The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-08-25

"Much obleedged to yer," drawls the
| rebel; "hope yer won't think hard eff dOn't
accept your kind invite. My guns loaded
an yourn's empty; you'd better hunt yo'
| hole''
Bronson recognizes the wisdom of this adj
| vice by dropping suddenly behind the stump,
but before the rebel can fire bullet from
Stocks gun pierces his shoulder and Stock
| cries:
'This is the day fur rebels to hunt their
| holes not Yanks"
As the rebel falls the sharpshooters. seeing
that the Yankees on the opposite side of the
ravine are outnumbering as well as outshoot-
ing them, leave their coverts and make a
rush to the protection of the pits at the top
Of the hill. and as they do SO the other three
Of the File fire, and bring down one Of
them
When the rebels leap upon the works they
feel they are cut of range, and one OF them
turns around on the summit of the breast
works, swings his hat defiantly, and shouts
back volley of the vilest abuse Before he
can finish his TRADE bullets from Stocks and
Branson'S rifles pierce his breast, and he
pitches heasi foremost into the icy water in
the ditcl, at The FOOT of the bank
Why, what a burned fool he was, " says
Stock wondeliaglv, F." to think that he was
safe 1T 400 yaIds -
ItS = pity, says Bronson carelesSly; but
it's tOD late tor him to learn better sense
Now the gun turns its attention TO them,
and sends load of grape in their direction,
which cuts off limbs aud splinters trees and
shrieks so savagely that Walters blood seems
to freeze in his veins. The guns muzZle
cannot be depressed sufficiently to sweep the
ground where they lie. and the villanous
little screechers fly n rod above their heads.
They conclude, however, that it is best to
move farther to the left, where they will be
out from under the gun, and where they can
obtain a better view of it, the wind driving
It's smoke Oft towards the right.
They gain a good position behind log,
where the embrasure is in plain view, and
begin firing at it. The eartlworks are high
and the gun fills out the opening Of the en-
brasure 50 as to afford excellent protection
for the artil.erists. The smoke fills up the
hole so that none of these can he seen, and
the File can fire only by guess They see
the nluzzle and the forward part of the piece,
and they aim where they think the breech is.
Soon they notice that every time the gun Is
fired tie position OF the vent is indicated by
a flame, which s..Oets up and shines redly
through the smoke. They aim at this, and
SOON O'DScENc liidU the gun Is HItu less Fcpu-
larry and rapidly. They redouble their eff
forts, and in short time they are able to
eXult over the gun becoming silent. Then
the wind lifts the smoke out OF the en- nrisure,
and they catch glinrses of dead and dying
men lying all around the gun.
Their success is notcel by the army On
the hills, and rewarded by three lusty cheers.
Then tie File content themselves with watch
ing The gun closely and firing at anyone po
attempts TO approach it. Thus they keep it
quiet the rest OF the day.
This gives an oppOrs unity to think what is
going on elsewhere, and then listen to the
roar of battle to the right, which is undated
IN volume, though it is now noon, and has
r..ged necessarily since dawn. But the roar
ha, come u,uch nearer than it was in the
morning, and this looxs bad, for it seems to
indicate that our troops are losing ground
and being driven back 10 the left.
Something's going on over there in
Smiths DIVISION" says Walter, look ing at
the ridge behind. 81 believe they're going
over 10 help McClernand and Lew Wallace
out"
No, indeed" says Bronson, taking
hasty look in that direction; they're mass
ing for charge on the angle OF that fort
there as sure as you're alive, and we'll have
You watch them and tell us VIVA. s,s. re
doing. We mustn't take our eyes OF this
cannon for "A minute now"
Walter does as he is told.
All the regiments Seem to be coming up