The Springdale news., 1889-06-14
CHAPTER VIII.
FORT DoNELsoN.

On the 1th of November. 1861, the Missis- plppi rlver was low, so that the banks were higher than the heads of the men standing on the upper decks of the steamer From corufeld, woods and all along the shore Confederate rlfiemen were blazing away at the retreating boats The rebels were back some distance from the river, so their fire high and did but little harm. The smoke-stacks were thickly peppered with bullets, but only three men were wounded after reaching the boats, two of whom were soldiers, and one a member of Captain Mason's company.
 On reaching the boat, BIackhawk, the negro wonder, had laid down his musket and resumed his place as fireman at one of the great furnaces.
 On reaching the deck General Grant, al most completely worn out by exertion and the nervous strain, went to the captain room adjoining the pilot-house and threw himself down on sofa.
 Luke saw him go in, and also noticed q body of rebel sharp-shooters running along the bank.
 ''General,n he said, looking in at the door, 'I don't think you are as safe here as you would be below. The rebels are pursuing us along the shore.
 Are not the gun-boats replying to theml' asked the General, springing to his feet and going to the door where Captain Mason stood. At this moment there came a crash and musket ball entered the room, passed through the head of the sofa where the chef had lain and lodged in the foot General Grant cast glance at the couch where he had been reposing, and, taking the young officers hand in his, with quiet smile, said:
 Captain, you have saved my hte'i
 They went below. The gun boats, open ing on the enemy, sent shells shricking and exploding into tho wood and cornted. They were well out in the stream and some dis tance down, so they had to give but little elevation to their guns to clear the banks of the river. Their position nearly enfiladed the enemy marching through the corntield.
 Luke began to look about for the members of his company. He found Arkansaw Tom, Ned Cotton, Corporal Max and Bill Snow near the stern, firing as rapidly as they could at the heads of the rebels who were peeping over the river banks.
 "Dod rot 'im-bet spied that'ns pictur," said Tom. reloadizg his gun. "Ef they'd only let me brung my rifle Id laid out more'n one on 'em.o
 The boats soon carried them beyond gun shot, and sped peacefully on their way .o Cairo, each now feeling that Belmont had been great victory, and that he had contrib uted his share toward it Captain Mason had cause to be proud of the work he had done toward establishing the right of that grand old flag to wave all over the United States of America
 Every man in that conflict, small and in significant as it was compared to the strng- gles which followed gained confidence in himself and that quiet, stern commander, who was destined 10 lead the armies of the Nation to final victory.
 The boats returned to Cairo, and long period of inactivity followed few days after his return from the battlefield. Luke received a letter from Lillie Neff They had returned shortly after the troops passed by their house, and learned that he had by his gallantry saved it. She stated that she prayed daily that he and her brother might be spared, and that this cruel war might come to an end. Her letter concluded with:
 'Blackhawk has disappeared from the neighborhoOd and it is supposed that he has run away. I do not understand that strange negro. He has been an enigma to me ever since l was child. When but little girl l always shuddered when his vel Jewish black eyes met mine, and 1 then thought him in league with the Evil One, and, oh Luke, fear he hates you; if you should ever meet him, beware of him. 1 Brother wrote me of your saving his life oh 1 can not thank you too much. Should |