The leader., 1897-12-08

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.
81 told We they'd be comm 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"
Coin to keep that CAB goin' till n
bullet ends ?" demanded the irritated
corporal rs he turned OH the man.
"lf want to, am! I'm one as can't
he bossed around by no SIGH as you,
and if we answer me that way agin
I'll pitch in and drub We. It's time to
open fire, Ell? Waal, here goes, and
may the Lord have mercy on the soul
of that poor cuss on the right"
n dozen shots were exchanged be-
and then the skirmishers were rein
forced and began to crowd closer and
10 open a more rapid fire.
Coin to hell from right here. or
wait till we git back to the lines?''
grimly asked the kicker of the cor
porol, as their position grew hotter.
Il sort O. think we'd better fall
back" was the reply. "They ar COM
in down the Gap sure huff, and they'll
be right on top of us in a mint more.
Come on!"
There was brigade of confederates
marching down through the Gap.
When the videttes had been brushed
back strong force swept down on
company G fighting behind its breast
work, and the rattle of musketry was
plainly heard by the company d men at
Smokers Gap. After listening 10 it for
few minutes Capt. Harper smiled and
muttered:
Good! They are having a hot time
of il and will soon send for reinforce
mcnts. I've got White just where !
want him"
Ten minutes later soldier FROM
company G arrived to say that the con.
federatcs were in superior force, and
that the federals must be reinforced OF
fall back. They had already lost ten
or l2 men.
"My compliments to Capt. White
slowly replied the captain ofcompany
D, ''and tell him he will be expected
TO hold his position to the very last ]
dare not abandon this position to assist
him."
When the messenger returned to his
company and delivered the order the
junior captain understood il ari; hit. Nc
matter what the force, he must fight il
alone. There was no falling back. Dur,
ing brief lul in the firing he passed
along the breastwork and spoke a few
encouraging words to the men, and as
the lighting grew hot again he sheathed
his sword and knelt behind the rocks
with musket in hand. Side by side
were the corporal and the private called
Bill. They knew that reinforcements
had been asked for and refused.
Told We so, didn't ~" queried Bill,
while reloading his musket.
damn 'em!" exclaimed the corporal
in reply.
ITS the last of company c. 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.
Biff! but that was a clus one! Say
Corp, why don't We hold yer chin stll?"
Better hang on to yer own!"
We'll, don't be gruffy about it. Lord
save us, but half the company has
bin knocked over already! | wanted
to live to be brigadier gineral, but ]
kin feel my toes beginnin' to curl right
now"
No second messenger reached the
senior captain. Had such been the
case he would have carried back the
same answer as before. For 80 minutes
the men of company I'D" listened to
the rapid firing and knew that their
comrades were making heroic defense
Then, as the musketry became the
more feeble, they forgot and forgave
and would have gone to the defense
The orderly sergeant suggested such
q hoNS W tHC ga PtaiH' Dut inc ioitSi
sternly replied:
Company &C. has its orders, sir!
don't believe there are dozen rebels
in front of them, and that they need any
help"
Ten minutes later, when the firing
mad died away to a mere suffering
the sergeant returned to his captain tc
say:
Il beg your pardon, sir, but the boys
figure that company u has been
in front of them, or that they need any
up the road"
'Order the men to fall in for retreat
was the reply, and five minutes later
c, mpany I'D" was marching back to-
wards the federal lines, leaving its
own position unguarded, and having nc
Information as to the fate of theiI
comrades above. That came later from
the confederates and from three OF
four wounded men. Among the latter
was Bill, and he explained:
1--WE kept shootin' and shootin', but
they kept comm thicker and thicker
and almost every man we lost was shot
ir the head as he raised above the
breastwork to fire. When half our
men was down | looked at the captain
to see if we was to retreat. Not much
He had orders to stay, and though
twas for spite work he wouldn't DISC
hey. One by one our men went down,
and when the Johnnies finally rushed
US company C was wiped out. I'd
jest lifted a sergeant off his feet when
got this bullet through the neck,
and | guess my shot was the last one
fired on our side. Say, it was murder
10 hold US there without support-wuss
than murder-and Capt. Harper ought
to be hung. but | amt sayin' any.
thing more. What in hell is the use o.
kickin'?"
In Russia.
Tell you what it is" said the re.
turned tourist, you can't be too care,
full in Europe"