The morning call., 1892-02-28

prohibited. The only way to keep ones
ewes open ana ones blood in circulation
was to pace about pretty lively with our
heads buried in our careS.
About midnight the field officer of the day
visited our outpost. | reported to him that
| had been unable to find any other pickets
either on my right or my left. He said he
had nothing to DO with that, as his RESPONSE
blity ended with protecting this road
which was the main approach to the town
as well as to the bridges across Duck River
He then gave ME some new orders. We
we're TO remain at this point until just be-
fore the break OF day. At dawn, he said,
the magazine of the fort on hill some
distance behind us was to be blown up and
the railroad bridge was to be burned at the
same time. was to use my judgment, and
to retire in time TO cross the pOntoon bridge
a short distance above the high tresIle
bridge over which the railroad passed But
he strictly enj0ined me not to leave I'M
til just before the break of day. He said
that most OF the wagon train and a large
portion Of the main column had already
safely crossed to the opposite bank. They
were, however, meeting with frequent de-
lays on account of the perYerse mules and
the deep TutS in the muddy road.
He then left us for good, and we passed
the dreary night alOne-a handful of pickets
watching those Of an army. fortunately
we were not seriously disturbed. We had,
uphNfCIs OliC otttAihb adventure AbOub y
O'Clock in the morning one of my outside
pckets came back and told me that he had
heard the clank of sabeTs, as though party
OF hOrscmpn were crossing the pike some dis
lance in front of him. We thereupOn got
eli ser 10 the ditch, and preparsd to
give any approaching visitor warm recep-
ton. None Of the other men coming 10, |
went forward to listen. But / could hear
nothing, though the man vino had heard the
noise and who accom- panied me insisted
that he had not been deceived by his imagi-
nation. None of the other pickets
had noticed anything suspicious.
remained on the road some time, and
was on the point OF returning 10
the reserve when / heard very distinctly
q stealthy movement close by The fence a
few feet ahead, ana / felt very certain two
or three men were crOuching there | bad
my revolver in my hand and was peering
into the dark ness when flash, followed by
a loud report, staggered ne. The pickets
near me discharged their pieces and fred
at the same instant We Immediately ran
back 10 the shelter OF the breastwOrks. The
bullet aimed at US whiZZed harmlessly over
cur heads. Ole shot only had been fred at
Us. We supposed, however, that the enemy
would follow us and attempt to dash
through our line and were somewhat sur
prisei at the ume that he did not Pres
emily we heard in the distance growing
fainter and Il inter- tile sound Of the hoofs
gallOping away from liz. Whoever they
were they had no doubt fully satisfied
themselves that our picket lines were still
intact, for they gave US no further trouble
that night
The suspense we endured during the re-
naming hours Of the morning was intense.
We felt terribly isolated and we could not
help thinking that in n short time the enemy
would certainly attack us or pass us on
either flank. Some Of my men must have
realized that we were TO be sacri-
feed for the benefit OF the army
and doomed TO certain capture, for
l noticed on gathering up my forces at day
light that about hall dozen of them, be-
heyiug desertOn To be the better part OF
yaOr, had stolen away during the night and
deserted ~. AS | had no list Of their
names and as we were constantly engaged
the following three days In the presence Of
the enemy at Spring Hill and Franklin, l
never had an opportunity TO investigate this
base act OF cOwardlce.
At last that period of intense darkness
which heIalds the app zach of day had al