The National tribune., 1899-08-24

Keyser's), with Col. Hoy, with one regi-
ment, in command We now learned that
Chambersburg had been burned by the
/ Confederates under johnson and Nc
Causland, and that they we're marching
on New Creek beyond doubt. A council
of war was hastily held, and it was decided
to defend the place to the last man and the
last shot. Good! Fort Piano, with two
regiments only, now guarded the place,
both Of which were marched into the fort,
| while cavalry secuted in all directions.
A BATTLE.
About o'clock a. m. a cayalryman, on
the run, literally threw himself from his
horse to the platform at the station,
announcing that the rebels were near, and
approaching rapidly from towards Cham
bersburg. At the suggestion of Provost
Marshal Drake, I, with a photographer,
took position on ridge in the rear of Fort
Piano, where 1, during the fight, seemed
to play the part of musical director as OF
old. Soon the Confederate front appeared,
crossed the railroad, and advanced along
the base of Piano Mountain on the oppo-
site side from the fort, and halted for rest
ere they discovered us. They intended to
attack from the ends of Piano Mountain
with cannon, and from the summit, about
900 yards from the fort, with infantry
sharpshooters. But we shall see!
They soon opened on us with cannon
| from the southern terminus of Piano Mount
ain, where there was gap; and Fort Piano,
with the Stars and Stripes proudly and
defantly flying to the mountain breeze,
replied promptly and vigorously to the
rebel guns with a grand overture, marked
| Maestro and T. F."! The front of the fort
was soon enveloped in smoke, which spread
out towards Piano Mountain, and the
| thunder of the guns echoed back and back
again from mountain to ridge and from
ridge to mountain, and felt doubly proud
that stood there looking down on the
fght-a loyal American citizen!
But look! What's that9 Hundreds of
Confederate sharpshooters had crawled to
the very summit of Piano Mountain, about
800 yards from the fort, and, lying down,
opened fire on the fort, all in full view
from our position. Now, look again; a
mighty roar from Fort Piano-"F.F. and
Cresendo"; in one moment great clouds
Of smoke arose, out of which sprang, with
shrek upon shrek, ominous-lOoking small
black balls, which went as straight as
the eagles flight" to the summit of Piano
Mountain, on q sort OF musical and pat
riotic visit to the Confederate sharpshoot-
ers. and exploded by dozens, seemingly
shaking the mountain to its very center
Again and again these fearful messengers
of "AzraeP went to that summit.
The smoke of the battle clearing away,
not a Confederate was seen on the summit
of Piano Mountain, but several had fallen
down the side in front, killed or wounded,
and were seen clinging to the bushes and
rocks as they went down.
Now there was a sudden silence, and
thinking the fight was probably over, and
feeling both hungry and thirsty, Iyentured
down the ridge to the hotel,-it was now
past 2 o'clock in the afternoon,-inviting
my photographer to accompany me; to
which he replied, Not I; this place suits
me well enough" he being firmly intrenched
behind an oak tree about two and half
feet in diameter. | proceeded to the hotel.
which was less than a quarter of mile
away, and entered the dining-room. The
table was covered with rich viands,-
enough for so persons,-and no one pres
ent but one lone soldier, who was, indeed,
so full as goat" and jabbing promiscu-
ously at. the food with his fork, missing
everything by several inches. Take er
seat" he replied; plenty for both," as he
jabbed his fork, without success, at the
potatoes. II ate a. few mouthfuls of food,
when tremendous shrieks from an engine
coming from towards Cumberland, Md,
reached us. Reinforcements from Gen.
Kelley, sure! just then a hundred or
more Confederates had crept down from
Piano Mountain and met the Federal
pickets in a peach orchard, about 100
yards from the hotel; and firing commenced,
bullets striking the very hotel [ was in,
when out rushed the good Mrs. Keller, the
proprietor's wife, begging me to fly. /
could get no further than a window; must
see the sharp fight, which 1 knew was
coming. In a moment more the train from
Cumberland came roaring in and stopped
at the peach orchard, when the Confederates
began to fly back up the mountain-side
About 400 infantry disembarked. formed,
| and, without moments hesitation, charg-
ed up the mountain, with their red-headed
commander in advance full 20 or more
PAGES, fourishing his sword; and thought
| COtliQ near lin SHOuI. Il OilOW me, men /,
and he really shouted these words. There
was firing too, near the summit, where the
Confederates had disappeared.
SHOUT AFTER SHOUT
now came from the fort; they knew what
had come. Not knowing at this point
what was going TO happen, rapidly passed
out of the hotel, through the garden, into
the Federal camp, where small guard had
been left. Provost-Marshal Drake was
| just mounting a horse, racer belonging
to Col. Hoy. He cried: Come on; mount
behind me, quick" did so, and We went
like the wind in the direction of Piedmont
over stream the horse bounded like a
flash, seeming not to feel our weight
when halt came from ahead, and we drew
rein. 'Is that you, Serg't Jones?" said
the Major; and it was. Turning off the
road, it now being dark, we took nap
starting early in the morning in search fol
Col. Hoy's wife, where she had been sent
before or during the battle. We found
her, but the Colonel had found her first
and both greeted us heartily. The Colone
had received a slight scratch under the
arm as he mounted the ramparts of the
fort during the fight.
| (To be continued.)
4