The National tribune., 1898-12-08

N l. Smith had selected. In front of thu
head OF the division lay a field of abou
200 acres covered with fallen trees, be
yond which was the sandbar, about 20t
i yards long. At the farther erd of the baI
rose the high bank OF the bayou, with a
ievee on top, increasing the hight to IL
! feet.
! 1t was decided that the only thing to Go
was to rush across the sandbar and dig a
road through the bank. The 9th Nc. had
/ been moved up SO close to the First Eegi-
uent that the men inteTmingled when
standing at ease.
81 want two companies to dash
across there" said the General to the 9th
Mo. "Ihe first with picks and shovels
the other with muskets. The enterprise
is so desperate that viii rot order "a de-
tail, but will call for volunteers"
Instantly there was a clamorous strife
among the companies for the perilous
honor.
let your Colonel decide which com
panies shall 90" said the General AZ
will bring up the artillery, and mass some
sharpshOoters at best points TO protect
you"
Lets go with Them" said Bronson,
noticing the eager looks Of the rest.
Lets fall in with the musllet company -
At nod OF permission from their Cap
tain, the File took their places in the
ranks OF the 9Th Mo. company
The hastily gathered canron opened a
searching fire across the top Of the levee.
The 18th Il. S. ran through the woods TO
{ the edge OF the bayou on the right, and
taking shelter behind trees, began sharp
Shooting at the crest. The First Eepi-
ment did similarly on the left. and with a
cheer from their companions the two de-
voted companies dashed out from the
cover Of the woods, ran across the OMEN
ing on TO the sandbar
A whitening fire burst upon them. Men
dropped at every step, but the survivors
hurried on, and at least four -ffths OF ibeYn
gained the protection Of the bank, where
the men with the picks and shovels set TO
work as If their lives depended uLon the
amount they could dig in "A minute. The
ebeis were sheltered on the OPPOSITE side
OF the bank not 20 feet away. nd tried to
fire upon them. Tut TIE aleIt nlarIt men
on the other side Of the bayou made il
exceedingly dangerous for a head to aD-
pear above the hank. Then the rebels
would try holding their guns wright,
with only their arms eXTCGcd. and Ere as
nearly directly down as they cCu.d. Some
times their bullets would reach a man.
and sometimes they wcu d get we'll
aimed shot through their arms.
Meanwfi.e the digging was going on
with feverish energy, but not fast enough
TO suit the excited men.
I'VE can't do much with our guns here !,
said Bronson Picks and shoyeIs are
trumps, but none Of these who have them
will give them up
I'VE might make a rush back to the
sandbar, and get those dropped iy the
killed and wounded - suggested Walter
In those exciting minutes to think was
to act, and hardly had the words left his
mouth when they were ali rushing back
on the narrow causeway Tor the tools.
Each snatched up one and sped back to
the shelter Of the bank.
Halfway back Stock dropped or the
sand without sound or gasp. nor did
his limbs move after he fell The rest
went on and joined in the digging. At
last so much of the bank had been cut
away that but little mere was necessary
to set it topping and the diggers stoned
to await the signal to complete their work
when the division should advance.
Then they began to shout at the rebels
on the other side, and handy soldierjv
compliments with them.
They could hear the battle raging furi
ously for miles to the right and left. hut
no orders came for their division. They
could only wait. Then they began to fear
that the rebels would make a sudden
rush and capture them. A volunteer was
called for to run the gantlet back to the
other side, and ask for help. With hearts
standing still they saw him make the
fearful journey, and then they saw the
remainder of the 9th Mo. rise as one man
and rush along the sandbar under q
desolating fire to their assistance.
Poor Stock has lots of company" said
Bronson sadly, as he surveyed the sand
bar after the regiment reached cover
Again they waited long hours for tho
signal for the division to advance. Nieht
was coming on, and the chill rain beran
falling again. The sound of battle Wa
decreasing everywhere.
Presently their eyes, strained upon the |
farther bank, saw single man come for |
ward from tree to tree, until he got to the |
edge, and then run toward them with an I
his might The rebels swept his path |
with bullets, but he came on unharmed |
He was young staff Lieutenant. He fell |
to the ground as he reached shelter but |
was helped to his feet, and saluting the
CS'srei 81 IKE 9th Mo-, said in a whispered |