The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-07-08

'sHere I am," cried Frank. stepping
forward. "What Is it?''
Major Hopkins says, will you take q
file Of men and cot to the picket by
the creek bridge to fetch in wounded
officer? Quick as you can, sir"
II told you so, boys muttered the
man who had called attention to the
doctor, while Frank hurriedly got ready
for the sad duty.
On nearing the little bridge, which
spanned the muddy creek, he found DR..
Saunders kneeling over PROSTATE fig
ure, while soldier held a lantern for
him, and the sentry stood resting on his
musket and gazing at the painful scene.
Beside them was horse, whose hang
ing head and heaving flanks told of hard
usage.
"Who is it, doctor?" Frank asked,
anxiously.
"a cavalry mana mere lad-cut all
to pieces-but we must get him into
field hospital as quickly as possible.
See, here's dispatch took from him.
I'd hard work to get it, poor boy, he
clutched it so tightly. | guess you'd
better hurry off with it to the Colonel
and leave your men to help me in with
him." piece of advice which Frank
promptly acted on.
As Colonel Fulton tore open the blood
stained missive his eyes flashed and the
color mounted to his cheek. "By heav-
en-" he said, "this is glorious news.
We are ordered TO reinforce Grant at
Fort Donelson. Order taps to be beaten
and all lights out in the camp; for the
boys must have some sleep before they
take the road again"
On the evening of the l2th of Febru-
ary the Fighting Fourth, wearied with
a long days march over swamps and
brushwood, joined the Union forces,
now increased TO thirty thousand men.
The fort itself, occupying about one
hundred acres, stood on bluff hun
dred feet high, with sixty-five guns
threatening approach by the river, but
almost unprotected from the land side,
save for the inaccessible ruggedness of
the ground and the heavy trees which
had been felled, and which proved TO be
formidable abatis. Already Grant had
made an unsuccessful attack upon O
battery commanding a road upon which
he was trying TO move.
But who among the thousands who
lay down to rest that night before the
doomed fort will ever forget its misery?
As the men lay on the bare ground
without tents. without fires, many
without even blankets, a cruel storm OF
sleet and snow swept over them and
the thermometer fell to IL degrees
above zero, while some Of the poor
wounded heroes literally froze to death
on their icy resting-places.
Next day the battle was resumed with
alternate success and failure.
In the afternoon the deafening can
nonade of the fort guns told them that
Foote's gun-boats were already in ad.
vance.
At four o'clock Frank found himself
In command Of his company. for his
Captain was wounded and had been
carried TO the rear. Twice they had
charged, and once again he was rally
ing them, when sharp voice cried In
tone of command:
"Halt, sirl Give your men breathing
time Do you not see that your limo I
not half formed?"
Turning with impntience at tho re
bul1c, he saw q man with a rather
slight, ungainly figure with slouch ha'
and undress uniform. He knew not ther
that he was gazing at that son Of des
tiny, Ulysses Grant.
But ere the angry reply rose TO the
lads lips an aid-de-camp rode up ant
saluted Franks impertinent critic.
| FRO ne CONTINtJED