The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-06-21

l NAAN LiEa iiNs
 Gan we get by them and up to tht
 Five Chestnuts'?" asked Major De Vii Hers, anxiously
 q will try to pass them, and, at any
 rate, you will be on higher ground
 than they are; but you must all keeI
 very quiet"
 Another start was made and in the
 intense effort that was made to keeT
 quiet according to order, each mar
 seemed to make as much noise as cat
 in newspaper pile. This was not long
 in producing its legitimate result. The
 column had reached @ small plateau or
 the mountain-side, and was within a | half-mile of it's destination, when off tc
 the left and a little lower down mus
 ket flashed, and the report and whistle
 of the bullet followed.
 | Without more ado, the major formed
 his men in line and sent a volley into
 the gloomy hollow, which had no other
 effect than to raise wild shout of de-
 risive laughter. Again the major
 moved his little column forward, and
 again a musket flashed and a bullet whistled over their heads, this time from little above them and on the right. Again the major responded with a volley, and found nothing upon
 search. This was not to be borne, and De Villiers almost tore his hair; but, quickly ordering his men into columns Iagain, he marched up the last of the surprises, coming out on the summit plateau in the dim starlight, to see the Five Chestnuts not over fifty yards
 away. Sitting ill front of them was a man smoking corn-cob pipe and hav- ing musket lying across his knees.
 "Who are you, sare?" shouted the major.
 I'm Joe Gammell Who are you, sare?" in exact imitation of the major.
 Come here! shouted the now thor oughly aroused major.
 "Sartin, I'll come thar, stranger Why didn't you ax me afore? I've been trying to scrape acquaintance with you all up the hill, but you seemed kinder skeery like. How do you do, general? Guess it'll be nice morn in. HulAp, you got my boy, I see"
 Joe being made to understand that less gabble would be acceptable proved to be a valuable acquisition, and the major forgave him for having fired on his column couple of times by way of finding out whether it was composed of rebs or Tanks. He knew every foot of those mountains and the whereabouts of the rebels, When the daylight came he showed the major where he could post his men to make them most effec- tive, and guided party of observation ments of the rebels.
 The day wore on until noon was far past, and yet General Rosecrans had made no sign in the valley.
 T zee not what we do up here" mur- mured the major as he luxuriated in the shade of one of the chestnuts, and gag ed out over the beauteous panorama of forest-covered mountain and valley. "Ha! What zat was?"
 It was hardly necessary for him to ask, for it was patent to the most ob- tuse understanding that the cause of his start and exclamation was a can non shot far down in the valley, and in ten minutes the air was filled and the white with smoke and roar Of battle.
 "Old Rosy is at 'em," shouted the boys, and as the roar of the strife in- creased they grew almost wild with ex- citement. The fight below went on un- til it was near the going down of the sun, when there was a shout and com motion among the combatants.
 Hes driving em he's driving 'emg was shouted on the mountain top. Here come the rebs Look out for themw
 The major and every one of his men sprang to their feet and took their po- ;itlons, determine that they would and could hold their position aeains all l he battle-exhausted rebels that could | 'ome against them. Nov the ap- 1roach on this side was very different | rom that up which De Villiers and his | men had come. There were two good | pads, and a great portion of the gentle | ascent was cleared and farmed land. l Across this slope the defeated rebels | ,ould be seen falling back at first slow y and stubbornly, but afterwards more 'apidly as they were more severely | pressed rby the Union troops. Soon the whole intervening two miles between | De Vilhers and the battlefield was plen- fully dotted with the men of both rmies. Soon the advanced stragglers f the Confederate rout began to come within rifle range, and as they did so we're opened upon by the majors men. ,hey stopped in disgusted wonder, and cling rapidly joined by others, heavy me of fugitves formed, which, being ressed forward by the additions to the ear, soon fouHd that fighting would ave to be done before the summit ould be reached.
 stand firm, men, and make every hot tellp' shouted the major along the ne. The Confederates were at first hrown into some confusion from this nexpected fire in their faces, but their ficers very correctly estimating the of the force, spread out a lime I( f battle fully half a mile long, and anne up on the summit with a rush nat carried everything before them. [ajor De illiers did everything that - as in the power of a man placed as he It as, but four hundred men had no nance against four thousand, and he nd his command were literally swept om off the little plateaus and into the oods and rocks up which they had c filed the night before. II "Neither Old Rosy the Lord, nor the ( ,untry can blame you for lightin' out S yw; so come along with me, shouted r )e Gammel in the majors ear. Il 'T will leave my post nevvare" r