The National tribune., 1902-03-06

cealment. He rather wanted the rebels to
1 know that they were there, before begin
ming To fire on them.
There We're perhaps 30 or 30 rebels,
4! standing in cleared field on the bluff and
they had no protection. for the water was
deep around all the trees that stood at the
I edge of the clearing.
''Deploy out along the log. boys" said
/ 81. coolly, ''and all get good places. well
under cover, before we begin. Don't be
in a hurry. Don't expose yourselves, but
| get Il steady aim on your man before you
/ fire. We are going TO open up the cam
paiugn by cleaning out this party. but it
I Will require time and good shooting, with
no waste of cartridges"
He jumped over the log. and broke
away few branches on a cedar bush
4 which interfered with his aim. Shorty
! cleared away similarly in his own front,
without making il any easier for the reb-
els to see him when their attention should
be called that way. Each of the others
made the best arrangements he could, and
I Sandy and Pete each got where crotches
of limbs rising from the trunk gave addi-
tional protection.
/ All felt that they were going to destroy
/ the party across the water, without suf-
I fering any loss themselves. and went de-
| liberately to work TO that end.
The rebel Captain in command was fac
/ ing the stiff southeast wind. with his glass
at his eyes, while eight or 10 of the com
/ pauy, apparently the best shots, were
/ scattered along at the best points. with
/ their hats off, that they might not be both
| cred with them, and holding their guns
ready for the reappearance of the steamer.
| The remainder were holding on their hats
and blankets, and shivering liz the cold
/ gale.
ST and his squad were somewhat pro-
| tected from the wind by the thick cedar
growth behind them and the rise Of the
ground.
A man came rushing up a gang Of ne
groes, 10 or IL in number. who carried
| picks and shovels. He had apparently
run them from some distance, for they
We're badly blown, and he was urging them
along with curses and 4 long hickory
switch, with which he cruelty lashed the
ones in the rear.
Going to dig ri1e-pits and Il place for
the guns" remarked Shorty. We'll in
tcrfere with those internal improvements.
S took another deliberate survey of his
line. clear to Sandy and Pete on the ex-
treme right. to see that everybody was
we'll covered.
Take it coolly. boys" he gave the last
warning. Fire deliberately. and be sure
of your man. Aim at about 400 yards and
q foot or two to the left to make up for
the wind I'll fire trial shot to help you
gage that. Wait for me-"
As he turned his face again toward the
rebels he saw the man with the gang OF
negroes placing them along the bank and
starting them to digging.
He saw the Captain speak to the sharp
shooter on the extreme left, who raised
his gun to take deliberate aim apparently
al an approaching boat He had his side
toward 81, which with the wind made the
shot more difficult for 81, who said as he
raised his gun. Il calculate the distance
at 400 yards. Shorty, and I'm going to
aim about two feet in front of his shoul-
der. If miss him you try foot in front
of him."
"All right" answered Shorty. 'sThs
COrOner's going to sit on that feiler."
81 aimed with the greatest care and
fired. The bullet passed in front Of the
rebel, but so near that the man started,
raised his gun and looked around. The
next minute he fell with a bullet through
his shoulder from Shorty's rifle.
The astonished rebels whirled around,
their hats were blown off. their blankets
fell to the ground, and the Captain ran
a few steps toward that flank, when he
fell from a shot by Tom Brainard, who
had carefully watched the two previous
shots. Abe Grimstead shot the man boss
ing the negroes. through the hip, Abe's
grim hatred for all the Overseer class man.
ifeSted itself. He would rather torture
than kill such man.
With yell the negroes dropped their
tools ard ran away wildly.
IdFL Oh the TeDelS, WlIu SOluleTly III
stinct at once dropped fiat on the ground,
and began to return the fire into the
bushes. But they could only fire at the
smoke, and their shots went wild. Some
of the others ran back, and plunged into
the cold water, for security: but officers
followed them, and made them come into
a line that they began to establish. Harry
Joslyn. Monty, Alf, Pete and Sandy each
fired deliberately. after watching the ef-
feet of the last mans shot, at someone
who was standing up, and trying to get
the fight into some sort Of order.
The effect was to make them all begin
to run over to the right farther ont Of
range. There they gathered. and began
noisy fusillade, with the boys following
them with slow, deliberate shots, constant
ly growing less effective, owing to the dis
tance and the smoke.
This continued for long time-prob-
ably quarter of an hour. with the boys
growing little restive at the indecisive-
ness of the fight.
we can keep them off the bluff, at
least" 81 said. I'VE command that very
and they can't get to the
waters edge to fire at Shad and the boats
Well just stay right here, and attend to
that business"
Excitable Pete left his cover, and
climbed a good-sized dogwood, 10 get a
view of the road to the rear.
They re bringing up gun at SallOp,
Sergeant" he shouted. They're splash
ing through the mud and water as hard
as they kin lick the hOSses. They expect
to blow us out o here, and then knock out
the boats"
The rebel infantry raised a cheer, and
began working forward.
Steady boys" answered ST. wait till
they come up over the rise there by that
Iive-oak. Shorty, me and yOu and Tom
and Abe will kill the hOsses. I'll take the
near leader Tom, take the near wheel
hOss: Abe, take the off one. Aim care
fully and We'll pile them up right there.
The rest of you attend to the gunners."
They all shifted 4 little to bring their
rifles to bear, and as the lashed and mud
Spattered horses appeared, they all went
lown in one. two. three, four order.
The artillerymen were veterans, and
game ones. however. They instantly sprang
o the ground, snatched the gun from its
imber. and with the inconceivable swift
less Of well-trained cannOneers rushed it
forward, whrled it about to bear on the
ambush of their foes, rammed charge
If canister home, pulled the lanyard, and
sent an awful storm of iron to tear the
,rlIsh above the boys heads, who had
,rOuched before the blast behind their log
Is they reloaded their guns.
Bully boys" shouted Shorty, as he lev
led his rifle to shoot down the man who
vas ramming. We'll salivate you before
Ou can do that again
The fallen rammer'S place was imme-