Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-01
A HOT LITTLE FIGHT.
story OF an Engagement Between Skin
mishers During the War.

mishcrs During the War.
A body Of cavalry set ont on n recon-
noissance, 10 pass over the neutral
ground between the two armies TO de-
velop any recent enrthworlss thrown
up, to locate the enemy's vedettes, TO
see II he is repairing the roads and
bridges in his front, 10 observe every
thing which may have a possiol
bearing on the events OF week TO
GOMEZ more than that, 10 drive of
horses and cattle, to load a score OF
wagons with provisions and forage, TO
add 10 the restitution and terror of
helpless old men as they sit at their
doors and OF the women and children
AS they work In the barren fields
War Is always sacrifice-never mer-
cy. War demands death and wounds
and destruction. lie who can kill and
wound and destroy most is the greatest
hero. War respects nothing, venerates
nothing, blacSens everything II moves
ITS trail across country as a yenomous
serpent winds through the grass You
follow the trails and look in vain for
one single spot where mercy and pity
stayed the hand of destruction. Black
ness, desolation, death, and new.made
graves are the milestones on the trails
of war
II was a May day, with the peach
trees everywhere in blossom. Behind
us were the smoke and flame Of destruc-
ton; ahead, the old farmhouses which
sheltered TO one who could march in
the ranks and fight against u.s. The
III 4.
sunny SIX es.-everythi told OF peace,
and yet war was at hand as the laxen-
haired children came running TO the
doors. Just below farmhouse we
halt 10 water our thirsty horses at n
brook flowing lazily across the road. A
few men ride on to the house We can
hear the voice OF woman raised in
fearful protestaton. We can see an
old gray-haired man with child in his
arms at the door, and though his voice
is too weak 10 reach us we can sec by
his gestures that he resents the lawless
invasion of the premises.
Some of us rode to the right.sto reach
the burns, where the wagons are al.
ready drawn up; some TO the left
where horses are at pasture; the re-
maindcr straight on up the road. Sud-
denly the bugles sound the alarm and
then warn us TO rally on the center In
one minute the scene is changed from
dreamy peace To active war. A body OF
the enemy, having the same object in
view as ourselves, has come up from
the south and attacked us at sight.
Many u saddle on our side IL emptied
before we check their fierce charge and
push them back till we have room to
form. Each side has light battery.
The guns get TO work almost as soon
us the carbines The old farmhouse Is
the key to the battlefield. An old man
and II mother and four children are In
there, but what of IL? This is war No
one gives them Il thought Shot aud
she'll pillow through the ancient struc-
turc-bullets search out every nook and
corner. Now our right wing drives the
enemy back with chccr-now the en-
cmy presses back our left and shouts in
eNultation. 1t is hot fight for thirty
minutes-timc enough for the dead aud
wounded to number one hundred aud
fifty. The reyerbcration of the guns
brings down shower OF blossoms at
every discharge, and the black powder
smoke floats up through the branches
and smirches and discolurs and leaves
its CRIME.
Rally on the centerl Forward-trot
-gallop-charge"
We have broken the enemy and sent
him dying. We followed him for u
mile or more, shooting and hacking,
and then the bugles blow the recall,
and we cease the pursuit There are
dead men on The dusty highway, in the