The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-11-27
CHAPTER XXI.
BIO GAME.

9p was the morning OF tne lltn Va
April. 1862. l was nearing the
spot I occupied at the opening Of
my story, where the bushwhacker
had sought to kill me-, though then
was alone, while now / was Will an
advancing army. Five hundred cayal-
ny, II division of infantry and several
batteries OF artillery were hurrying
down the road toward the beautiful
city OF Huntsville, lying, tranquil and
u%nsuspccting, n few miles below. The
upper edge of the sun was peerin8
above the horizon, gliding the crest OF
the foothills of the plateau on the east,
the tree tops and the roofs of the neigh
boring houses. The flowers, which q
fortnight before were opening, were
now In full bloom. They looked inno-
Gently from the gardens beside the
road, they leaned lovingly against the
pillars of the verandas, and from vines
trailing over easements they smiled Mt
the rising sum-, while the breath OF
morning was laden with their perfume.
1t was the generals purpose to sur
prise the city, capture the railroad ma
chine shops and the rolling stock con
ccntrated there, then make up trains
laden with troops, seize a hundred
miles of the Memphis and Charleston
railroad on either hand, thus opening
communication with the army at Pitts
burg Landing ON the west AID paving
the way for future operatSis In east
Tennessee on the east. The enemy
must not be given time to move troops
to protect the city, for even should we
defeat them they would destroy the
shops and run Off the rolling stock. All
depended on celebrity and secrecy.
The evening before we had bivouack-
cd ten miles north of the city. Our
scouts permitted no one to go south Of
us, cnfolding all they met In order that
no news of our approach could reach
the place we hoped to surprise. Two
hours before dawn the command waB
arOuscd-not by the fife or the bugle,
but by whispering officers - and THO
march was resumed with no sound
save the tread of men and horses and
the rumble Of artillery. Within q few
miles of the city detachmcnts of mount
cd men, armed with telegraph cutting
and track tearing implements, dashed
to the left and to the right to prevent
the enemy from sending for troops or
running off the rolling stock. To an
Which, tohC allOiiB
the advance columns was assigned tho
duty of selling the telegraph office.
Boom!
Hark, n gun! 1t comes from the east
ward, not half n mile distant, where
the railroad runs parallel with the
pike. Artillery is driving back a loco
motive. The iron monster shrieks like
some wild beast that has met its death
wound.
BOOM!
More whistles all along the track mr.
down to the south, varying In disti ct
ness from n near, loud cry to n distant.
faint moan. This is fine hunting
stalking locomotives with cannon Did
any South African sportsman eycr
strike such game or hunt with such
guns2
Boom. boom, boom! Far and near
the shotted guns speak; far and near
the metal monsters cry out in terror.
Boom!
All are baggcd, except one more dar-
Ing than the rest, which runs the CANT
let of artillery and with q round shot
flying through it's cab speeds out of
range.
Meanwhile sashes in the houses along
the road are being raised, shutters
flung open and heads put out to learn
the cause of the connection. AS gums
boom, whistles Shrek and cavalry Chat
ter along the road, followed by men
rapidly marching and artillery horses
hriskly dragging the guns, many a
citizen who the night before had gone
to sleep not dreaming. of a foe looks
upon the passing armed throng, lis
tens to tho sound Of the cannon and
the shrieks of the engines and wonders
If pandemon.um has come.
L am drawing near the Stanforths'.
There Is the house, with Its broad ve-
randas and Its peak roof. A knot Of peo-
pic are mt the front gate. but I am yet
too far to see who they are. Now I
can distinguish the turbaned Lib.
There is n boy perched on one OF the
gate posts. 1t Is Buck. That girl, tall
and slender, is surely Helen. AS I
draw nearer I can see Ginger, his broad
mouth stretched In a grin Of pleasure
Mt sight of Yankee troops. A figure Is
sitting In n wicker CHAIR on the yeran-
da, dark eyes flashing I'm q pale face.
1t Is Jaqueline.
Riding up to the gate, I am out of
my saddle almost before my horse has
stopped. Buck gives a cry and Jumps
Into my arms. Ginger grasps my hand.
by lingo, Mr.. Brandystone," cried
Buck. "Pm mighty glad to see you'll
Since got back after HghtIn g'rlllas
like
Mars, It's good TO de eyes T. see
yo," interrupted Ginger enthusiastical-
ly.
"After fightin g'rillas like a man.
What! Mr.. Branderstane, and in the
uniform of n Federal offcerp'
1t was MIR. Stanford. He looked at
me, surprised, then put out his hand.
But always suspected the old man to
he Mt hearta Unionist.
Buck kept ON. after fightin g'rlllas
like n man | come back"-
Upon my wordl"
Another of the family was express.
Ing StrnrfSQ In GOO m PnrY,,ae ~,,nok u,tIt.