The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-03
kGxAl Vxhere The
~ laurel Blooms
70 land Men and Women
~ Live Near Natures Heart
Rv JOHN McELROY

/ lay in quick, desperate action. He spoke to
those behind him:
We've got t jump 'em at once an hard.
I'll take the Major. Zekc. yo' take the
Capting on yor right Wills, take the
Capting on yo'r left. Jack, take airy o, the
other Captings that come handiest. Now
60"
They SET spurs 10 their horses, and dashed
into the midst of the forming regiment. Pol
lock s shot instantly brought down the MAJOR,
! and three Captains dropped an instant later
from Zekcs, Wils's and lacks shots. Then
followed a turmoil of intense excitement.
Thrown into confusion, the rebels fired and
struck wildly Many wounded one another in
their frantic firing at The four horsemen who
sat firmly on their plunging horses, selected
their men with unerring AIM and dropped
one every time they pulled the trigger.
A bullet crashed through the head of Pol
locks horse. and he fell heavily to the ground,
but not quick enough to catch his rider under
him. As he felt his horse sinking Pollock
disengaged his foot from the stlrrup and
sprang from the saddle. His revolver was
now empty. but he snatched up the sword that
the Major had dropped as he fell, and began
dealing savage blows at those nearest HIM.
He was at once surrounded by crowd
thrusting at him with bayonets and striking
with gum barrels But they were 50 many
and so excited that they hurt one another
more than him. A stalwart Captain with
his sword drawn forced his way through the
throng and struck viciOusly at Pollock.
The other three Union soldiers were in
similar desperate plight with other groups of
rebels, when chorus of wells and storm OF
shots came from either flank. The Elders
and Web Brainard's parties had succeeded in
getting up. and were throwing themselves
into the fight. They followed their fire by a
rush into the thick of the melee, striking
down their enemies with gun barrels, hatchets
and knives.
The Elder drove squarely into the crowd
around Pollock, and delivered a well-directed
blow with his gunbarrcl upon the back of
the neck of the Captain who was fiercely
assailing Pollock.
This ended the struggle The bewildered
rebels thought that the woods were swarming
with their enemies and bet0ok themselves to
fight in every direction that promised safety
As soon as resistance ceased Pollock and
the Elder collected their men and started
them on through the gap. Pollock trans
ferred his saddle to the Majors horse, two Of
his companions. who had likewise been I'M
horsed, were provided for from the camp
stables, the regmental wagons were found
and hitched up, quantity of food and other
stores were already in them. and they were
driven off down the mountain into Kentucky
Pollock, the Elder and few others remained
behind long enough to set fire to the cabins
that the rebels had constructed for their
shelter. One OF these was the magazine, and
as Pollock and the Elder rode away in the
light of the blazing piles they were saluted
by the explosions OF ammunition.
Since we'uns had Z leave the State that's
something like the way ] wanted t. leave
hit, Pollock remarked grimly to the Elder
- We gave the hosts of Abaddon shal-
ing-up that will be long remembered in
Israel, replied the Elder in tone of deep
satisfaction; and don't believe we've lost
a single man"