The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-11-17

plantation. The distance was consid-
cradle; we were greatly fatigued, and
he gave an order for brief rest before
setting out.
We were halted on a hillside. Be
meath us three roads met, fourth lead
ing over the hill in our rear. The men
were all back in the woods, the general
few rods in advance with field glass.
/ was lying on my stomach on the
ground opposite Walter, who was in
the same position, with pack of cards
between us-I always carried cards in
my saddle pouch. Walter had won a
pot of fractional currency, and was ralS-
ing it in, when / glanced aside at the
general, intent on the lower country
to the south.
Great guns! look there"
On every road column of confed-
crates was coming to eat us up. There
was little of the confederates to be seen
for the dust, but here and there the sun
shone on their Announcements and arms,
as they moved along the roads, looking
for all the world like gigantic snakes.
At that moment Wilton and Snaffle
rode up and refined in behind clump
of underbrush.
"Rebels on every road, and force
coming down the mountain from the
rear"
81 t-t-t-ell you, Wilton, the mans a
f-f-fool to get us into such f-f-fx."
81 consider him genius"
They did not see the staff engaged at
cards, or they would never have dis
cussed the general so freely in our
hearing.
"A g-genius! I've read every book
on the science of war, and damme if
I can find anything he ever does in
the index. He violates every principle
laid down from Julius Caesar to Ma
poleon."
~ don't remember that either of
them paid much attention to the au-
thorities of their day. Wait "a moment;
he has caught on to something"
The general was looking intently at
the dry bed OF creek on the right,
running parallel with road, along
which a column of cavalry was coming
Mt a canter.
Colonel"
The word rang out in the same sharp
key as a rife-ball that just then cut
a twig above our heads.
Eyes, general"
'Move your men back of that clump
of trees, down into the bed of yonder
creek. Major, you follow. No bugles.
Whisper the orders. Quick"
Two officers dashed backward into
the thcket.
"Halloo, there; where's the staff?"
1t was the general calling.
grabbed the cards and the shinplas-
ters at the same time, and made a.
bound for my horse tethered to sap
ling.
Here, general" said, saluting.
Ride quick to Col. Rourke and Maj.
Ping and tell them to follow the 9TH
ers into the bed of the creek"
an go TO Rourke, you to Ping"
shouted to Walter. We were off as
fast as the ground would let us, leav-
ing the general peering at the APP
preaching columns. | got back first,
and the general motioned me to keep
70 the rear. Wilton's regiment was
/ filing down over stones and under
brush to enter the creek bed. We could
see only few files as they passed in,
and the enemy could not see them at
all. In a trice | had the generals idea.
He was intending to screen the men
behind the high banks of the creek,
moving them out of the trap, while
the confederates on the road running
/ parallel with the creek were moving in
an opposite direction to capture us.
viii the men all get in before the
rebels come up? 1t is a desperate
chance. If we have the luck to go
through without their getting their
eyes or ears on us, we may escape. If
they catch us there we will be saugh-
tered like cattle in a pen. There go
Snafiies troopers, but there is long
break between Rourke's and Pings.
"What's the matter with Ping?"
called the general. Hurry him up"
dug in my spurs, but just then
Pings head of column entered the