The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-12

TO be found on the neutral ground bet
ween the armies. and they were the foes
OF all honest fighters Making their way
cautiously through storm and darkness
they finally arrived at the scene OF con-
hict. They cared not whether the dead
were Federal or Confederate. 1t was
loot they were after. and they found but
little TO profit them. Even In the dark
ness. as they prowled about. they dis
covered the trail made by the body as II
had been dragged away, and as they fol-
lowed II they picked up a troopers hat
and knew that the house sheltered
wounded Federal.
"Hark!' suddenly whispered the wo-
man as she dressed the corporals wound.
She heard the voices OF men and the
sounds OF their footsteps Nid she rose
UP and locked the door against them.
Next instant there was knocking and
q banging, and hoarse voice cried out:
I'VE are friends-open the door, We
want the wounded Yank who has crawl
ed in here.'
They are not Confederate soldiers"
said the corporal as the woman turned
to him.
She knew that. She had seen the
bushwhackers lurking about-had been
threatened by them--had given them
for They had boasted to her OF shoot
ing down Federal stragglers-of creep
ing upon videttes and pickets I'm the
darkness and stabbing them TO the heart.
They had come for the Federal. not to
bear him away a prisoner. but 10 kill him
as he law helpless on the heartstone.
"They are bushwhackers. but you will
have to open the door to them" said the
corporal.
They will kill your she whispered.
"One day, after a fight at the cross
roads below, there were eight wounded
Yankees left behind. These bushwhack-
ers killed them to the last man. ! have
carbine and many cartridges which the
children have picked up, but | do not
know how to shoot. What can | do?"
Pull me TO the wall over there" re-
piled the corporal after the bushwhack-
ers had again demanded admittance.
That's it, Now help me 10 sit up.
That's good. Now bring me the carbine
and cartridges. and do you and the chill
dren go up stairs or down cellss:.. They
will break the door down and have my
life. but two or three of them shall go
before do, God bless you, woman-God
bless you for your pity and kindness!"
But they neither went up nor down.
They left the house by the back door,
bareheaded and without shield from the
storm. and once outside they clasped
hands and ran across the fields-over the
fields and into the highway-down the
highway until, two miles away. they met
a detachment Of Confederate infantry
marching out to strengthen post. The
story was briefly told. and while mother
and children were sent TO a farmhouse
for shelter. a detail OF soldiers was made
wounded Federal was fighting for his
life. IL had come TO that. Propped
against the wall and grittlng his teeth
with the pain Of his wound. he had
loaded the carbine and made ready. lie
did not wait for the door to burst in.
but fired through IL and the bullet made
one enemy the less.
The man whom the bushwhackcrs had
expected to find an easy prey had fight
in him. His enemies outside broke In the
windows and fired upon him. and they
levelled their pieces and fired through
the door in return hoping for chance to
guide their bullets. Creeping around the
house, one of them crept in at the open
door and fired a bullet which cut
trench through the corporafs matted
hair, but the shot fired in return dropped
him dead i'm his tracks. And the Confede-
rate detachment came up 10 ma the
cowardly bushwhackers setting fire to a
house they could not capture from
wounded man-to find one dead outside
and another into fire a volley which
stretched two others on the frozen ground
and left but one to regain his covert.
Hello sergeant-I surrender" cried
Corporal Troop as the infantry men in
grey came tramping into the house.
"A good fight" replied the sergeant
as he looked down upon the dead BUSH
whackers. Say. Yank. can yo' walk"
mo, I've got a bullet in the hip"
TOO bad-too bad, Shuck my hide.
but IL yo' could walk we'd all turn our
backs and let yo' get into yo'r lines.
Reckon well hev TO hold yo' prisoner of
war. Look thar boys-stockin's hangin
upl
For Christmas eve" said Corporal
Troop. Did the woman and children
find you?"
"Yes-two miles away
Say, now, sergeant. handle me easy.
for I've got a bad hurt Down in my
fob-pocket are four ten-dollar bills. Put
one in each stocking and leave one for
the mother. That's it-God bless EN-.
A soldier-Santa Claus-a prisoner OF
war-al inside OF three hours. Now,