Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-10-04
CHAPTER XIII.
I.uNTING BIG GAME.

y
~ was tee morning of the 18th O
ApWl $50. was nearing tn,
srot occupied AT the opening o,
y nv story, where the bushwhackeI
hod sought to kill me, though then
ros alone while now l was with al
,dcopcing army. Five hundred caval
W n division of infantry and severa
batteries Of artillery We're hurryine
dawn the road toward the beautiful
cty of Huntsville, lying, tranquil and
rnsuspecting, a few miles below. The
INNER edge of the sun was peering
,boye the horizon, gliding the crest of
The foothills of the plateau on the east,
,bp tree tops and the roofs Of the neigh.
hOrlng houses. The flowers, which q
fortnight before We're opening, were
row in full bloom. They looked inno-
Gently from the gardens beside the
road they leaned lovingly against the
Dllars of the verandas, and from vines
mailing over easements they smiled ut
the rising sun, while the breath Of
Morning was laden with their perfume.
| II was the generals purpose to sur
mise the city, capture the railroad ma
chine shops and the rolling stock con-
entrated there, then make up trains
laden with troops, seize a hundred
miles of the Memphis and Charleston
hfroad on either hand, thus opening
Unmunicatioh with the army at Pitts
|trs Landing on the west and paving
he way for future operations 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
hops and run off the rolling stock. All
depended on CELEBRITY and secrecy.
Tie evening before we had bivouack-
ID ten miles north of the city. Our
scouts permitted no one to go south of
Us EMBEDDING all they met in order that
DO news Of our approach could reach
UT pave ht lOpNu ~ SUI "a ISC i W.
hours before dawn the command was
|aouSed-not br the fife or the bugle.
|ht by Whispering officers - and the
march was resumed with no sound
aTe the tread of men and horses and
te rumble of artillery. Within a few
miles of the city detachments of mount
ID men, armed with telegraph cutting
land track tearing implements, dashed
10 the left and to the right to prevent
de enemy from sending for troops or
running off the rolling stock. To an
other detachment which rode among
HE advance columns was assigned the
duty of Selling the telegraph office.
Boom,
HaTk, gun, 1t comes from the east
ward, not half a mile distant, where |
The railroad runs parallel with the
Pile, Artillery is driving back a loco
Motive. The iron monster shrieks like |
some wild beast that has met its death
Bound.
BOOM Il
More whistles all along the track far
DOWN to the south, varying in distinct
less from near, loud cry to distant,
Ant moan. This is fine hunting
'aElng locomotives with cannon. Did
10y South African sportsman ever
mike such game or hunt with such
guns!
BOOM boom, boom! Far and near
ne Shotted guns speak: far and near
De metal monsters cry out in terror.
Boom. i
All are bagged, except one more dar-
lg than the rest, which runs the CANT
u Of artillery and with a round shot
Flng through its cab speeds out OF
llge, 1
Meanwhile sashes in the houses along
le road are being raised. shutters
ing open and heads put out to learn
VT cause Of the commotion. AS guns
Nm' whistles shrek and cavalry clat-
along the road, followed by men
!pdly marching and artillery horses
sAly dragging the guns. many a
azen who the night before had gone
sleep not dreaming of foe looks
9n the passing armed throng, lis
US TO the sound of the cannon and
Shrleks Of the engines and wonders
ialdemonlum has come.
am drawing near the Stanforths'.
Fle Is the house, with its broad We
uuas and Its peak roof. A knot of peo-
aie at the front gate. but l am yet
lar to see who they are. Now l
d distinguish the turbaned Lib.
ieIe Is boy perched on one of the
y posts. 1t is Buck. That girl, tall
slender is surely Helen. As l
l" Nearer can see Ginger, his broad
'eA stretched in a grin of pleasure
ssW OF Yankee troops. a figure IS
u4s IN 4 wicker chair on the veran-
uaik eyes flashing in a pale face.
l Jaquelne.
'iuIhs up 10 the gate, I am out of
Sdud!e almost before my horse has
ppeu' Buck gives a cry and jumps :
yIy arms. Ginger grasps my hand. /,
2 llns9, Mr.. Brandystone." cried u
a. I'm mighty glad to see you! :