
hearteued soldiers took courage and wheeled
about to once more face the enemy.
Luke, with about twenty of his company,
all whom he had been able 70 hold together,
turned in with the reslstiess tide Of blue
coats.
well pay 'em back" roared old Arkan-
saw Tom, who had all through the fight kept
At the side of his Captain
The order was given TO charge bayonets,