The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-10-26

was thrown forward upon the slSirmlsh
,ine He first deployed in platoons, then /
in fours, and finally placed each man a rod !
from any of the others.
All was quiet. A peculiar solemn hush
seemed to have fallen over the scene,
broken only by the crushing tread of some
soldier making his way through the tangled
thicket. Luke began to half believe that
the enemy had deserted the camp.
A crow, cawing!stsdly, was soaring above
the tree tops, doubtless annoyed by the
presence Of the advancing warriors. A
blue jay chirped and screamed as it fitted
from bush to bush and tree in front of the
advancing skirmish line.
Luke was pressing his way through an
almost impenetrable jungle when shot
rang out on his left. 1t was the first sound
of an enemy. The men had really began to
secretly hope that they would find the camp
deserted. For single instant the heart OF
the youthful Captain beat faster, while the
blood forsook his cheek.
Bangl bang! bangl three more shots in
quick succession on the left pronounced the
sklrmsh as begun. And now the music be-
gins on the right First, half dozen shots
lead off followed by a score, and then
hundred. The crow and blue jay fly away,
and every soldier, more eager for shot
than prudent, pressed forward.
Luke strained his eyes for q glimpse Of the.
enemy, and was at last rewarded by dark
object moving about among the leaves.
Whether one man or score he knew not,
for the bushes almost completely concealed
them.
The ball opened in front, and fire, smoke
and leaden hail were poured in upon the CEN
ter of the Union skirmish line. The soldiers
stood their ground and fought with wonder
full desperation and GOODNESS.
"Why don't they reinforce u.s." cried
Lieutenant Smith. 'We're fightin' hull
army"
A few moments later the skirmishers
were reinforced, and CALAMITY pressed for
ward, pushing the Confederates back two
hundred PAGES or more up the hill, where
they made another stand.
A roar of musketry met the advancing
skrmish line, and the woods seemed alive
with leaping flames. The bark flew from
the shattered trees, limbs, twigs and leaves
fell in showers, and bullets whstled like
rain about the ears Of the soldiers.
The man on LulSes right was killed,
one on the left fell mortally wounded,
Lieutenant Smith received a shot in his
arm and retired to the rear, Corporal Max
was knocked down by spent ball, and for a
few moments the young Captain seemed to
stand alone before the enemy.
"Cap, l be cussed eff we han't got ter
- Al t. ,aI IL t,,-, IT,,
coming up at this moment. "We're fghtin'
line o. battle"
Luke had realized this some moments be-
fore, but had held his ground hoping soon
to be reinforced. The fire was so heavy
that the soldiers had begun to fly.
"Come on, Cap; fur Gods sake don't
stand thar N be killed" cried old Tom,
selling his arm and trying to drag him
away. The dense smoke of battle had
settled about among the woods, rendering
objects invisible twenty PAGES away.
AS Luke was about to comply with the
old scouts request a Confederate officer
followed by half dozen men ran forward,
shouting:
"Surronder or dieh
"Not by jugful," yelled Arkansaw Tom
and quick rs flash he brought his gun to his
shoulder and leveled it at his heart.
But just as his finger pressed the trigger
Luke struck up the gun with his sword
and sent the bullet flying harmlessly
through the air.
"Dod burn it, what d We do tibet furs"
"Fly for your life," shouted Luke, push
| ing the scout down the hill and starting
after hun. But black object behind tree
arrested his attention. 1t was that mys
FERROUS old negro, Blackhawk who ha(
been q puzzle to him from childhood
Blacihawl had got away from the boat
found gun and to fight. He was
kneeling behind tree his gun leveled a
tho young Confederate whose life Luke hat
saved.
"You black scoundrel, dare you fire and
will run you through shouted Luke, plac
ing the point of his sword against tn
negro's breast.
"Hes Rob, massa, an Is fightin' tie
free my POI wife an little baby"
"But he was Il good master to you, an,
If you harm HIM l will kill you" H
snatched the negros gun from his ham
and hurled him down the hill.
They had not gone far before they met tn
advancing lines Of the Federal army, an
the skirmishers quickly fell into place an
all pressed CALAMITY up the eminenc
through the felled timber. The terribl
thunder of contending armies made tn
woods tremble. The Federals passed owe
the abattis of fallen trees, though many
gallant soldier laid down his life in tn
effort. Luke saw Eddie Reed, one of hi
company, lying with his body in the fork c
fallen tree, and supposing he was or
tangled, went to help extrcate him, but
had bullet in his heart and was dead.
The Union forces drove back the reb(
lines before them. As soon as the cleare
space around the camp was gained,
charge was ordered, and terrible hand {
hahd fight ensued. The Confederate
numbered eight thousand, but Gener;
Grants forces fell upon them with such in
petuosity that after brief but dcsperat
struggle they broke and fled A momer
later the stars and bars were run dow
and the stars and stripes mounted into the
place.
The batteries at Columbus commando
the position, and General Grant knew
could not long hold the camp. The on
thing that had protected the Union force
from showers of shot and shell was Il
fear the Confederate gunners had of Xxi
ing their own friends, for the blues ar
gravs were so mixed up that it was rath'
difficult to tell friend from foe
Driven from their camp, the rebels flo
down under the hill The Union soldier
flushed with victory, became wild. Hith'
and thither, helter-skelter, they went, +
CARELESS of military discipline, and seer
ing more like madmen than soldiers. The
plundered and burned the camp al
cheered until they were hoarse. In va