News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-08-06

and fro near the fence to head off sucl
gray skirmShers as might attempt tC
fall back. |, with my fence rail, fol
lowed him closely and succeeded In
preventing some awkward situations
for the reach of an arm does not equal
that of a musket with bayonet on it
When either of US downed a man, Mick
followed with a vigorous kick below
the belt. The kicks were brutal, but il
was Mick's duty to hold the line of that
fence. The odds were heavily against
him, and he was obliged to use any and
all means within reach.
Fighting with fence rails as weapons
was new to US. but we took to 1t kind
ly. We had to. They demanded lot
of free space. which was not always
to be had, for the tree trunks would moi
get out of our way. and some of us came
to grief while downed by our weapons
having collided with trees. Once
rushed to Brainard's assistance, sup
posing him in deadly peril, for two OF
the few remaining Johnnies closed or
him with their bayonets ready to lunge
But Brainard turned like teetotum
holding his rail horizontally. 1t strucl
one of the Johnnies and knocked hin
down. In an instant Brainard jumped
and landed with both feet on the stom
ach of the fallen man. He also said
81 beg your pardon" but the falleI
mans reply was couched in Language
unfit for publication. Then Brainard''
rail struck the other man below thu
belt, and he, too, fell. Sergeant Micl
saw the encounter and screamed:
"Hooray, Brainard! Ye little dhivil
I'll thrain We up to the loightweigh
championship av Ameriky whin W.
git back to Summerton."
About this time there was a visible
scarcity of Johnnies in fighting trim
In fact, there was but one-the only of
fiCer who seemed to be with the party
lie had an eye like a hawk and haC
dashed to and fro as rapidly as if try
ing to learn our number and resources
Suddenly it occurred to him that hi
had done and learned all in his powel
and that it was time to return. | triet
to head him off and bring my rail tt
bear upon him. At the same momen
Mick roared:
"Grab their muskets an their ammy
milton! Git back to the fince an foirC
wild 'em as fast as yez kin! Nive
moind amin, but make all the noist
yez kin, so they'll think we've cleaned
out their slzirmishers an are beginnin
the foight agin!
Fully half Of us had had some mill
tia practice with muskets, and all TIT
others had used muzzle leaders agains
large or small game before the war, 81
we made quite a racket, which. to m.
delight, caused the enemy to break int
companies and move to the rear unde
the natural impression that their Skin
mishers had been overcome and W,
had resumed business at the old stand
But | was still in chase of the officer
Once | succeeded in knocking hin
down by tripping him, but he was oil
his feet again in an instant. Suddenl.
saw Sergeant Mick near me, brandish
ing his severed arm. The sleeve ha(
fallen from it, and it was really
slightly though displaced human mem
Der. | would give half my possession
and hopes for one like it, for twas
mass Of muscle. with an elbow joint a
big and pr0tuberant as a cobblestone
Mick raised it to the position of 'rea
cut against cavalry" and landed i
fairly on the back of the officers neck
The officer instantly landed on his owl
back, and the fight for the fence wa
over. Then Mick looked across tn
fence, saw the retiring enemy ant
croaked:
They've throwed up the sponge
Niver moind the killed an wounded
Just yet. Look quick to the Johnnie
as was punched wild the fince rails
Glory be to the poikes av auld Dire
land! An tie the hans an fate a
thin that's gittin' over bein' groggy."
We obeyed orders and found som
very sick men, whom we bound so the,
could not get away when they recover
ed. Then we did our best for tn
wounded. Mick had already sent an
other mounted messenger in search o
the regiment to report that the enem,
was retiring, and there was fin
chance for a chase and a charge. Blu
the regiment was not found. 1t foun'
us two hours later. The affair appear
ed to have been one of many of it
kind. in which an advance of the enc
my, accommodating in force, had bee
reported so imperfecuy by negroe
from beyond the lines that our reg
ment had taken the wrong road, foun,
nothing ard, like many times before
cursed THE reliable contraband" an
grumbled at a long hard ride for notl
ing. But they buried the enemy's dee
for us, which was great comfort, for t
kill a man and then have to bury hir
| is worse than war. think it's wors
| than hell.
Hadn't you better go back to CAM
sergeant, now that the fuss is over?
| suggested Brainard as we waited fO
the regiment. Your wound needs a
| tention"
Mick did not seem to hear. He wa
leaning against his horse, looking ter
derby at his severed arm, and we hear
him say, as If he were alone with it;
'Ah NOrah little did yeZ liver knON