Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-11-28


 idea into yer skull. Here we are, ain't we?n
 we ain't anywhere else"
 "Then that's settled. Down thar is Company D, two miles away We are to hold one gap-they the other. They won't see a damned red down there, while we'll hev a thousand on us be- fore that old brass watch O yours says it's 12 o'clock. Kin 90 men lick thou sand?a
 i've heard of sieh things" plaeidly replied the corporal.
 Half an hour passed away, and then the three yidettes caught sight of a dozen rebels in uniform making their way down the gap. The uniforms proved them regular troops, and there was reason to believe that a force was behind them.
 q told ye they'd be comin' down this Gap!" growled the kicker, as he made ready with his musket ''Thar's a whole regiment behind them fellers, and we'll be chawed up in half an hour.''
 \ dozen shots were exchanged be- tween the yidettes and the sllirmishers, and then the skirmishers were rein forced and began to crowd closer and to open a more rapid fire.
 There was a brigade of coufederates marching down through the Gap. When the yidettes had been brushed back a strong force swept down on company c fighting behind it's breast work, and the rattle of muslletry was plainly heard by the company D men at Snieker's Gap. After listening to it for q few minutes Capt. Harper smiled and muttered:
 "Goodl They are having a hot time of it and will soon send for reinforce ments. I've got White just where I want him."
 Ten minutes later a soldier from company c arrived to say that the con- federates were in superior force, ard that the federaIs must be reinforced or fall back. They had already lost ten or 12 men.
 Ny compliments to Capt. White, '' slowly replied the captain of company D. sand tell him he will be expected to hold his position to the very last. I dare not abandon this position to assist him."
 When the messenger returned to his company and delivered the order the junior captain understood 1t alright. No matter what the force, he must fight it alone. There was DO falling back Dur ing brief lull in the firing he passed along the breastwork and spoke a few encouraging words to the men, and as the fighting grew hot again he sheathed his sword and kneIt behind the rocks with musiet in hand. Side by side were the corporal and the private called Bill. They knew that endorsements had been asked for and refused
 Told ye so, didn't ?" queried Bill, while reloading his musket.
 Damn 'em!" exclaimed the corporal in reply.
 Its the last of company e. old man! We are to be wiped out that Capt. Harper may git his revenge. We are jest givin' the Johnnies hell and repeat, but we can't keep it up long. Biffi but that was a clus one! Say, Corp, why don't ye hold yer chin still"
 Better hang on to yer ownl"
 "Well, don't be gruffy about it. Lord save us, but half the company has bin knocked over already! I wanted to live to be brigadier gineral, but I kin feel my toes beginnin' to curl right nowi"
 No second messenger reached the senior captain. Had such been the case he would have carried back the same answer as before. For 30 minutes the men of company "D" listened to the rapid firing and knew that their comrades were making heroic defense. Then, as the mus1etry became the more feeble, they forgot and forgave and would have gone to the defense. The orderly sergeant suggested such a move to the captain, but the latter sternly replied
 Company 'G' has its orders, sirl I don't believe there are dozen rebels in front ofthem, and that they need any help"
 Ten minutes later, when the firing had died away to a mere sputtering, the sergeant returned to his captain to say:
 T beg your pardon, sir, but the boys figure that company e has been in front of them, or that they need any up the road"
 "0rder the men to fall in for retreat" !" was the reply, and five minutes later company ID" was marching back to- wards the federal lines, leaving it's own position unguarded, and having no information as to the fate of their comrades above. That came later from the confederates and from three or four wounded men. Among the latter was Bill, and he explained:
 We kept shootin' and shootin', but they kept comin' thicker and thicker, and almost every man we lost was shot in the head as he raised above the breastwork to fire. When half our men was down I looked at the captain