The National tribune., 1897-11-18

long column all day, and saw it draw out its
| full length on the Barboursville Road, leading
| to Wild Cat Gapy That night he and Web
Brainard hurried TO Wild Cat Gap with the
information The news threw Gen. Schoepf
! into sore perplexitN.
Il am here to defend this place" said he
and have but one regiment and part of
another. All the supporting forces are
farther away from me than the rebels are
| If the rebels marcisstraight on they'll reach
me before any help can. I'd give years of
my life to stop themfa single day"
| He hurried off his staff with requests to
borhood to hasteni TO his help He then
said to Pollock and the rest
$50 back as quickly as you can to the
vicinity of the enemy, and keep me hourly
informed as to his movements"
The next day Pollock and his friends saw
the column start out again 1t toiled slowly
along over the wretched roads. Just beyond
Barboursville the road winds up a steep as
cent through narrow gorge. Looking down
from hill upon this pass. Pollock said sug-
gestively to his companions:
"We'uns mout stop they'uns thar awhile,
any any"
LES try hit" responded Web Brainard
instantly g .Jineral Thomas ordered weuns
not t. throw ourselves away uselessly, but
Wherever we'uns seen chance t. be of use
t not think of our lives, fur we'uns belonged
t. the Government. We can't die but onct,
an | don't think we kin ever git more fur
our lives. / vote in favor Of hit.
There seemed no necessity for any further
discussion. They all crept furtively down to
cover in the thick laurels about the head of
the pass The rebels came on steadily, a
A. of hottn of Iry
leading the advance.
As they reached the foot of the pass and
began the ascent, Pollock stepped out into the
center of the road, followed by the others
He moved with the GOODNESS of a man settled
upon going to his death. He was going to
kill the leader of the rebels and let happen
afterward whatever might. The rebel Major
started as he saw him, and reached for his
holster His hand did not touch the pistol,
however, for before it could Pollock firing as
deliberately as if shooting at a standing deer
sent bullet through his heart The other
Tennesseeans fired at the head of the column,
but none of their shots was as COOL y aimed as
Pollock's and they only wounded some men
and horses.
surveying for an instant the confusion into
which they had thrown the head OF the col
umn, the Tennesseeans turned and made their
way back up the mountain, ana under cover
OF the thickets.
The result exceeded their most sanguine
expectations Their audacious assault seemed
to paralyze the rebel army for two whole days.
When it did resume its march, itexpected an
enemy behind every rock and concealed
in every thicket Every step in advance
was cautiously reconnoitered and the result
was that instead of reaching Wild Cat Gap
Wednesday, AS he had planned, Iollicoffer
did not make his attack until the following
Monday Even then but three regiments had
been gathered to resist him, though others
arrived before the fight ended.
The Tenesseeans joined the force in the
Gap, and their rifles added to the storm of
fire which Zollicof1er encountered on the Dist
of October, 1861, when the first Union victory
was won in Kentucky.
The next morning when it was found that
Zolicoifer had retreafed in haste, they were
wild with JOY. They joined with the others
in demanding an immediate advance, to over
take and destroy the enemy, and redeem East
Tennessee. lfa
But the prudent commander did not feel
strong enough to abandon, with his small
force. the strong position which had served
him so we'll He had scarcely 5000 men,
where Iollcoffer had double the number,
and he knew that il he attacked in turn he
would be almost certain to meet the fate that
had belalen his antagonist.
ITO Be continuef1