The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-05-21

was progressing in good earnest before
the old Colonel knew what was going
on. He was too old for active service,
and he remained at home with his
daughter and his grandchildren, leav-
ing his sons and his son-in-law to rep
resent him in the field.
When the first shell exploded in the
city the Colonel was at the dinner
table.
''That is SHE'LL" he remarked quiet
ly, 'and it fell within half a mile of
this house,
The children screamed and their
mother turned pale.
"Are we in much danger?' the mat
ron asked.
'"That is hard question to answer"
replied the Colonel; but do not mind
saying that we should prepare for the
worst l have often told you about the
shelling of Vera Cruz. We poured a
hot fire into the city, but when we en-
tered it l was surprised to find how
few we had killed.
"But, grandpa said little Tommy
you did kill some. didn't you?"
"Oh, yes" answered the old man,
"quite a number of the citizens were
killed. After the surrender saw blood
stains on the walls of my room. 1t
seems that whole family had been
killed there
At this Tommy set up doleful howl,
which was swelled by chorus from
the other children.
But this is nothing" said the Col
onel, rising from his chair and going to
the window. "We must expect a few
shells. Possibly there will be a siege
but it cannot last long. You know that
our policy is to draw the enemy this
way. We want to get the invaders as
far as possible from their base of sup
plies.''
"Yes, l see," said his daughter
thoughtfully, but don't you think that
we have drawn the Federals far
enough in this direction?'
''Ah," said the veteran, with a smile,
you do not understand the Fabian
policy. Now. L.
"lf we lead the Federals OH antil
they cover the country" said the lady
sit seems to me that they will have the
best of it,
'Nonsense"' blurted out the Colonel.
"You women know nothing of the art
of war, and it is we'll that you don't.
Never talk in that way again. One
would think that you were disloyal to
the Confederacy
OF course, you know BEST" respond
ed the little woman meekly; sit is all a
horrible business to me, and hope that
it will soon be over. But how are we
to protect ourselves from the shells?"
Leave that to me-" answered the
Colonel. my experience at Vera Cruz
is worth something. The Mexicans dug
pits with bomb-proof roofs, and the
women and children found them very
good shelters. l am going to have one
dug at once"
In spite of his 76 years, the old gen
tleman left the room with the brisk
step of man who proposed to take a
hand in the defense of the city.
His residence was an old-fashioned
mansion in a retired quarter of the
town. The prospect of a siege created
the widest excitement, and in a short
time thousands of citizens We're at
work digging bomb proofs. Under the
Colonefs instructions, a large pit was
dug in the shape of an "L.'' 1t was
not ready for occupation until the fol-
lowing day, but when it was finished
its hill-shaped top, covered with alter
nate layers of clay, timber and bar iron.
inspired confidence.
For six weeks the little family had to
occupy this underground retreat a good
portion of the time. Sometimes rain
OF shells aroused them from their slum-
bers in the house and sent them pre-
cipitately to the cave. All except the
Colonel. The Mexican war veteran
showed no alarm. When he went into
the dugout he always made it point
to say that he was there merely to keep
his daughter and grandchildren from
feeling uneasy.
1t is waste of time to lay siege to
this city, he said one day. Our posi-
tion is almost impregnable. and in a
few days re-enforcements will arrive.
really pity Sherman. He does not
know what is before him. l expect
the majority will be taken prisoners. -
The fire of the besiegers grew hotter
and hotter. and the inmates of the Col
onefs household held no communica-
ton with the outside world Fortunate
ly, they We're we'll provisoned and
were able to live in fairly comforta-
bic way. Every morning the daily
paper, a half-sheet printed on wall pa
per, was thrown over the gate. The
Colonel always went himself to pick
up this interesting journal. He would
not allow Il servant to run the risk OF
2ncountering a stray shell.
1t was a sight to see this white haired
soldier, with his gold-headed cane
walking out to get his paper, followed
by the admiring but anxious glances
of the entire household. Generally he
walked with Il slow and dignified step
but little Tommy declared that one
morning he saw his grandpa dodge q
shell and return to the house at rapid
mace