The Springdale news., 1889-06-07
General Grant with his aids, was rapidly

General Grant, with his aids, was rapidly getting them in position.
 Luke saw no sign of an enemy. On the right was a field of tail corn, the ovcrhang- ing blades of which would conceal any ob- icct from view a dozen rods away.
 Before them was hill, covered with what seemed a dense growth of timber, but which was really formidable abattis, com posed of trees fcllcd in such a way that it seemed impossible for men to squeeze through them.
 "Were Q been foolin' about here so long that the Rebs hev got plenty time t rein foce," growled Corporal Max.
 "Silence in ranksl'
 But Max was correct. Tho delay had been unavailable, it IS true, yet It made 1t so long after daylight that the soldiers and trans. ports landing above Belmont were dlscov- cred, and tho Confcderates made prcpara- tions to give them q warm reception.
 The attacking army at last began to ad vance in two long lines extending throu gh part of the corn-feld and the tall bottom grass The fog rapidly rolled away, and the furnished arms of tue blue-coats gilt tered with dazzling brightness in the morn ing sun.
 Before tho foot of tho hill was reached q halt was made and skirmishers dcployed. Captain Mason with his entire company was thrown forward upon the skirmsh line He first deployed i'll platoons, then in fours, and finally placed each man q rod from any of tho others.
 All was quiet. peculiar solemn hush seemed to have fallen over tho scene, broken only by the crushing tread of some soldier making his way through the tangled thiclet. Luke began to half believe that the enemy had deserted the camp.
 A crow, cawing loudly, was soaring above the tree tops, doubtless annoyed by tha presence of tho advancing warriors. A blue jay chirped and screamed as it fitted from bush to bush and tree in front or the advancing skirmish line.
 Luke was pressing his way through an almost impcnetrablo jungle when shot rang out ou his left. It was the first sound of an enemy The men had really began to secretly hope that they would find the camp deserted For single instant tho heart of the youthful Captain beat faster, While the blood forsoolI his cheek.
 Bang! bang! bangl three more shots in quick succession on the left pronounced tho skirmish as begun. And now the music be- gins on the right First, half dozen shots lead off, followed by Q score, and then a hundred The crow and blue jay fly away, and every soldier, more eager for shot than prudent, pressed forward.
 Luke strained his eyes for glimpse of tho enemy, and was at last rewarded by dark object moving about among the leaves Whether one man or score he knew not, for the bushes almost completely concealed them.
 The ball opened in front, and fire, smoke and leaden hail were poured in upon the cen ter of the Union skirmish line. The soldiers stood their ground and fought with wonder full desperation and coolness.
 "Why don't they reinforce us" cried Lieutenant Smith. "We'ro Gghtin' hull army.n
 A few moments later the skirmishers were reinforced, and gallantly pressed for ward, pushing the Conlederates back two hundred paces or more up the hill, where they made another stand.
 A roar of musketry met the advancing skrmish line, and the woods seemed alive with leaping flames. The bark flew from the shattered trees, limbs, twigs and leaves fell in showers, and bullets whstlcd like rain about the ears of the soldiers
 The man on Lukc's right was killed, one on the left fell mortally wounded, Lieutenant Smith received shot in his arm and retired to the rear, Corporal Max was knocked down by spent ball, and for q few moments tho young Captain seemed to stand alone before the enemy.
 '.Cap, l be cussed ef we hain't got ter gut out O this" cried old Arkansaw Tom, coming up at this moment "Wc'rc fghtin' 6 lnc O battle"
 Luke had realized this some moments be- fore, but had held his ground hoping soon to bo reinforced. The fire was so heavy that the soldiers had begun to fly.
 "Come on, Cap; fur Gods sake don't stand thar Tn be killed" cried old Tom, seizing his arm and trying to drag him away The dense smoke of battle had settled about among the woods, rendering objects invisible twenty paccs away
 As Luke was about to comply with the old scouts request a Confederate officer followed by half dozen men ran forward, shouting:
 Surrender or dien'
 "Not by juGful," {" yelled Arkansaw Tom, and quick IS flash he brought his gun to his shoulder and lcyeled it at his heart. But just as his finger pressed the trigger Luko struck up the gun with bis sword and sent tho bullet flying harmlessly through the air
 "Dod burn it, what d ye do thet fur'"
 "FIy for your life,n shouted Luke, push ing tke scout down the hill and starting after hlm. But black object behind tree arrested his attention. IL was that mys- terious old negro, Blackhawk, who had been puzzle to him from childhood. Blackhawk had got away from the boat, found a gun and came to fight. He was kneeling behind tree, bis gun leveled at the young Confederate whose life Luke had saved.
 You black scoundrel dare you fire and will run you through" shouted Luke, plac- ing the point of his sword against the negrO's breast.
 "He's Reb, massa, an Is lightin' ter free my po' wife an little baby" But he was a good master to you, and if you harm hm l will kill you" He snatched the negro's gun from his hand and hurled him down the hill. They had not gone far before they met the advancing lines of the Federal army, and the skirmishers quickly fell into place and all pressed gallantly up the eminence through the felled timber The terrible thunder of contendlng armies made the woods tremble. The Federals passed over the abattis of fallen trees, though many a gallant solder laid down his life in the effort. Luke saw Eddie Reed, one of his company, lying with his body in the fork of fallen tree, and supposing he was en- tangled, wont to help cxtrcate him, but he had bullet in his heart and was dead The Union forces drove back the rebel lines before them. As soon as the cleared space around the camp was gained, a charge was ordered, and q terrible hand to hand fight cnsued. The Confederates numbered eight thousand, but General Grants forces fell upon them with such i'm petVosity that after a brief but desperate struggle they broke and fed A moment later the stars and bars were run down, and the stars and stripes mounted into their place.
 The batteries at Columbus commanded the position, and General Grant knew he could not long hold the camp The only thing that had protected tho Union forces from showers of shot and shell was the fear the Confederate gunners had of kill ing their own friends, for the blues and grays were So mixed up that it was rather difficult to tell friend from foe.
 Driven from thelr camp, the rebels fled down under the hill The Union soldiers, flushed with victory, became wild Hither and thither, helter skelter, they went, re gardless of military discipline, and seem