The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-09

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they heard q low order, and then ou
doomed the gun. The long, red blaz
leaped far out through the fog-curtain
aud they saw for the first time the
CLINT of red uniforms away off by the
line of woods across the open leve
land.
The column was moving at a swift
pace right down upon them.
Old Enos Peevy came near the gen
eral and saluted.
"Well, Enos," said Jackson, 'i'
Mary Ann in good order?"
"Ye'll see poorly soon, gin'rl.
air jes' or waitin' for 'em air fellers tel
come close enough for Mary Ann tel
talk to 'em; she air got some remarks
to say to 'em, an she'll make 'em sick
shore 'nuff."
He rubbed the long, heavy barrel o!
his rife while he spoke, and waggec
his head grimly.
And now the breeze strengthened
and began to lift away the fog.
Spotts's gun beloved once more,
shaking the wet ground with its
tremendous concussion.
The British column came right on
all the batteries in front of it opened
bravely and sent their heavy missileE
plowing through it..
Soon enough the rifles of Tennessee
and Kentucky began to crack, keen
and clear; and when the range became
certain, the effect was terrible to see'
Peevy stood on top of the earth
work, with the brim of his old CAP
turned up in front. He lifted his gun
and fred at an officer, who, sword in
hand, was leading the column. 1t
was a deadly shot. Down fell the
brave man; but the column bore right
on. Not far, however, for there was
that fatal ditch in its way, and the
bullets and cannon-shot were cutting
men down like weeds.
"Give it to them, boys!" shouted
Jackson, as he tramped back and forth
behind his brave little army, the fire
of battle lighting up his careworn
face. "Give it to them while they are
wavering!
The British recoiled, shattered,
bleeding, confused, their front ranks
breaking into and destroying the or
| der of those behind. At first it ap-
peared that the fight was over; for how
could those scattered and widely fee
inc men ever be rallied and reformed?
It was then that the brave Paken-
ham showed himself at the front wav-
ing his hat aloft and galloping to and
fro and calling on his men to remem.
Der the honor Of England. They heard
his manly voice above the roar of the
patriot guns that were playing upon
them, and they turned and set their
faces once more toward those low, dark
breastworks along which flickered and
sparkled and famed the riae-blazes of
marksmen who shot with the aim of
veteran woodsmen. The bullets, like
level swarms of furious bees, hummed
along the crisp air of the morning.
calm we'll, men! Get fine bead
on themr' shouted Jackson. ''Blow
them to kingdom come!"
"That'e the talk, gin'rl!" responded
Peevy, as he stood deliberately reload
ing Mary Ann. ''I'm er doin' that air
very thing!'
There was Vasseur wildly excited
and trembling like freezing lamb,
but fighting like mad lion.
Not far off, Crapaud Crapoussin,
who came from the city but an hour
before, was crouching behind the wet
earthwork and firing away as best he
could. Fiddler Dick was there, too,
with an enormously heavy gun, which
was 80 long, that he had to rest the
butt of it far back on the ground be-
hind him when he was loading it. In
deed, it seemed that all classes of men
to be found on the gulf coast, gentlo-
man and cut-throat, dandy and raga-
muffin, upright citizen and scowling
forban, all the noted characters of city
or swamp were to be seen in that oozy
trench Fl fghtiug for the country of their
birth or adoption, regardless of self,
their whole energy conferred in the
one desire to drive back the British.
Only one of the well-knovn men of
New Orleans who might we'll have
been looked for in the line was miss
ing. Yes, two. Colonel Loring and
La6tte.
The latter had been sent by Living
ston to bear Mrs. Livingston and her
child to O place of safety, should the
battle be lost.
Down the line where Mr.. Vernon's
mon were stationed, the roar of the
guns was continuous, like the long,
rattIing roll of summer thunder. The
British bullets sang keenly overhead
or tossed up little puffs of sand along
the embankment.
sk"I'll git thet air feller on the hoss
yit," muttered Peevy, taking aim at
Pakenhaa, "thet is, ef Mary Ann kin
carry thet fur"
He fred, and down went thet brave
officers horse, pitching his rider
headlong.
Tibet thar stopped his cavortin'
anyhow!' the scout bawled out,
though everybody was too excited to
hear. Rah fur Gin'rl Jackson!"
About this time Burns came sham
bling along the line, apparently quite
unconscious of danger. He was hag'
gard and wild.looking. his hair un'
kempt and his long, thin, white beard
tangled across his face.
He saw Vasseur and approached
him.
"Have you seen him YETI" he in
quired, bending over the excited little
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