The National tribune., 1902-06-05

not worth the rations we'd have to feed
you, let alon. the trouble of guarding
you,' said 81, turning his horse into the
road, to start Go home and stay there.
Forward. march,
Il tell you.' shouted the Corporal,
starting after him, but the jeering boys
trotted away after 81, leaving him shak-
ing his fist and yelling after them.
81 galloped hard after Pete and Sandy.
who ran the two men who had come out
to meet them back through Leesville, FIR
ing occasional ineffective shots after them.
The rest of the militia company seemed
to have been stationed in Leesville. and
the rain had thoroughly quenched what
ever martial spirits they may have had
The spectacle of their Captain and Lieu
tenant coming back on as dead run as
their horses could put up over the muddy
road, with heavy Spencer bullets singing
viciously near, was all that was needed to
stampede them, and they broke for the
shelter of the Saluda swamps.
After EN-; after EN- shouted 81.
Keep EN- OH the jump Don't let EN-
stop. They may show us the way over
the Saluda River
1t was long, hard chase. lasting well
into the afternoon. Many of the rebels
gave out, and fell by the roadside hold
ing up their hands as the squad sloshed
W. w .ittciltiOi w do paul iucIiI, eACepl
volley OF laughter and jeers as u man
was seen crawling out of the mud into
which he had fallen in his headlong haste.
Nor was any attention paid to those who
had sense enough to slip off into the
woods by the side and disappear. The
diminishing squad which stuck by the
Captain was relentlessly followed up. The
road became deep. muddy ditch as the
lowlands of the Saluda were reached, but
. hot Il IL.
ward, with 81 and the rest firing Just Of
ten enough to stimulate them on. The
mud became water, and 81 was rejoiced
to see that it was nowhere more than
belly-decp to the rebels horses. A few OF
Wheelers cavalry appeared ON the op-
poslte shore, and yelled and swore at the
militia to turn and fight the Yankees,
which, however, was the last thing they
thought of doing. 81 closed up as much
as possible to them, so that they would
mask the fire of the others, and when
they reached the other shore he was close
at their heels. Then he quickly dismounted
his men, and opened such fire with their
Spencers that the cavalrymen fell back
to the next ridge, and ST had the crossing
secured. He at once saw its Importance,
for it was on the flank of the other cross
ings. He determined to hold it. and sent
Harry and Monty back to find the advance
1
They found Shad Graham already at
l.eesville, prospecting the country, with |
his train coming up. He questioned the |
boys closely as to the road and the ford |
studied rough map of the country, which !
he took from his breast, and then, with |
Il smile of JOY on his thin, drawn face
CALCULATED:
Good for ST. He has a positive in
stinct for taking the right track. We've
been worrying good deal about getting
across tie Saluda, but he's hit il Just
right. Ride back as quick us you can and
tell him to hold on like grim death to Il
lead niger. for the rebels will soon find
'ut the advantage he has gained, and pile
up on him. I'll rush everything within
reach forward to him. From what you
say, there's got to be pile of eorduroying
lone on that road before morning. Go
ahead. I'll follow you just rs soon as I
AN start things forward
As the boys rode away lie turned to his
and said in his clear, calm.
forceful way, when he was reused by an 4,
emergency: Ii
This means another night of very hard
work, but 1t will put the army across the
Saluda River. Stoddard, ride back to the
Colonel OF the Alaumees. give him my
explain the situation 10 him,
md urge-no, suggest; he won't need urg-
ng-that he does not put his men into
camp, but push on, and help hold the j
:rossing. You might also 90 back to the 5
and tell them the same. Gath ]
r up all the axes you can and send them Is
Onward. Well need them ALL Granger6 '
Wilson, Roberts. Hammer, Bellyille. ri
'ack in different directions. and gather un
very able-bodied negro you can find and
ush them forward. Beg, borrow or steal
very axe you can get to put into their
lands. Blinn, take charge of the train, $