The National tribune., 1900-04-19

then mounted. Bullets whistled uncom-
fortably near us, one of them clipping off
the tip of the left ear of the Majors horse.
A shell came crashing right in where the
men were at work on the bridge. Now,
like most soldiers, Mai. Torrey could do
an artistic job Of swearing when occasion
demanded, and here was one that required
the utmost extent of his ability in this line,
and under full diapason, for the shells
were coming from our own forces back on
the hill. Never will forget the explosion
with which he bade me "go, and stop them
- fools firing on my men" ] was going
when he began, for knew what was want
ed of me.
Riding up to Gen. Mcneil, 7 told him
the battery was shelling the men building
the bridge. | had often been with him,
and none of his staff being near, he told me
to go over and stop the firing, executing
second edition OF the Majors pyrotechni-
cal display of cuss words at the battery.
Il was soon silenced and its officers holding
a seance with Gen. McNeill.
MARMADUKE RETREATS.
After several hours delay the bridge
was finished, the column advanced, and
sharp fight was madc in the woods by the
rebels before they retrcated beyond Bloom
field. The Colonel of the Missouri regi-
ment, a fine old gentlemen, had howitzer
of his own and delighted in using it when
opportunity offered. About half way
between the bridge and Bloomfield we
came to a road leading TO the right, across
small field, with big timber beyond. In
this timber could be seen a large body of
mounted men moving, and the howitZer
was soon trained on them.
The Colonel was awaiting permission
from the General to fire. The latter di-
rected me to ride down the road and see if
] could make out what they were. / rode
down in the open. caught a glimpse of the
Union uniform among the trees, and rode
back as fast | could. i got back just in
time, for the Colonel was getting impatient
to let loose his dog of war, thinking | had
been captured. 1t was soon discovered
that Gen. Vandever had formed junction
with us, and it WAS his men over On our
right.
Marmaduke was now in full flight and
we right after him. The road we Travelled
was through a rough, rocky country, and
the fighting had to be mostly done in com
pany and platoon front. This strung us
out in a long column. which often had to
halt and wait for the fighting TO be done
ahead and distractions to our progress
removed.
In one of these halts was with the rcgi
ment. We were stopped in sharp turn of
the road Just to the left were several
acres of rocks piled up promiscuously. The
day was warm and drowSy. Several of
us broke ranks and thought those rocks
would be a fine place 10 take a nap. found
Z large fiat one, and prepared to sleep. i
was partly reclining on it and about to
spread out my right hand and lay nv
head on my arm, but some one graspei
my hand and jerked me from the rock
was mad, but got over it when saw a
coiled rattiesnake whore | was about to
put my hand We did rot stay among the
rocks, for they appeared TO be alive with
rattlcrS.
After we were again in motion, 7 was
sent forward with message to Gen. Me
Neill, and found him with his staff acting
as Advance Guard and about mile ahead
of the column. The General was n fighter
and wanted TO be up with the firing line
His fighting costume wa; always better
adapted to the business in hand than that
worn on review, dress parade and the
social functions deVolving upon field Off
GERS. While his staff were more or less
punctir Gus in the observance of rcpul.:-
ton tinsel a1ornment, he generally went
into Il fight in his shrt-seeves. During
my acquaintance with him he invariably
wore a red flannel undershirt and as the
weather was warm, the sleeves of his outer
shirt were always rolled up above his
elbows.
AS the message called for no immediate
reply, rode along with headquarters. We
rode down quite Il hill, at the foot of which
was a rayine about 10 feet deep, with steep
banks worn by a wet-weather watercourse
Beyond the raviue the road led up Il long
easy, sloping hill, with distance of about
half mile from ravine to crest lined with
thick, tall timber We were riding without
observing any particular formation, and |
was close to the front, just to the left of Gen
Mcneil and half horse length behind
him. / presume there were about a dozen
OF us III the party.
When about 10 rods from the rayine
boom! went gun little to the left Of the