The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-07-03

crest of the hill beyond an irregular line
of dismountcd cavalry firing at will at
something out of sight, but which re-
quired little prescience to understand were
the foragers, skirmishing from behind
trees, fence corners, and stumps until
they could gather enough to rush the rebel
line.
Apparently, however, the rebels We're
reinforcing faster than the fOragers, for
squads were continually arriving on the
gallop, dismOunting under the cover of the
hill, leaving every sixth or eighth man to
hold horses, and rushing up to the top
crest with yell.
Il guess We didn't get here any too
SOON" remarked 81. There's enough of
them gathering up there to rush the boys,
and they may stop the march Of Il whole
division to where it is badly needed.
We'll. | guess they won't do much stop
ping anything after we've fired into them
led horses,' remarked, Shorty, in sleeful
anticipation of the effect of their first
vol!ey on some hundreds of horses, under
the charge of the least effective men of
the regiment. Say, this amt going to
be no fight. This ii be Il regular picnic"
Il wonder if rebel cavalry can get up
as eussedly mean a stampede as our own
grumbled Wash Lambert. We'll now
have Il chance to see.'
Hold on, there; don't dismount." COM
handed the man from the crest who was
apparently the Colonel, to small com
pany, which had just galloped down th1
creek. Halt. there, blow your horses.
and wait. I've got them pretty badly
shaken. no moFe's coming up, and their
supports are Il mile off. I'm about to
charge them. Countermarch. and go up
onto that bench there. so as to charge
around on the right, and cut them off
when L rush them in 'front.'
Delays are dangerous, ST." said Shorty
looking again, to make sure that he had
full eight rounds in his carbinc. Tom
and Abe, give the poles another push, SOS
to nring about half the boat out into the
opening. Sandy, pass the grapevine
around that stump. so as to hold her nose
firm. Otterbcin Kramer, take the steer
ing-sweep, and work her stern around up
stream"
That's all right" said ST. approvingly.
Now. boys. me, Shorty, Wash. Tom and
Abe will open on that mounted cavalry.
The rest of you light into the led line.
Each of You pick out a householder, and
drop him. Wait till | fire. and the rest
of you will follow at will. Remember
that you've got eight-shooters. and there's
no need of your being in Il hurry. Every
one fire slow. one after another. and make
sure o. man. Take your time, and don't
waste Il cartridge"
L ne captain OF the company was Gem
ing around on a deliberate countrrmarch
when his horse dropped under him. from
Sis heavy bullet through his withers.
Shorty waited to see the effect of Sis
shot. and then deliberately brought down
the next man. Wash Lambert waited
equally long. before delivering his effect
i've shot, and every body else followed the
example. The boys We're firing in onetwO-
three order. each one waiting to see which
shooting the next man to him. No two
shots were wasted on the same man. IL
was the most deliberate, telling fire they
had ever delivered, and which would have
been impossible with anything but mag
aZine guns.
Panic at once seized the led horses. In
some way they comprehended whence
death was coming so mercilessly, and
dashed madly away from it-Of 10 the
right and stampeding the cavalry COM
pany, and straight up the hill to the front,
to rout the firing line.
Fer moment the foragers in front
could not understand the utter confusion
among their enemies. but it was enough
for them that the rebels were sorely dis
turbed, and had ceased firing, and they
rushed forward, and gained the top of the
hill.
''Hooray for the Union" shouted ST and
Shorty, as they saw them appearing over
the crest. "Hooray for the 200th In
jianny Volunteer Infantry. It's all right. |
boys. Come ahead across the crick
There's nobody on the other side. Good |
by. We're bound for Columby. Cut her |
loose. Kramer"
The afternoon was waning when they
came out from behind the last bluff and |
in sight of where the Saluda emptied into |
the Broad to form the Congaree. Below,
to their right, was the wide and gloomy |