The record-union., 1895-01-18
AS A BOY saw IT.
Fierce Combat in the Canebrakes of
Louisiana.
Vivid Description of Terrible Fight
Between Texas Rangers and
Federal Cavalry.

bayou, flowing sluggisnly southwark be-
tween the steep and bushy banks; the
dusty road on the further side, and be-
yond that the wide flat overgrown with
palmettos, and bordered on the rear with
a stretch of forest that to my boyish mind
bad no limit of length or breadth. True,
had been told that somewhere out to the
westward lay the open country Of the
Atchafalaya, and some time gone heard
the faint boom of the big guns OF the gun
boats that attacked the fort at Butte La
Rose, on Bayou des Glaizes; but my
knowledge stopped with the intervening
swamp, and as to the rest was carelessly
skeptical.
From this forest or swamp a wagon
road had been cut to the highway along
the bayou, which it lntersected al a point
opposite to where l sat fishing. ltwound
in and out OF the dense growth of pal
mettos, and could not be followed with
the eye tor moro than one hundred yards.
Those who made 1T never thought OF The
use to which 1t was to be put that day,
but it could not have served the users bet
ter If ii had been designed expressly for
their purpose.
The fish were not biting well. The
August heat had driven them under the
shelter OF the banks, whence they re-
garded the worm on my hook with lazy
Indifference. Fifty yards or so up the
stream big blue heron stood on a sway
ing log, balancing his handsome body on
one leg, as torgettuI OF his tnny prey as it
was OF him. Not a leaf stirred on the
bushes and cane along the banks; the
only motion to De seen was the heat Mir
age rising In circles from the bIisterIng
road. Sitting there in the shade OF a
mighty live oak, and as comfortable as
only q boy in light cotton shirt and
pants and palmetto hat could be in such
weather, l thought of my brother away
over in Georgia with Johnston's army
and wondered II he was on the march
under that blazing sun, deVoutly plying
him ii he was.
The three little negroes who composed
my special bodyguard, and who minis
tered TO my greatness day by day, were
lying beside me, sleeping the sleep of the
just. l tain would have slept also.
1t was about o'clock in the afternoon
when, having made up my mind at last
to go home, l raised my line from the
water, and, in doing so, chanced TO look
across the bayou ana saw TWO hOrsemen
ride swiftly out from the edge of the
woods to the main road. l knew them at
once, as they had stopped at my fathers
house few days before with a scouting
party of Texan cavalry. The one was
Captain named Merrill, the most perfect
specimen of physical manhood l have
GsSI S66U-aDOuL lllluul6 nclsEi, pTOpOf-
toned equally for strength and activity,
has bronzed lace lit up by pair OF bright
blue eyes, and his Well-Shaped mead
crowned with red-gold hair, that hung in
curing mass to his shoulders. He rode
black mustang, Itself picture to look
at, with the speed OF Z thoroughbred and
the temper OF a tiend l knew some
thing about the bruta's disposition, hav
ing narrowly escaped his teeth and hoofS
the day he made free with my tather's
provender. The Captain was an old
Indian fighter, the most accomplished
norseman in a brigade of matchless
riders, and his mount was almost as
famous as himself
His companion was a Comanche lad
whom he had saved from the death melted
out TO party OF raiders to which he be-
lUnged by the Captains rangers couple
OF years before the time of this story. He
was a naughty, silent chap, who bore
himself as ii the earth belonged to him.
But l conceived a violent affection for
him the day he was at our house, much
10 the disgust OF Nanny Barbara, who
strongly uisapproyed of the young master
Consorting on terms of equality with q
rad nigger." His name was Tchula, or
something OF that sound, and he won my
heart by making me wonderful bow
and arrow and showing mo how TO use
it, Tchula rode little ''painp' pony.
When the two reached the road he
-
self at full length. with his ear to the
ground. For several minutes ne lay
thus, and then, rising quickly, re-
mounted and spoke to the Captain, point
ing up the road, and using sign lam
guage that was all Greek TO me. The
Captain and he galloped back to the
woods, and / aroused my bOdyguard.
Something was aiOot, and / was deter
mined TO get an inkling OF it. Martin,
the most active OF the three, was ordered
to climb tall, black gum tree near by
and survey the ground IN front II went
up like q cat, took one look, and came
down In q hurry, with his eyes bulging
out like marbles.
'Texicuns ~ he gasped. "De woods is
full of 'em. see dey brides an spurs
er shlnln' like silver. Dey's keepin'
close, lax dey waItin' ter ketch some un
Reckon dey's after runaway niggers."
II would never DO for me to accept any
theory from such q source, so it occurred
10 me that / had better sninny up the
tree and take look Tor myself did so,
and Martins report was confirmed. over
on the edge OF the woods, concealed from
the road by the underground, was large
body OF cavalry sitting still on their
horses. / can see them yeT with their
lean, brown faces looking out from the
shadow OF their wide trimmed hats,
their arms carbiue and TWO reyoIyers
IL each man, but not saUe ramOng them
and their small, wiry horses looking
douoly small IN proportion TO the i'm
mense Mexican saddles. all a-glitter with
silver ornaments. Evidently they We're
there for purpose, and on the alert for
something about to happen. II was an
parent, even to my inexperienced eyes,
that they were in ambush.
For what, and for whom?
The question had scarcely arissu in
my mind before the answer was ready.
From up the road came the steady
tramp OF large body OF horse, and. look
ing in that direction, / saw long column
OF cavalry approaching IN formation of
Iours. The pennon tuttering over tho
vanguard told me they were Iederals be-
fore / had distinguished the blue uni
forms. There was an awful lot OF them
and / fell to wondering whether they or
the Texans were in the majority. Ii was
plain that there was going TO be fight.
and that the texans were prepared Tor it.
The Indian had heard tho sound Of the
horses tread on the dry road from a.ar.
and had posted his side.
Were the other fellows expecting any
trouble?
Plainly they were not. They had no
scouts out ahead, only squadron riding
about hundred yards in advance of the
main body. The officer in command OF
this force was young man, beardless,
and seemingly not more than p or a. In
appearance and in the careless grace with
which he sat his morse he reminded me of
q faVorite cousin OF mine, who was at
that time in Forests cavalry, and, as /
imagined, Staying four or i've Yankees
for breakfast every morning.
As the vanguard passed the flank ofthe
ambush one OF the Texans horses
neighed. My heart jumped TO my throat,
for | thought the jig was up; the surprise