The National tribune., 1897-11-18
kGA(1X khers The
~ laurel Blooms
- ....-...And Men and women
~ Live Near Natures Heart....
By JOHN McELROV.

third, and all approaches from the front had
TO tie made through the deep, narrow gorge,
where 100 men coulG hold 10000 at bay.
! The rebels were building batteries, mounting
guns and constructing walls along the TANKS
with gabions of thick hickory poles. filled in
! side with stones and dirt.
Pollock heart sank little as he saw how
firmly they were planting themselves, but
! then he thought OF the solid, reSolute Gen.
! Thomas. and lie took comfort In the belief
! that he would find some way TO force them
! out.
"I'll bet en- the old man back there" he
| said to his companions pointing with his
/ thumb in the direction OF Camp DICK i'obIn-
/ son. When he sets his head TO do a thing
! he fctches hit every time Hit may be that
/ he'll git up way to Jest toPp.e these old
/ mountings right down on they'uns, and
saush they uns like snakes in their dens. "
They remembered the business they were
on. and sat own and took long, deliberate
survey Of the camp t, imprint every feature
on their minds and try to rive at some
estimate of the number OF men there. This
business of calculating was new to them, and
required much effort OF mind Though they
were so close to the camp that they could
have fired into il, they were in no special
!
ain-sde should come upon them, which was
not likely, since there was nothing on the
mountain to tahe anyone up there.
1t occurred TO Pollock to count the regi-
ments This he could do as the log cabins
and tents of each were probably by them
selves. I'm little settlement a. he ex-
pressed it to his companions He cut stick
and made a notch in it for each of the in
fantry regiments, a broad notch TO represent
headq uarters cr0ss-cut to represent the cav
airy camps and "A double notch for those of
the artillery Then he made another series
of notches to represent the cannon he saw in
the w,.rks. He went over and over again IN
his mind each detail of the camp.
Air We uns gwine away without a fout ?'
asked Web Brainard, as he saw Pollock finish
his observations. put the stick carefully away
in his inner pocket pick up his gun and start
to 60
Yes, " said Pollock; q" SIGH air our orders.
We'uns WIZ sent here t. see, not T. fout.
We'uns III font some other time. They 'uns III
be thar for awhile yit."
Weuns We come so fur Jest t git whack
at they 'uns," said Web, handling his gun,
and looking longingly at some men in easy
range.
- know hit, F." said Pollock "Td like t.
try my gun on That big Teller cavortin'
around on his h IS. But Jineral Thomas ex-
pressly said that our fust duty wuz T. git in
formashun. an not t fout unless we had t.,
or could gain great deal by hit"
Well, | think weuns We got T. fout
now. Hits flynn in the face o. Providence
not t. improve sich a chance at they 'uns
Mebbe e'uns IL never have SO good a one
agin"
D.f TD1I1 % vi
laid his gun in the forks of an oak taken
steady aim, and fred at the nearest officer on
| horseback The horse plunged and fell
/ throwing his rider to the ground
Mont Ell well all try hit. !" mu,tered Pol
! lock- taking a shot at another The others
! followed his example, and as they reloaded
| locked down into the camp to see the effect
The greatest excitement prevailed there
/ Several men lay on the ground. others were
/ running to their assistance. Still others were
! getting their guns, and opening fire upon
/ the points where the rising smoke revealed
! the source of the shots. The bullets whstled
/ over the TennesSeeans' heads and cut the
1 branches
Mout Ell well be hung for an ole sheep ez
| a lamb" said Pollock "We'uns kin stand
this sort o thing Ell long ez they uns kim
They fired again, with the same deliberate
T! aim and there were more men on the ground
and greater xcitement in camp They could
see men gathering around one of the brass
cannon.
- Look, Clay, they 'uns air gwine t. shoot
at us with that ere thing" shouted Web,
| with some alarm.
Better slip off little t. the right" said
Pollock, rather apprehensive OF what the new
engine of destruction might do. They ran a
| hundred yards or more before the gun was
fired, and the canister tore through the limbs
in the neighborhood of where they had been.
Great big ole shotgun That's all :" said
Pollock. rather contemptuousy surveying
the effect. 'Weuns'll give they uns another
round from here. though we air gittin' ruther
fur away for good shootn'"
Quite number of the rebels ran along the
river bank, and opened fire across the stream
on the mountain-side. They took positions
behind trees and the opportunity Of hitting
them was as small as that OF their hitting the
| TenneSseeans. They at length came TO ford
and began crossing it. while party of cav
airy went off to the left. and crossed the ford
lower down. with view of cutting off retreat
from the mountain.
- i reckon you ms we had enough shootin
for to-day" said Pollock. as he noticed these
demonstrations "We'uns can't expect /
whip the hull o. Zollicoffer's army behind
Notifications. We'unsd better mosey."
Yes" assented Brainard 81 move We
slip out now, an leave they uns t hunt flu
Us till they git tired. Weuns've each got a
least one % theyuns besides skeerin' they I'm,
powerfully"
They made their way back till they came
TO the house of Union man, where they haC
a good supper and comfortable shelter for th,
night. The next morning Pollock decided