The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-01-07

advance guard reported the enemy's pckets in
sight. As we came over the brow Of the hill
we could see ID or 20 rebs on a bridge over q
small stream. At the foot Of the slope behind
them the ground assembled, and was covered
with a growth Of heavy timber. Col. GaFrard
says 10 our commander:
Major / guess you had better dismount
yonr regiment aud feel their strength"
g All right" says the Major.
I" Number one, two, aud three. Jump of
number four. hold the horses; spread out into
skirmish-line, boys aud come along"
In a moment we were over the fence, and
spreading out on both sides OF the road about
six feet apart and moving down the hill,
slumping through the soft, clinging, sticky,
yellow mud. IL was in the Spring Of the year.
and the ground had thaWcd out Just about
aukle-deep. Numerous remarks were made by
the boys when they discovered the condition
Of the walking. One fellow was afraid that he
would spoil the polish on his boots; another
one remarked that the walking would have
been better If it hadn't thawed out There
were about 200 Of Us, aud we were just aching
for lark
When the bullets from the party on the
bridge began TO whiZ among US, the Major
said:
Boys. don't think We had better let those
fellows shoot at US more than once"
=" All right. Maori"
10 aueau, AoQhiC-Qulck IL, tnens ana Oh N0
dashed fast as we could run straight at the
crowd, who were firing right into us. They
were SO anxious 10 get the second sho; at us
that We were almost 10 the bridge before they
ran. Just then some one sang out: Let's
catch 'em alive, boys!" That seemed TO strike
the boys favorably, and Catch EN- alive "
was shouted clear down the line. and on over
the bridge and up through the woods we
dashed. There was no moro mud, as the
or nd in hf vEnGle Evag colfA had
disturbed by plow, and the footing was ex-
celleut
Ny, how we kicked our coat tails with our
heels and the rebs almost in our grasp; another
hundred yards, aud we would have had every
slow runner IN the crowd; but just we were
straining every nerve and thought we had
them, ! heard one Of the bows say: my God
look over there" raised my eyes aud looked
ahead, and there, not IS yards from us, stood a
line Of rebel infantry four deep, and as far IA
the right aud left as we could see through the
woods, and they had their muskets at their
shoulders, and were apparently waiting for us
] realized at once that was in a bad place, for
! there was not a tree near me except some sap.
/ lings, but about % feet ia front, aud 20 INV
right, stood large chestnut with a clump Of
shoots from the roots. IL ] could only reach
that tree before the Volley came, | stood "A small
chance, but IL was certain death where was
lt don't take person long 10 decide under
such circumstances what 10 DO, and ! was
bounding with great leaps toward the big chest
| nut as quick rs thought, aud barely reached II
| just as the yolley came. What A crash il made
how the bullets ratified up against the tree. and
/ j could see the under-brush falling all about
1 the tree, cut of by the balls. After the yOlley
a sudden lull. / forgot 10 mention that two
more of my boys had reached the tree ahead OF
me- COrpl Everett was one aud jim Isabel the
| other.
Get your guns to work, boys" said
| Everett sticks his out on the right, aud went
to work shooting as coolly as though that wal
| the business he had been brought up 20. Jim
was little ratified, and his first ball struck the
middle Of a big oak about 40 feet from the
ground, aud made the bark fly; happened e
see the white patch come on the tree and the
| bark ly.
That won't do. Jim," said I. Cool down
just rs though you were shooting at a mark,
their guns arc empty"
BY this time our boys had got fairly 10 work
aud do believe we could have cleaned out tbt
rebs In front Of US il those on our TANKS had moi
advanced down the hill with a view OF sur.
rounding US. We were having nice time with
our seven-shooters clearing out the rebs in front
OF as, when the bugle sounded the retreat. and
we had 20 quit and fall back As turned "a
run j saw one Of the boys trying 20 pick out
some bark from Jerry GOrigan's eyes. which
had got knocked in by ball hitting the tres
close TO him, but he hadn't time 10 finish, SO he