The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-03-16

works about the same moment, and cour
ter II 3Iy saluted each ct her by EreSentin:
arms. The conditions were that each
should appear with his gun emrty, ant
load and fire as soon as he could. The!
began leading according to the manual OF
arms, and though neither showed any
Sims Of haste, neither made a false mo-
tian. Both rammed their cartridges home
at the same instant, but Stock returned
ranlIller" according to regulations, while
the rebel simply dropped his ramrod from
his hand AM it fel: to the bottom Of the
bank. He capped and raised his gun to
his face, while Stock was feeling in his
fired just as Stock brought his rifle up.
The next instant the latter's piece
cracked sharply. Thousands of eyes
were bent eagerly on the contestants.
Both still stood strongly erect. i,
Did / tech We. YanL?' shouted the
rebel
Yes: good line shot; seraped my left
shoulder. Where'd | hit your
"scuipt my ole toaknot again. Let's
try il over
agreed"
Stock brought the butt of his gun down
between his feet, and began. without the
slightest indication of furry, the regular
load in nine times" Again he carefully
returned rammer," cast about capped,
raised his gun to his shoulder, when a
mu-mur of mingled sympathy aad ex-
postulation from the spectators made him
sook up, and he saw his opponent return
ing up the bank, down which he had run
to recover his ramrod. aStock lowered his
gun To ready at which there was a
shout of applause, and quietly waited for
the other to load. The rebel had evidently
I 'st some OF his conposure, bat he hur-
r;edly forced down the cartridge, again
flung his hammer away. and Gaping his
gun, waited Stocks melton.
"Ready" called out the latter.
"Rcady," answered the rebel.
Both guns came up together, and both
puffed out the same instant. The rebel
fell, with bullet through his heart and
Stock put his hand To his cheek, which
had been deeply fur,owed by his enemy S
ball A great, iOyStIs shout rose from the
exultaEt Union watchers, everyone sprang
down into the bitches, the artillery
belciled out, and the rattle OF Sharpshoot-
ing began again.
In Il few days the head of Co. AS sap
was 50 near the rebel works, that as the
File sat at meals they would occasionally
flip few hardtack over the bank into
the ranks Of the rebels on the other side,
saying as they did so.
"Here, JOhnnies, is a little grub. We
know you need it awful bad"
And the reply would come back:
"Thank you. That's good. The best
we've had for many long day. Send us
over some more"
But the exchange did not long remain
Of this friendly nature. The rebels found
out tina. very effective way OF injuring
their heSiegerS was to toss shells, with
the fuse lighted, over the bank into the
groups of men at work below. IL the
fuses were cut SO that the shells would
explode Just at the desired time, these
would frequently produce fearful havoc.
But II was common mistake oil the
rebels TO cut the fuses too long, when
their destined victims would quietly pick
flIe shells up on Il long handled shovel,
and toss them back whence they came,
in time TO have them explode among those
who sent them.
An attempt was made to return the
compliments i'm kind by throwing shells
over the bank into the rebel lines, but
the latter had the advantage of occupying
higher ground: it required no strength
nor exposure Of body to put the shells on
the top of the bank and let them roll
downwards, while it was all that any of
the Union men could do to throw a shell
back, and TO do so the thrower must
stand clear OF the works and offer his
whole body as target to the sharp
shooters.
Then Yankee ingenuity came to the
assistance of the besiegers. They made
little wooden mortars by following out a
section of small log, which the camp
hoped with iron bands.
Emptying couple of rifle cartridges INTO
This, they would lay or 12-pound
shell on the mouth, and fire the charge.
There was just force enough in this to
send the shell sailing gracefully over the
top of the bank, and permit it TO drop di
.ectly down into the groups behind it.
But another species of tactics was re-
sorted to. Instead of digging above
ground, mines were started, which after a
ew days hard work brought the besiegers
directly under one of the largest forts i'm
he rebel line. The enemy became aware |
II what was intended, and started coun-
which came so near that the |
workers in each could hear the sound of |
he others picks. When the galleries |
we're completed nearly ton of cannon
md blasting powder was packed in them.
Well give them fellers a homemade
earthquake that'll hist the hull bilin' on |
EN- into kingdom come afore they know
What hurts EN-, said Stock to Walter,
IS they laid down the last bags of pow
Ter they had carried in and stood for g
contemplating the awful prepa-
atiOns.