The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-02-23

was not five hundred yards from tn
river, and within rifle reach of the near
est Confederate camp. "But that woun,
wasn't made on Hens head, but on hi
fathers. II you uns ever see Hugh Nc
Neil-and hits mos likely yo' will, IL s,
be we uns git into Marion county, TO h
lives in the hills nigh to Jasper--notic,
his forehead, and YOU see the skull kind
er caved in in a circle like that scar OF
Hens. Hit all happened bout foal
months afo' Hen was Dawn. Hugh-h,
was a powahful drinkin man in thin
days--got into fight with blacksmith
down to Jasper, and the blacksmith
fetched him clip on the head with q
twenty pound sledge hammer and hi
laid him out. Sue Mcneil heard hel
husband was dead and she come dowr
to the town. where she found doctor
perpahrin to fix the wound, and wher
she seed hit she fell right ovah in faint
That's why Hens got the mark and il
as he is, and can't abide the sight OF
blood"
This was said in the guides low, care.
full tones, and he might have kept on,
AOl AntANti litii was tNlutHtlF u
congenial subject with him, had we not
reached the rocky crown of the hill,
from which we could see the sunlight
flashing on the arms Of the Confederates
and distinguished the uniforms of the
men from those of the officers, who at
that time had barbaric fondness for
tinsel and gold lace.
Lin Moore prevailed on Hen to sit
down in the shadow of a rock while /
examined the splendid panorama of
river, mountain, town and camp spread
out to the east, though the aesthetic as
pect Of the view had no attractions for
me at that time.
Before starting out on this expedition
was furnished with number of out
line maps of the region to be traversed
and examined on the scout. My instruc-
tons were to note in detail on this out
line all the elevations, valleys, streams,
roads, farms, bridges, fords, everything
indeed that might be of use to an ad.
yancing army. After making my ex-
animation by means of the field glass, I
laid it down, and without paying any
heed to Hugh McNeil's Hen / unfolded
my map and began penciling in the
points of importance before me.
became so intent in my work that
forgot all about my companions, and
might have kept ON for another half
hour had not the guide, who had kept
along the hill and closer to the river,
come hurrying back. With more nerv-
BUSINESS in his voice and manner than
had yet seen, he said:
II reck'n, cap'n, we uns had bettah be
hghtin out"
whats upy' asked.
"Thar's lot of Confeds come ovah to
this side of the rivah," he replied.
/ folded up the map. put it carefully
away with my pencils, then turned to
pick up my field glasses, but to my
amazement they were gone and SO was
Hugh McNeil's Hen.
found no comfort in the guides state
ment that the idiot "did not do this for
bad" But more important matters than
the loss of my valuable glasses now at
tracted our attention. could distinctly
see with the unaided eye, for they were
now not a quarter of mile away, a
body of cavalry, at least troop in
strength, coming on smart trot, like
men who had an important objective
point ahead.
81 hope the rest of the boys'll be
a-waitin TO us" said the guide, as at
run we dashed down to where our horses
were grazing and we had made camp
the night before. To my great relief /
found the men waiting and all the
horses saddled. They, too, had seen the
danger and were nervously awaiting
our return.