Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-07-18


"Dey is layin' an ambush" he whis
pered.
That was it. They expected con
federate company this way before
night, and they were preparing to sur
prise them. The thought sent thrill
through me- Right before my eyes
and without any choice in the matter
battle was to be fought. l could not
escape to my home without running
past the waiting sentries, and my only
choice was to remain in my place.
Then the thought Of flying bullets
alarmed all of us, and made the cold
perspiration break out on our foreheads
Unless we could hide behind the trees
we would probably be picked off in the
coming conflict.
"We'd better climb de trees" sug,
Rested one of my companions. Dem
bullets won't cum up dere."
This advice I thought was excellent,
and the three of us soon selected q
/ large tree and noiselessly climbed it.
( Among the top branches we obtained
fine view of the country. We could
see the hot road winding away for
/ miles in the swamp and up toward the
/ uplands. I cold even see the roof OF
/ my own home.
! The federal troops were all in their
/ positions, and only their muffied con-
{ versation could be heard. One could
not see solitary soul in the road or
swamp, and the ambush seemed we'll
| nigh perfect.
We waited for two hours in our
I ,,.e;+!l,,p Tho hno+ he
tree seemed more intense than any
where, and we tried to get under the
shade of the branches as much as pos
sible l grew faint and tired, and my
head ached severely. Then the thought
of Banks at the foot of the tree oc-
CURED to me. Poor Banksl In our
fright we had forgotten him. Thought
l could hear his whine at the foot of
the tree.
I'm going down to comfort him." I
said, peering through the branches
from my dizzy perch.
Better not" responded my Oldest
faithful body guard. Somebody s
comm down de road, fur sure!'
looked toward the uplands. Yes,
two or three horsemen were hurrying
toward us, and, as they drew nearer, l
could see that they wore blue uniforms,
too. They were the sentries, running in
to give the word of warning. In few
minutes they had concealed themselves
in the forest with the others.
felt that the critical moment was
arriving. The confederate troops had
been discovered, and the ambush was
ready to receive them. A thrill of ex-
citement passed through me. 1 forgot
Banks and my determination to go
down and comfort him.
Then, far up the road, caught sight
of other horsemen, dressed in the regi-
mentals of the confederate army. The
sight of them recalled my brother and
his companions. Suppose they were
with these troopers!
As they drew nearer, riding careless
ly along, unconscious of any danger, l
pitied them. My loyal feeling for the
south asserted itself for the first time.
1 wanted to do something to warn the
troopers of their danger. How could
remain passively up the tree and see
them plunge into the swamp of death?
Many of them were young, beardless
fellows, full of spirit and soldierly
dash, just the ones to plunge into the
thick of the fight until killed.
In my sympathy for them, waved
my handkerchief over my head, and
made frantic signs to attract their at
tention. But no one seemed to glance
up at the forest trees. Now they had
reached the turn In the road, and
were near the edge of the swamp. An
other hundred yards and they would
be hemmed in on all sides.
NV desire to see a battle suddenly
deserted me, and, for the first time, /
heartily wished myself hundred miles
away felt that 1 would drop from
the tree at the first alarm of rifle re-
port. My two companions were like
wise conscious of the impending con-
fict, and they breathed heavily as they
clung to the tree.
The head of the column had reached
the edge of the swamp, and the horses
plunged down into the soft, miry road
bed. The rear of the column was just
in sight around the road-bend. l ex-
pected any moment to see a puff of
smoke from the swamp, to announce
the beginning of the battle.
But suddenly the loud barking of
Banks broke out startlingly upon the
stiffness of the air. With n sudden
rush he scampered through the swamp
toward the road, and plunged head
long toward the advance column. A
federal trooper made dash at him as
he passed, but, missing his aim, he
plunged headlong into the bushes.
The barking of the dog and the crash
ing of the bushes brought the leaders
of the confederates to sudden halt.
Banks, as if desiring to warn the men
of their danger, hurried up to their
sides with frantic barking and wag-
ging of his tail. The whole column
soon came to a standstill. Would this
temporary halt give the soldiers the
alarm?
From my position in the tree, 1 could
see one of the confederates move to-
ward the dog and, dismounting, pat
him. In my heart thanked him for
that caress. Then looking up, he adj
dressed the commander, and pointed
toward the woods as he spoke. In n
few moments half dozen men started
forward to reconnoiter.
/ scarcely knew how the next ten
minutes passed. 1t was the most
heart-rending sight that 1 ever wit
messed. Before the soldiers had moved
a dozen yards farther down the road
the sharp crack of a rifle broke upon
the air, followed by others in quick
succession. In a short space of time
the woods seemed to be full of puffs
of smoke and the whizzing of bullets
mingled with the rattle of musketry.
Almost the first shot made me cry
with pain, for, with a short, sharp
yelp, Banks leaped into the air and
fell over wounded or dead. Another
one prostrated the young soldier who
had caressed him. Then the blaze of
fire and clouds of smoke hid the COM
batants from me. From my position l
could just realize that the confederates
were retreating slowly and In order.
They were returning the fire steadily,
but they We're outnumbered, and re-
treat was their only hope.
The federal troopers seemed to swarm
out of the swamp in endless numbers,
and rush fiercely down upon their en-
emies, pushing them up the road with
a determined front. The advance col
umns of the confederates were nearly
all killed just where they had stood;
but, thanks to Banks timely warning,
the majority of the troopers were out
......G, .G,ls0 %.