Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-06-29


"They are gone" said that young
woman; at is dark"
''They have gone" said Calicot, ''to
the telegraph station"
''But, oh dear" exclaimed Miss La
port, chow is all this to our advan-
tsge?"
Eyes" said Stocking. That's what
we want you tell u.s.
Calicot addressed himself to Miss
Laport.
Hendricks" he said, Twill be
flushed with victory, self-confidence,
and more likely to grant any request
you make of him. If your father were
to ask him now to let him take you
away, pending these dreadful scenes,
he would probably consent. l believe
he would let the lieutenant go with
him if he gave his word to return"
(Which / never would do said
Stocking.
Eyes, you would" said Calicot, 'if
Miss Franklin and l insisted upon 1t,
and it were to our advantage. He has an
idea that your interest in Miss Frank
lin will close your mouth; that you can
not betray him without betraying her
father-besides. win remain as hos
tage for you. When we have got the
women out, the rest is easy, and / will
disclose it to you when you come back.
The moment the issue of the fight is
decided, you must take the women
out at tho bayou entrance and get
them across the Mississippi or to Mem
phis. Bear in mind that Hendricks is
making ready to abandon this place
and take the field openly. He cares
less for exposure now that his plans
are completed, and you are encum-
brances."
Neither Stocking or Miss Laport
evinced any enthusiasm at this project,
but they yielded to Calicots urgency
and, for want of any other plan, final
ly agreed to do as he bade them.
1t was nearly morning before the
noise of preparation and departure
subsidized, but Calicot felt sure that,
whatever the issue overhead, Hen
bricks would be at his telegraph wire
and that was the only hope of obtain
ing definite information.
What is now known as the battle Of
Laran began just before daybreak.
Lieut.. Saxton, commanding the two
companies OF the Sixth regiment,
United States infantry, was in camp
on the hill, where there were still
bloody evidences Of Gen. Luscomb's
unfortunate bivouac. The four guns
of Battery A were on the crest with
a hastily-thrown-up abbatfs, and the
two companies of cavalry, amount
ing to hundred and fifty men, were
in the woods covering radius of sew
eral miles as pickets and scouts Lieut..
Saxton had taken every military pre-
caution against surprise and had
planted himself as securely as possible
for defense, but 1t was not conceivable
to him that a force of four hundred
men would rise out of the ground In
the dark under his very nose, and Hem
bricks succeeded in getting that force
through the portal quietly and dispos-
ing them in solid order under the pro-
lection of the trees and ruins of the
sanitarium before the lieutenant's
scouts discovered them. He had also
sent out five hundred men ut the bayou
exit, and they were In the rear of the
intrenched party before dawn. One
hundred men had been left in the cave
as reserve to protect the entrances,
The force ut the portal was divided
into two commands of two hundred
men each, Hendricks leading one and
Gen. Waterson the other. The move
ment of one OF these columns to the
right of the hill gave the alarm and
the battle began about fifteen min
1t
ranged 1t. A simultaneous dash was
made by the two divisions upon the
hill and desperate fight ensued. Gen.
Waterson had the protection of the
woods in his advance, but Hendricks
had TO cross an open space and re-
ceived the murderous fire from the
guns on the crest. His men broke
twice, but he rallied them with re-
minders that in ten minutes their
brothers would come mp in the rear.
He had thirty men killed and disabled
before he got inside the line, and while
there engaged in a hand-to-hand fight
Waterson reached the guns and ST.
fenced them. At the same time the
shouts of the party coming up in the
rear were heard, and ten minutes later
the battle was virtually decided. Lieut..
Saxton, brave young officer, was
killed. Fifty OF his men were either
killed outright or mortally wounded.
The cavalry that was In the woods was
not so easily dealt with and continued
tho sldrmishing until well into the
forenoon, by which time Hendricks
began the work of moving the wound
ed into the Laran, and later in the day
he felt sure that the mounted men had
ridden in all directions for succor and
retired. He then transferred
his force with the guns to the Laran,
and by nightfall had withdrawn into
the cave and once moro masked his
entrance.
The first intelligence received by
Calicot came that night, and Stocking
was present when the extraordinary
was read by Miss Endicott. |
Here 1t is:
Every detail is planned; l have
made no mistakes; thirty-two out; have |
twenty-four hours margin; bayou
notify all heads quick and |
come on; all consult here; In the field |
in three days; signal all; will send force
escort; could not save Saxton." |
Good Godr' exclaimed Stocking, II |
wonder If that is Charley Saxton OF |
the Twelfth murdered by these out
laws?"
Calicot begged him to be cool. "Wo |
shall know" he said, 'if Fenning |
sends back the newspaper accounts"
But though they waited some time, |
Miss EndicOtt communicated nothing /
further. '"They are hurrying away"
She said, ION horses"
What doyou make out Of ftp" asked
Stocking. ''To me it is unintelli-
gible."