The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1891-06-26
copyrighted. 1897
[CONTINuED.l

Night set in bleak and cheerless. The
shrill north wind whistled through the de-
nuded branches OF the trees, and the shiv-
ering soldiers bent their wretched bodies
nearer 10 the earth. Al midnight II was
showing and soon carpet Of white was
spread over the earth. The wretched men,
shivering and crouching before the blast,
scarce could move TO shake of the flakes
that were covering them like a mantle OF
white.
soap, don't We hear some one comm"
old Arkansaw Tom asked.
Luke listened, and could hear the faint
tread OF footsteps coming over the frozen
ground He Immediately dispatched his or
DERBY TO the Colonel, asking permission TO
capture the bold adventurers, who had evil
IDENTIFY come out TO reconnoiter.
Without consulting any higher authority,
Colonel Smart told him to Ego ahead"
"Tom, Max, Ned, Bill" said the Captain,
calling over the names OF those whom he
knew could be trusted Silent as shadows
they rose 10 their feet, glided TO his side,
and the five stole out upon the cleared space
between them and the fort. II was now so
dark that no object could be seen dozen
PAGES away. The shrill north wind seemed
70 pierce them TO the bone.
6uuuouAy tucy bOOppOu. VmSpoTS WoEo
heard ahead. The snow was falling fast,
aud the scouts crept through II near
enough TO discover half o dozen men, evil
IDENTIFY Confederate officers, grouped to-
Rether engaged in conversation.
Luke determined TO cut them OF and make
captives Of them, but, while moving in be.
tween them and the fort the unlucky
Max stumbled and fell, making a. much
noise as II On OK had dropped from the
moon. Three of the rebels fred at them
and took to their heels.
"Come quick, we've no time 70 lose, II we
want TO take them," whispered Captain Ma
son, running at full speed, hoping to cut
them on.
Max and Snow blazed away, but missed
Cotton and Tom then fired their muskets,
and "A man fell. The frozen ground was
rough and stumpy. Luke, being swift OF
foot distanced his companions and was
gaining on the hindmost man, who few for
life toward the fort.
Suddenly the pursued, without checking
his speed, drew a revolver and emptied half
dozen chambers in almost as many sec
onds ut Luke. Though the bullets few I'M
comfortably near the young officers head,
he was unharmed, and with drawn sword
did not halt for a single moment. The fugi.
tive had partially turned his head when he
hred, and did not see the stump before him
until he had stumbled and fallen over it.
Before he could rise Luke was upon him
with uplifted sword.
''Surrenderw he cried, in q voice hoarse
with passion. The answer came from the
ground In voice Arm and defiant:
"Never TO q Yankee Strike IL you will"
AT sound OF the voice Luke's arm fell
powerless at his side, and he turned away
All his hearts tenderest feelings had been
reused by the sound of that voice.
'sThey have escaped us," he said TO his
companions whom he met coming toward
him. SECT back 10 your ranks, for we are
too close now"
On their way back they picked up the
man that had fallen, who proved TO be q
rebel Lieutenant. The ball had pierced his
heart, killing him instantly.
Luke said nothing about his adventure
with the Confederate who had emptied his
revolver at him. The remainder OF the night
was quietly but miserably passed. At day
break the en- tire line Of shivering, qualing,
half-frozen soldiers were reused by the cry:
"Here they come"
"Yes, by jimmy, thar they come, bag
and baggageW said Arkansaw Tom, seizing
his gun and starting 70 his feet.
Luke, who had been sitting at the root Of
tree In q slight doze, was up in a moment.
A long line Of grey coats could be seen
coming over the enemy's works, forming
and advancing upon them The rebels had
on their haversacks, canteens, blankets
and knapsacks, a. II they were going on
march
They've come ter stay, n brought grub
m blankets" SAID old Tom.
The long roll sounded, calling every man
10 battle. In three minutes the whole line
was formed. On with tremendous yells
they came, and the work OF death began.
First few dropping shots, like the patter
OF rain shower, and then came storm OF
IRE and leaden hail II was kept up.
Nearer and nearer the contending lines ap-
preached, and fiercer and tercer grew the
conflict. Luke glanced along their line, half
concealed with smoke, from which the
angry blazes constantly flashed. The blaze
from those guns never entirely died away,
but In fitful running flames continued 70
dance along the line.
Luke's men were falling on every side.
Tho ground was strewn with dead and
dying, and tho awful work still went on.
Cheer after cheer, yell upon yell, as II
nends incarnate were at work, shook the
very air The woods were filed with
smoke, and trees hickly peppered with
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