The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-05-31

Lnke's veins, and left him trembling with
dread. Awakened by shouts. the crack Of
firearms and all the appalling sounds Of
carnage, confuses the veteran, and the won.
der Is that it did not produce panic among
these raw recruits.
Perhaps they were too much stupefied to
become panic-stricken. They seemed to
realize that their safety lay in getting be-
hind the fence as soon as possible, as it
Afforded them a partial protection.
By the time Luke reached the fence the
firing ceased and the echoes Of the shots
died away. The raw recruit glanced down
the fence row, which was dark with men
crouching, kneeling and lying behind 1t,
while their guns formed a serried phalanx Of
black muzzles. The moon shone in peaceful
splendor upon the scene, ILLUMINATING it with
floods Of silver light. No one could be seen
in the wood beyond, but it was from that
point that the attack was threatened.
When Luke found old Arkansaw Tom on
one side of him, and Ned Cotton on the
other, he regained his self-possession.
Where were the enemyi Not one was in
sight, nor had shot been fired in the last
three minutes. Luke asked Arkansaw
Tom where the rebels were, and was told
that they were not far away, and were ad-
vancing on them, for they had already
driven in the pickets. But so peaceful and
quiet was the scene that Luke was about
half inclined to believe there was some mis-
take about it.
The crc1ets, which had been awed to
silence by those rude alarms, resumed their
chirrups, and the whippoorwill, on the dis
tant hill. renewed its song. A pig came
struggling down the path beyond the fence,
grunting and roofing about among tho
leaves, wholly unconscious of danger.
For several moments not a word was heard,
and naught save crickets night birds, the
rustling of leaves and grunting of the pig
broke the silence. This walting-this ex-
pecting bloody struggle-was more try
ing on the nerves than If a death struggle
was at hand. Luke's mind was busy recall
ing the past and trying to dip into the
future. Would this night end all on earth
below, and would the mystery of his birth
be revealed only in eternltyi
Some one whispered:
''They comer'
The regular tramp of feet could be heard
coming over the distant ridge, where the at
tacking party had evidently halted to dress
their lines.
''Stiddy, stiddyl" said Captain Smart, il
o voice which was little unsteady itself
but which had within it the rim: of deter
mination that gave courage to the men.
Luke strained his eyes to catch a glimpse
OF tie foe. The nearer approach of the
marching columns indicated that they
would soon be in sight, and, despite all his
determination, he found him self trembling.
The pig continued to root about among
the leaves, at peace with all the world, and
giving vent to its satisfaction in expressive
grunts.
The enemy at last came in sight among
the trees on the ridge, and despite the in
functions of the officers the more nervous
of the recruits behind the fence row began
blazing away at them. Luke at first de-
termined to obey the command of his superi.
ors, and wait till the foe were near enough
to make sure shot, but the enemy being
recruits also, and as nervous as the men
they were attacking, returned the fire, and
when 4 bullet struck n rall so near him as
TO cover his face with dust and rotten wood,
he could no longer restrain himself, and
blazed away with the others.
The pig gave utierance TO q squeal of
alarm and ran hither and thither, met ey-
erywhere with binding flashes and deafen-
ing reports, until it at last raced down the
fence row at full speed.
The enemy made no charge. but contented
themselves to fire few shots at long range,
and then gradually fell back.
Whether any of them had been killed OF
wounded the Union recruits could not de-
termine, though next morning a puddle OF
blood close to a tree was discovered. Bill
Snow, the only man touched on the Union
side. had slight flesh wound in his arm.
Captain Smart made no effort to pursue
the enemy, but contented himself to remain
behind the fence with his forces for an hour
or two after they had disappeared. The
attacking force was evidently about equal
to his own, and failing to make a complete
surprise, or even take advantage of the
partial surprise, they had deemed it best to
retreat.
Sleep was a stranger to the eyes of the
new soldiers the remainder of that night.
" hen morning came not a sign of an enemy
could be found. 1t was the general belief
that the opposing force would renew the
battle at daylight, but when it came they
were many miles away, and only the bullet
shattered oaks and fences remained to tell
that a conflict had ragged there but a few
hours before.
The recruits, elated at their victory,
seemed to have suddenly developed into |
In their enthusiasm they wanted |
to be led at once against Lexington, which |
Price was supposed to be investing with |
force variously estimated az from twenty to |
one hundred thousand men.
The recruits We're again in turmoil for |
the lack of a leader. Two days were spent |
in trying to devise some general mode of |
action. Luke, disguised with a military |
organization which seemed no stronger |
than rope of sand, was half inclined to |
desert and seek the service of his country |
elsewhere.
They were constantly threatening to |
break up and 60 off in different directions,
each company to itself Nothing but the
that prowling bands of Confed-
crates swarmed everywhere held them to-
yether at Sagget. On the evening of the
third day man mounted on jaded horse
rode into camp with the startling intelli-
yence that Lexington had fallen on the 10Th
If September, the day before.
All hope of reaching Lexington was
and without any leader the
army was in deplorable condition. Sur
'ounded by the enemy, cut off from friends
and convulsed with internal strife, theie
condition was somewhat precarious.
Some wanted to go to St. Louis, others to
springfield, and another day was spent at
Sagget arguing which course they should
AXE, when messenger came with orders
from somewhere for them to move to Cairo.
That, of course, settled their destination,
tut there were many minor details 70 be