The National tribune., 1902-03-13
sHERMAN's THROUGH cARoLINAs.

ARCH THROUGH THE CAROLINAS.
| blame him." he remarked to himself, as
he saw his partner come out like a stream
| ing Newfoundland dog, and shake off a
| torrent of water.
! They got the log finally up to the creek,
and there new troubles began, for the cur
| rent made it still more unmanageable,
while the rebels, beginning to understand
what they were attempting, gathered
| again and began an annoying fire.
They sheltered themselves from this be-
hind an abutment and the bank, while
they struggled with the recalcitrant log
which would whirl around and drag some
of them into the deep water, whenever
its end caught the full force of the cur
rent.
Encouraged by the preoccupation of
their enemies, the rebels crept up closer.
Sandy became disgusted at their fail
ure to get the log athwart the current
He had an idea, and disregarding the
shots of the rebels, he picked up ShOrty's
pole, and ran up the stream a little ways
to where a railcut was floating down. He
pulled this in with his pole, and though
bullet splashed occasionally in the water
near him, mounted the log astride, and
poled it so that it foated to the other side,
just below the abutment. Then Shorty,
fastening the rope to the slings of can
teen, half filled with coffee, flung it over
~ cdHuy lue tdHlttll, uTeW
the rope over, and bracing himself against
maple sapling managed to pull the butt
of the trunk against the bank on which
he stood, while Shorty worked his way
across to help him.
The Colonel of the regiment, encamped
on the bluff of the river, had ridden for
ward to see what was in his front. and
learn what the firing was about. He sat
On his horse. watching the boys and Civ
ing an occasional encouraging word
Fifteen or 20 rebels rushed forward TO
the edge of little bayou, about 400 yards
distant, and opened a sharp fire. The
Colonel turned and gallOped away, at
which the rebels raised cheers and de-
risive yells.
Paying no attention to them, Shorty Sc
cured his end of the log, by tying the
lariat rope around a sapling, while 81
drove stake down to hold his end firm
Then ST. and those with him went back |
for their overcoats and guns, and began
crossing to the other side. 81 brought |
Shorty's gun and overcoat with him, and
Pete brought Sandy's.
Shorty's first act was to feel in his |
pocket to see if Maria's letters were safe. |
They scattered out, taking the best
cover they could find along the bank. and |
began deliberate sharpshooting at their |
enemies, thus giving them something else |
to think about than interfering with |
bridse-building.
81 was carefully taking in the lay Of the |
ground, while shooting and loading. Pres
emily he remarked to Tom Radbone, who
was next to him:
IF we could get to that knoll over there
we could take those fellows in flank. The
water between don't appear to be more
than knee-deep; let's make a bolt for it."
''Go it." said Tom, as he turned over to
load. I'm with you" Again the rebels
amaypd hy SaniDr ba Vonl-aac ruci, |
through the freezing water. The knoll
was gained, and the first shots from Sis
and Toms rifles wounded one of the reb-
els, and made the rest rise and run back
beyond the next stretch of water.
Everybody nov ran forward to occupy
the ground gained. After they had run
back the rebels had pulled around to their
side clumsy flat-boat they had used as a
pontOon, and Shorty threw off his over
coat, with the intention of plunging in to
get at the boat and swing it back again.
The position of the rebel Commissary
supplies was becoming very dangerous.
Unless this audaciOus little band of Yam
KEGS could be driven back all the beef and
pork would be lost for it was clear that
the squad which had been sent as n guard
could not successfully cope with the en-
emy much longer. If the Yankees sue
ceeded in getting across the last bayou
rs now seemed likely, they would rush at
once up the hill, and capture everything
that could not outrun them. The one
armed Commissary in charge was vet
nran and an enterprising one. He hastily
gathered every white man about him, all
If whom were armed with some sort of o
gun, and led Il squad of 80 or 40 around
The head of the bayou to take the Yankees
N flank.
The Commissary watched his opportu-
lity, and came rushing out of the woods :
IN the left, firing, just after all the boys {
lad fred at the rebels in front.
Pete. who was ON the extreme left, as {
usual, went down with load of swan /
shot in his breast Alf Russell got a S
;quirrel-rifle bullet through the feshy part
# his arm. and the Commissary was max {
ng close shots with his revolver at Shor- I
y, whom he took for the leader. L
Without waiting to reload. Shorty a
ushed forward and picked mp Pete, and q
.arried him back to where 81 was estab- /
ishing line, under the cover of the next q
,ank. c
His first rush proving successful. the 6