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

and the pseudo-gentry who claimed to b
above them.
The rebel leaders set their crew to the tasl
of dragooning these into supporting the re
bellion. The Unionists applied to Cairo TO
assistance, and frequent little expedition
were made to their relief 3
One August day CO. 4, was dispatched int
the interior of Scott County to check tn,
career of a cavalry detachment sent out
from jeff Thompson's command to annoy
the Unlonists and gather supplies and re-
cruIts. AS they marched on they met one
refugee after another, fleeing for their lives
| from the lawleSs marauders. All told the
same story of boundess insolence on the part
OF the enemy, and the reiteration fired the
blood OF each one III the ranks with q desire
TO avenge these poor mems wrongs. Late in
the afternoon they reached house of better
style than any they had yet seen 1t was
comfortable looking itself, and had an unusual
quantity OF good stock in the fields about it.
The owner and bis family were in a state
oil CONSERVATION, however, from a report lust
brought IN by Unionist neighbor that the
rebei cavalry company had started from point
~ miles distant to come to the house and
plumber IT. The advent of the Union soldiers
was an unexpected deliyerance, and the fam
ny 8 JOY was IN proportion to its previous
distress. All the food in the house was placed
at the disposal of the hungry boys, and the
women set to work in preparation.
NhIie the cooking and eating were going
on Capt. Moore and the farmers consulted to-
gether as to the manner Of receiving the ex-
pected visitors. 1t was agreed that at the
rate they were likely to travel they could not
reach the house before an hour or two after
dark. This determined Capt Moore to am
buscade them.
About mile from the house in the direc-
ton the rebels were coming the ground sank
down into rather wide creek valley. This
was covered with dense, heavy timber and
pawpaw shrubbery. common to creek bottoms
IN southeastern Missouri The roads had
been cut through this timber along the HIGH
bank of the creek, and the trees that were
felled v ere rolled 10 the side of the road from
the creek The lnxuriant pawpaw growth
had sprung mp around these logs and con-
cealed them from view, though they were in
no place more than 80 feet from the center of
the road.
The company marched down to the center
OF this little valley and lay down behind the
logs.
The brittle branches of the pawpaw broke
away before them, and the bruised leaves
filled the night air with their characteristic
and sickening odor.
When all had taken their places and quiet
was restored the Captain gave his Instructions
The two farmers had gone down the road TO
look Tor the rebels. When they were dis
covered approaching the farmers would ride
back at galiop and give warming Every
boy was TO lay his gun across the log in front
OF nm, cock 1T and take good aim, but not
under any account TO fire until the signal was
gwen. The object was TO wait until the main
body OF the enemy was opposite the muskets
OF the company. The Captain would stand
mt the right OF the line (the enemy were COM
ing from the right, and when he thought
enough OF the rebels had passed he would
whistle, when O'Neil, who stood on the ex-
treme left, was to fire, and all the rest follow
his example.
When he ceased speaking there was a
rustic as each one adjusted himself behind
his log and his gun oyer it in readiness for
immediate action. Then all was again
silent
The moon had come up in the meanwhile
over the woods, and behind them. She shone
down upon the road, making it almost as
light as day, but the thicket in which the
company lay was still shrouded in dense
darkness.
The company had moved by the left flank
in entering the creek valley, and this brought
our file on the extreme left O'Neil stood
up behind tree, that he might catch the
Captains signal better. Bronson, Karl and
Waiter lay next to him behind large log.
Walter looked along lis gun-barrel to the