The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1893-09-08
A Battle Strangely Won.

1t was probably one of the most re-
markable battles that was ever fought.
The advance had been we'll planned by
the attacking force, the Idea being to
surprise the enemy at the dead Of night.
Every detail had been carefully con-
sidered. The advance would be hid
den by wood, and the first the enemy
would know of it would be when the
troops swept out of the wood and car
ried-the camp by storm. There were
apparently no pickets in the wood, and
there seemed to be no possibility of a
failure.
The colonel IN command was gleoat-
ing over his expected victory, when one
of his officers called his attention to a
bright light some distance to the left
of the advancing column.
"What is it," asked the colonel anx
iously.
81 don't kdow," replied the officer.
at flashed up there only minute
ago."
"Well, if any one suspected we were
here he wouldn't 60 along swinging a
lantern TO make target Of himself, as
serted the colonel.
The column had barely begun to
move again when light appeared on
the right and little to the rear of the
one that had just disappeared. Anoth
er halt was made, and the colonel was
tempted to order volley in that direc-
of the light, but of course that would
betray the exact whereabouts of the
column and would be almost suicid-
al.
a~"We are being surrounded" exclaim
ed one of the officers excitedly.
Then light appeared in the shrub
berry Immediately ahead Of the retreat
ing column. The first mau yelled
"Rifle pitt" and cleared the whole
thing at one at one bound. The Sec
ond man Was not so fortunate. He
stumbled and fell, and as ne fell he in
instinctlvely made reach for the light
lie was the only man killed, but his
death completed the panic. Ranks
were broken, and the retreat became a
wild race to get out of the wood.
And the lights seemed to dance here
and there, appearing at the most unex'
pected points and adding to the confu.
sion.
When the excitement was at its
height,a man climbed out Of pit some
distance IN the rear of the retreatlne
force. He stretched himself and peer.
ed after the fleeing soldiers.
changed if l WASN'T cramped in thai
hole" he said 81 suppose | might al
we'll turn cannon or two loose just te
| wake the boys up and scare those foo
racers little more
He lay down on the ground at the
edge of the pit, reached his hand dow1
to some keys on switchboard, and IL
| an instant cannon doomed out. Their
he raised himself to a sitting posture
lit pipe and chuckled to himself.
Two or three men rushed up anc
breathlessly inquired what the troubl
was.
ooh, | had little brush with tn
enemy" replied the man with the pip
calmy ''rhey tried to surprise th'
camp"
"And you beat Them -
why, they're running yet
Quite crowd from the camp hat
gathered by this time, and one OF then
| cried. Three cheers for the electric
ian." but the man with the pipe rais
ed his hand to stop them.
The credit is not all mine,' he said
"Remember my able force of linemel
who ran wires through this wood ant
made it possible for me to win this vi
tory.
| Just then some Of the men who had
gone into the wood af'er the retreatins
enemy returned with the news that on
man had been killed.
What cried the electrician, jump
ing up. He hurried to the place where
the body lay.
"Too bad. Too bad he said regret
fully, "but then accidents will happen
even in battle. He mad no business
to catch hold of 1--we wire"
"Oh, well, there's no use feeling bad
about IT," put in one of the officers.
"a victory has been won, and only on
| life lost" ...
But why have one los'?' asked tn
electrician "Of course it was tiresOm
work in that pit, and when | got ther
on the retreat I was glad Of it, but