Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-16

GtUlC IO W0eU CnO Au0 cavalry reported that the enemy were house.
 Lukes company, with the cavalry, were deployed as skirmishers, and ordered to ad- vance until they came upon the enemy. After few words of encouragement to his men they descended to the valley and deployed.
 Fences were thrown down, and through the fields, woods, pastures and meadows they began to advance.
 Luke halted Ill q cornfield below q house to reconnoiter. His forces extended on either side of him and but three or four men were in sight The old farm-h house on his right had a peaceful quiet and home like look The great dark-green stalks of corn rose up on every side, the blades and rich stalks forming jungle impenetrable to the eye Busy bees were drowsily hum- ming about from vine to vine, among the corn or lighting on the heavy pods of full, ripe beans. A suntiower turned its bold face to the king of light, and a shred of gold upon the tall stalk marks where a butterfly fingers unconscious of danger The lambs are bleating in the far-off pastures, and the gentle lowing of cattle on the distant hills reaches the ear of the soldier, and seem maddening when he contemplates what is soon to follow.
 There are no signs of carnage, but every thlng betokens the peace and repose of 8 delightful Sabbath morn. Luke moves on from. the cornfield into a peach orchard The trees seem groaning under their bur den of luscious fruit He could not resist the temptation to pick up one, of the great ripe peaches which fell at his feet and eat it.
 Their line, which is now visible some dis tance either way, he was glad to see was unbroken. The hungry soldiers were de- vouring the peaches, many of them proba- ply taking their last meal.
 A white puff of smoke issued from the fence below the orchard. The enemy has at last been found.. Another, another, and another shot rang out.
 "Steady, don't shoot until you see your man," cried the Captain. The firing seemed to come from bunch of tall weeds and grass down under the hill. Steadily the line of skirmishers crawled forward, strainin g their eyes for sight of the ene- my. A fifth shot, and the bullet whizzin g through the branches of the tree above Luke's head brought down half a dozen rosy-cheeked peaches and a shower of leaves. Luke knew the shot was aimed at him
 II see the skunk who shot at you, Cap" said Arkansaw Tom, who was but a few feet on Luke's left; "shall fix 'im?"
 "Of course, Tom, if an enemy's in sight try your skill"
 Arkansaw took a step aside and laid his long rifle by the side of peach tree. A moment later there came a sharp report, followed by yell from the tall grass and rosin weeds, and man sprang half way to his feet and fell back kicking and struggling.
 Shot after shot rang along the skirmish lines, and the bullets whistled like hail | among the trees.
 ellie low; keep close to the groundp' said Luke.
 Skirmishers soon learn that art. The firing became general, and in a few mo ments the enemy began to fall back. That | uneasy dread which possessed every mar at first disappeared as the enemy began to | fall back, and with wild yells the skirmish l CTS pressed on.
 | Fearing the consequences of hurhng 6 | skirlnish line against a line of battle, Luke l ordered halt. Not over one-half obeyed | and the others, with the cavalry, dashed pell mell upon the enemy, whom they founo in solid phalanx in a field just beyond the | orchard fence. A volley like a thunderclal shook the earth, strewing the ground witt dead and dying men and horses. The sur vivors fled, and Captain Mason had all ht could do to prevent a panic; but he at las 1 checked the headlong flight of the most i'm petuous, and the firing was resumed at Ions 1 range.
 | Crouching close to the ground the skir mishers crept to the fence and opened fire or the rebels, who returned it, and bullet: | whizzed like hail about them. II SNOW, Cap'n, we can't stand thi: long," said Arkansaw Tom, who was crouch ing in a fence corner on Luke's left. "We'rt | a fightin' the hull bilin' O 'em."
 The Captain was about to give the ordel to fall back, when he heard the stentoriar voice of Colonel Smart in their rear shout
 "On the right by file into line; an' be go dinged quick about ftp
 Like veterans the new recruits wheeled
 nobly into line and advanced to the fenc'
 row. In moment both lines of battle were
 wrapt in flame and smoke. Whistlint
 shots, dying groans, the cries of thu
 wounded and the shouts of the combatants
 mingled with the incessant rattle of smal
 arms, awed all peaceful sounds of nature t. 1 silence
 The Union forces seemed reused to 1 pitch of enthusiasm bordering unto frenzy
 Their only. hope was to break through tn
 enemy's ranks and press on to Cairo. Tn
 rebels, astounded and dismayed at the vigor sr rGySS,l5se7eh,xS.>