Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-11-08
CHAPTER V.
PREPARING FOR THE SIEGE


Captain Alton reasoned correctly when
he concluded that Major Bridges with his
force was not far away. Had he remained
in Belfast an hour longer he would have
been cut off and forced to surrender.
His force, now sWelled to one hundred
and ten-au of whom were armed, though
many had only their own fre-lOcks-had
not gone half a mile when a negro boy
came gaIloping down the road after them.
"Whar's the Cap'n? Whar's the bOss?"
he demanded, his eyes rolling with ex-
element.
Here, here; what do you want, Grit
fifth demanded.
"Golly, marster, am you the boss?" the
excited boy asked.
yes; what is the matter?"
de redcoats, on horseback an on foot,
an in wagons, wild cannOns, am comm
jest as fast as dey kin.
Where are they?"
Right arter ye, marster," the excited
darby cried. "Dey was comm when ye
licked dem sOjers in Belfast, and now
mOre'n forty millions o. dem list swarm
in down de road like bees.
Griffith, of course, knew that the negro
boy had greatly exaggerated the number
Of the enemy. From all reports he had
heard, Bridges could not have to exceed
five or six hundred men, unless he had
received reinfOrcements from General
3
At any rate, with his poorly equipped
and lily disciplined force, inferior in
numbers as they were, he felt that he
could not hazard a pitched battle, and
urged them on at a brisk pace. It is
difficult matter to get large body Of IN
trained men to travel rapidly. Some
would hang back despite all ne could do
to urge them.
But little more shan half of the dis
lance had been gone over when the clat-
ter of hoofs in their rear was heard. and
British dragons to the number of twenty
or thirty appeared in sight. They opened
fire and began fanking the Americans on
the right, intending to head them off.
oh, we are gone now; they'll hev the
yoke on our necks agin, sure, " walled
Zeke Gross, wringing his hands.
Shet yer mouth" rOared Ratchet,
cooking his rifle. EFF yer goin' to knock
under at the fust scrimmage like this, We
better dig a hole and crawl in it. "
A few shots were exchanged, but the
dragons kept out of reach of the rifles
of the Americans, and consequently no
harm had yet been done to either party.
Il jest know they'll keep on till they git
the yoke on our necks, said Mr.. Gross.
in despair.
EFF ye don't shet up I'll lay the butt O.
my gun across yer neck, said Ratchet.
Dye want to skeer out everybody in the
army, so we can't muster enough to fight
the Britishers?"
mo talking in ranks, cried the young
commander; and having selected twenty
experienced rihemen, he sent them for
ward to deplOy as skirmishers and drive
back the dragons who, having fanked
them, were between the Americans and
ManOa.
Although the sharpshOoters drove the
dra looms away again and again, they in
variably returned. and so impeded their
progress that when they were about two
miles from their Notifications large body
of British infantry came up and made a
furious assault on their rear.
The day was exceedingly warm, and
though both the Americans and English
were considerably fatigued, the combat
was fierce.
Griffith soon discovered that he would
be compelled to cut his way through the
Lighthouse, who were now directly before
him, or drive them away. He placed
twenty-five of his best armed men to
cover the retreat, and with the remainder
he began to advance hurriedly on the
dragons in front.
The conflict grew warmer and warmer,
until it was little better than a running
fight.
Major Bridges sent two small field
pieces forward, which unlimbered close
on the rear Of our friends and began to
thunder away. The woods doubtless
saved the Americans from heavy loss.
The trees grew so thick that not a single
shot proved fatal to them, though one or
two were slightly wounded.