The National tribune., 1901-06-20

MULE BEHIND THEM"
rs come t look fo' Leetle Pete, an
Is gwine t stay hyah as long as he does, "
she replied determinedly. Pete, yO' keep
away from down dar. D'yo' min? Yo'
stay right by de Cunnel, whar you'll be
safe"
The idea of nearness to the Colonel be-
ing place of safety brought a guffaw
from the whole regiment.
As the brigade took its position a regi-
ment of cavalry directly in front made
gallant charge upon the rebel line, and
drove portion back over the meadow in
to the woods, and the brigade cheered it
seen coming back with whole rebel brig
ade after it, yelling and shooting.
Col. ncGillicuddy,' commanded the
Brigadier- General, ''adyance with your
regiment and help that cavalry out"
Attention, 2O0th Ind-r' commanded
Col. McGillicuddy. Forward, double
quick! March,
The regiment rushed down the hill to
a high fence at the foot. The Union
cavalry bugles sounded, and the regiment
whirled to the right, and passed by the
2OOth lnd.'s left, uncovering its front.
Fire. commanded Col. McGilicuddy
and the rebel rush stopped. whrIed around
woods, leaving the meadow dotted with
dead and wounded. Scores of riderless
horses galloped with it.
I'm sho', Eph., you didn't hit a man
dat time" said Aunt Minerva AIMS voice
Il watched de man yo' aimed at, an he
rid right off Oar he is now, waving
his sword, and yelling at his men t git
togedder."
As the boys reloaded they looked
around to see that Aunt Minerva had fol-
lowed the regiment down the hill, and
was sitting on her mule directly behind
them.
"Yo' t'ink 1 can't shoot! Yo' t'ink I
can't hit a man, Nerve" said Uncle Eph-
rain, angrily. "Yo jes' wach me now
bring dat feler down"
He sprang over the fence, ran forward
to the little creek, waded it, and lay down
behind log on the opposite bank. In an
instant his gun cracked, and the rebel offi-
Ger was seen to go down.
Hello. What yo' t'ink OBJ dat, 'Nerve"
shouted Uncle Ephraim, throwing up his
hands and his gun in exultation.
4 believe yo' only done hit his hoss,"
said Aunt Minerva Ann, with determined
disparagement. See dar, dey's helpin'
him up. | tole yo' So"
Before they could determine this the
view was cut off by battery of artillery
galoping out in front of the rebels, and
unlimbering on a slight rise.
Grab root! Grab a root" yelled ev-
erybody. Lay low! It's comingr'
Jump down off that mule, Aunt Min
erya," ordered 81, as he crouched behind
the fence.
She slid to the ground, and just in time
for the vOlley from the battery sent the
rails flying in every direction. That was
that battery's last effort, for before its
guns could be reloaded it received such a
crushing yolley from couple of Union
batteries that its survivors began lamely
pulling their guns back by hand.
Everybody's blood was now up, and the
rest of the brigade advanced, followed by
the rest of the division, and the rebel
cavalry abandoned the field.
The Union line advanced to the top
of the hill, and there saw across the val
ley the rebel army busily engaged in cut
ting down trees, making abatis, and pre-
pairing for desperate resistance to the
assault.
The artillery began noisy cannonade
and the cavalry, clearing the infantry's
front, resumed its stormy combat far up
the valley to the left.
The 200th Ind. was pushed forward to
reconnoiter the rebel position, and as night |
came on halted on spur of hilltop run
ming toward the rebel works, and built big
camp fires, which brought them occasional |
long-range shells from the rebel lines.
Il wonder what that order to build big |
fires means, Shorty?" inquired 81. I'VE |
never did that before, before big fight. |
See, they're building them everywhere |
1t must be to show the rest of the army |
where we are. Well, let's get something |
to eat and lay down. We're likely to |
have a big day tomorrow"
They were walked early the next morn
ing, to go through the tiresome ordeal of |
to arms until after daybreak.
They saw the long line of camp-fires
still glimmering, but they heard none of |
the noises of preparation for the coming
battle, which they had expected AS the
day dawned they could see no troops to
the right or left of their brigade. There