The National tribune., 1902-10-23

| Saturnine JEFF G.. Davis drove the -Four
teenth Corps reientlessly forward over the
turbulent Great Peedee River, over end
less miles of flooded swamps, over swollen
creeks and miry morasses, to head of
Hardee and prevent. his junction with
| Beauregard.
Enraged at his forced delay on the far
ther banE of the Catawba, envious Of the
laurels the other corps had gained in the
capture of Cheraw, he allowed himself
and his men no rest.
They felt as he did, and would allow
nothing to stop them. They waded fire.
quently breast deep through miles OF
water and mud, to gain the flank of the
enemy, and force him back from cross
ing. and worked with feverish earnest
ness through the night to build staging,
and bridges, and lay corduroy to bring up
their cannon and wagons.
Always at the 'front.' just behind the
most advanced skirmishers, was Shad
Graham, daily growing more hOllow-chest
ed, bright-eyed, and wan-cheeked. He
waded into the water with the skirmlsii
| line, and began building forward as they
| opened fire 1t was hard if his advance
did not keep pace with theirs, so that his
bridge was ready Immediately after they
had reached the opposite side for column
to rush over to their support.
His coughing threatened to wrench BODY
and soul apart, and he would have the
most fearful paroxysms while standing
waist deep in the water. but he resented
any condolences or urSings to go 10 the
rear and rest with such asperlty, that the
men and officers around him learned To
take no notice of his condition, but assume
that he was in as perfect health as they.
Bullets spatted in the water around INN,
but he paid no attention to them. Shells
burst near, but he only seemed alarmed
lest they injure some of his precious boats
or damage his staging.
The only stimulus he would allow him
self was strong black coffee, which he
drank in immense quantities, especially
when an emergency was present:
81 and Shorty, impatiently leading their
squad across Whites Creek the instant
the bridge was completed, saw Shad Gra-
ham. weakly labOring up the steep bank,
slip in the mud and fall.
They were off their horses in an in
stant to help him up.
THAT was very awkward in me, he
said, petuiantly repulsing their assistance.
as he brushed off the mud. "Iisnt often
miss my footing. 'Must've stepped on
something
"Yes, Shad," answered Shorty. You
did. You did. You stepped on the State
of South CAROLINA, Every inch of it is
sshad, you must stop and take rest,
and doctor yourself up a little said 81.
with paternal imperatiyeness. You
should have gone 70 the hospital month
ago"
.Serg't KIegg,.... answered Shad, with
consumptive's quick irritability. you'll
have quite enough to do to attend to your
own affairs. If What are you hanging
around here for? You are needed out in
front, and that badly. am sure l saw
mishers. -.
There's whole regiment over there.
and big one, too shouted little Pete
eagerly, from the top of n knoll he had
gained. Il think they mean to work
around and get behind the skirmishers and
cut EN- OFF,, The sskirniish lines gone
past 'ein without seeing EN-"
With a motion TO the others to remain
behind. 81 rode up beside Pete, and recon-
noitered the country in front.
The men who had already crossed were
pushing off toward the northwest, driv-
ing back a line of rebels who were re
treating and firing as they did so toward
n crest mile or more away, beyond a
broad, shallow valley. Our men were evi-
IDENTIFY quite eager to get to the crest, and
see whether Hardee's army was over
there, and were hustling the rebels with
lively impatience. The rebels were acting
stubbornIy, though they gave ground CON
stantly, as if they had strong reasons for
holding the Yankees back.
A mile or more to the southeast 81
could see evidence of quite n body of
men. possibly regiment. The smoke
from n number of fires was rising above
the trees, and Occa asionally different men
appeared at the openings in the woods.
The road leading from where they were
intersected that running through the val
ley about midway, so that they could come
out of their hiding-place, and by rush
cut off the skirmishers from their line of
support and retreat.
This was the more alarming. as 81 saw
by glance backward that n drift of saw
lops had broken considerable gap in the
bridge, cutting off any advance of the bri-
gade to the support of the skirmish line.
II shouldn't wonder if there's full
regiment in there. Shorty" said 81. hurry
ing back for brief council with his part
ner "But we must do something to keep
them from gobbling up the skirmish line
until Shad gets his bridge fixed up again.
What can we dog
I'VE might make dash through their
camp" suggested Shorty. craning up to
lock down into the woods "That would
give the rebels something to think of while
Shad's fixing up his bridge. We must
do something. We can't stand idle here"
81 say, let's work down as close to them
on foot as we can. get n good cover, and
open on them with our carbines," sug-
gested Abe Gripstead. They'll probably
get us in the end. if our boys don't get
over TO our help. but we'll kill mint Of
them before they do. I'll guarantee to get
rebel for every cartridge / carry. and
I believe the rest will do as well as me.
Well save our skirmshers, and Old
NicklI have to organize new ward
for his immigrants, and lay in more sui
phur"
"Wonder il me and Pete couldn't find
n bridge out there somewhere that we
could burn. and stop 'em?" Gueried Sandy
Baker. scanning the country in front, from
the cover Of cedar bush. "There is n
lbridge, right eout on the road they'll have
to come, 200 or 300 yards in front of the
woods DON'T ,yeu see it? There it is.
right by that old locust. Me and Pete
will take some, light wood and gallon down
to it. and set it afre. Let us try it, Ser
geant." l8H0
They'd see you coming. and shoot you
down before you could strike n match
dissuaded Shorty. "Twon't do"
."Mebbe they would and mebbe they
wouldn't" persisted the eager boy. Lets
try it anyway. Me and Pete's willing,
amt we. PeteypS
you're mighty right" answered Pete
Here's a fat pine knot that'll blaze right
up, sOon's you touch match to it. and
you never can bRut it out. Let's try it,
sergeant. q. 10.