The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-23
NATIONAL WASHINGTON, THURSDAY JUNE

center of the road-only 10 short steps
away-and shuddered. He whispered to
his companions:
. Heavens, it's real murder to shoot man
down so close as that l can't do it. Pm
going to fire at q horse. If wound one he
will make more confusion in the ranks than
if j killed man,
"Vell, all I've got to say" said Karl,
" is dat I'm going to shoot my gun Just the
way Pm pointing it now If, ven de order
to fire comes, some rebel fellow has got his
head in de way. I'm not going to stop to
dell him to take it out He ought to have
better sense, OATS all"
| Remember what they did to us that
night, whispered Bronson sternly.
But though Walter did not reply, he could
not steel his heart to the point of shooting a
man down in what seemed to him cold-blood-
ed generalization, and he adhered to his reso
luton to kill horse, and then, if necessary,
he would fire the next shot at man.
| Then began the suspense of waiting, the
most trying of ordeals for young soldiers in
the night time. The minutes heightened
into hours Not sound broke the stiffness,
save the distant hooting of the owls and an
occasional cry from some whippoOrwill pro-
|
ions had ceased their mournful calls Wal
ter's mind became dizzy with the possibilities
of the situation. What would happen if the
enemy refused to stampede when fired into
Suppose they stood their ground and fired
back? Would the company also stand?
| And if so, then there would ensue terrible
| hand-tO-hand fight, with no knowing what
| the results would be. His nominations were
suddenly interrupted by the sound of horses
| hoofs approaching at gallop. His heart
| leaped to his mouth and he clutched his gun
convulsively
On came the flying hoofs, ringing out
sharply on the dead stiffness of the night.
As the horses swept by their speed was check
ed and the riders said in loud, hoarse
| whisper, distinctly audible to all:
They re a-comin'-about quarter of
mile behind. There, you can hear them
comm up on the bank over there, and the
riders dashed on to get out of the reach of
| bullets that would soon be flying.
From the hill at the opposite side Of the
valley came sounds of voices and the clatter
of hoofs of horses moving at trot.
Ready" said Capt. Moore in a stage
whisper, and from four-score muskets rose
that sharp, metallic, terribly significant
double click as the hammers were pulled
back
The next moment the Captain of the rebels
rode out of the darkness into the moonlight
at the head of his command. Not one of
them seemed to have a feeling of coming
danger. for they talked continually and
bOsterously together over the events of the
march, and laughed loudly at the ribald
jokes at the expense of the Unionists.
On they came-past O'Neil, standing like
statue with his gun leveled at them and
steadled against the trunk of a tree-past
Bronson's and Karl's and Walters muzzles-
past the four-score hungry weapons waiting
the word to dash their lives out with storm
of lead-pa5t the Captain gazing at them
through the screen of pawpaw leaves To
Walters excited eyes it seemed as if there
were thousands OF them, and that the Cap
tain would never give the signal to fire, but
let them pass on unmolested.
Then the Captain whistled shrilly. Before
the first note ended, O'Neil's musket flashed |
with a bright glare. At the instant OF IT,
flash Walter saw the mottled-gray side of a
horse through his gun-sights. His fling
closed on the trigger, the piecN roared and
struck his shoulder sharply with its Iecoil. |
Down the line to the right ran the rattle and |
blaze. The pent-up excitement of the boys
sounded forth in. a ringing yell. The mot
entered his side, then he suddenly reared on
his hind legs threw his unexpectant rider
headforemost into the creek beyond, and sank
with pitiful snort to the earth
Every one in the company sprang to his
feet as soon as he fired his gun Some re-
loaded, others fixed bayonets and dashed out
into the road to engage in hand-t hand con-
nicts
But the foe was gone-all but the wound
ed and the dead
From far away to the right and the left
came back the ringing sound of galloping
noofs, as the panic-stricken riders urged
heir steeds away from the scene of carnage.
On the ground in front of the company were
stretched seven silent dead and nine groaning
One of the dead and two badly i
wounded lay III front Of the ground occupied
BY the file of infantrymen. The dead man
lad his head torn open by bullet, as poor {
Pete Sloan's had been. Walter was silent,
)rr he believed that was the result of Bron-
'on's cool, revengeful aim.
He approached the mottled-gray horse.
The poor beast turned its great, pathetic eyes
ipon him and uttered mournful, waling
yhinny that touched his heart 8
'Twould be great mercy to put the poor
orute out of his misery by ball through his
,ead," said O'Neil. s'You had better shoot
him. Walter"
No, no, cannot" said Walter, with
hudder.
:" Kill him, Sergeant" said Capt. Moore, s
Who had come up.
Walter turned his eyes away, so as not to
zee what followed. ONeill fired a we'll
timed shot, and the horse fell dead.
The wounded were gathered up and car
led back to the house for shelter and treat t
nent The dead were left for the citizens {
o bury next day.
BY this time the excitement began to die {
way, and as it did so the intense fatigue of
49,