The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-11-02
CHAPTER VIII.
. FORT DONELSON.

On the It'll of November, 1861, the Missis-
sippi river was low, so that the banks were
higher than the heads of the men standing
or the upper decks of the steamer From
cOrnfleld, woods and all along the shore
Confederate rlfemen were blazing away at
the retreating boats. The rebels were back
some distance from the river, so their fire
was nigh and did but little harm. The
smoke-stacks were thickly peppered with
bullets, but only three men were wounded
after reaching he boats, two of whom were
soldiers, and one o member of Captain
Mason's company.
On reaching the boat, Blackhawk, the
negro wonder, had laid down his musket
and resumed his place as fireman at one Of
the great furnaces.
On reaching the deck General Grant, al
most completely worn out by exertion and
the nervous strain, went to the captains
room adjoining the pilot-house and threw
himself down on n sofa.
Luke saw him go in, and also noticed
body of rebel sharp-shooters running along
the bank.
General" he said, looking in at the door,
81 don't think you are as safe here as you
would be below. The rebels are pursuing
US along the shore.H
"Are not the boats replying to them"
asked the General springiug to his feet and
going to the door where Captain Mason
stood. At this moment there came crash
and a musket ball entered the room, passed
through the head of the sofa where the
chef had lain and lodged in the foot.
General Grant cast glance at the couch
where he had been reposing, and, taking
the young officers hand in his, with quiet
smile, said:
''Captain, you have saved my llte."
They went below. The gun-boats, OPEN
ing on the enemy, sent shells shrieking and
exploding into the wood and oornfeld. They
were well out in the stream and some dis
tance down, so they had to give but little
elevation TO their guns to clear the banks Of
the river. Their position nearly enfiladed
the enemy marching through the cornheld.
Luke began to look about for the members
of his company. He found Arkansaw Tom,
Ned Cotton, Corporal Max and Bill Snow
near the stern, firing as rapidly as they
could at the heads of the rebels who were
pecping over the river banks.
''Dod rot im-bet spilled that'ns pictur"
said Tom, reloading his gun "Ef they'd
phig d" ~ haS Va NlAS iAis ilAS L VI Iii'i ONJ
more'n one on EN-
The boats soon carried them beyond gun
shot, and sped peacefully on their way
to Cairo, each now feeling that Belmont had
been great victory and that ne had contrib
uted his share toward it, Captain Mason
had cause to bo proud of the work he had
done toward establishing the right of that
grand old flag to wave all over the United
States Of America.
Every man in that conflict, small and in
significant as it was compared to the strug-
giles which followed gained confidence in
himself and that quiet, stern commander,
who was destined to lead the armies of the
Nation to final victory.
The boats returned to Cairo, and long
period OF inactivity followed. A few days
after his return from the battlefield, Luke
received a letter from Lille Neff They had
returned shortly after the troops passed
by their house, and learned that he had BY
his ga,lautry saved it. She stated that she
prayed daily that he and her brother might
be spared, and that this cruel war might
come 10 an end. Her letter concluded with:
"Blacbhawk has disappeared from the
neighburhood. and it IS supposed that he
has run away. | do not understand that
strange negro. he has been an enigma to
me ever since Twas a child. When but
little girl I always shudderei when his gel
lcwish black eyes met u.a0, and then