The National tribune., 1903-02-12

through the swale, and then shot him
through the breast. At the same instant,
| Shorty shot the horse through the white
blaze in his forehead, Snd the animal fell
on his riders leg, pinning him to the
ground. The other boys joined in the next
voiiey, and the rebels ran back from the
swale. to- take shelter behind trees, from
| which they began searching fire upon the
knoll.
Keep down close, boys, and don't
waste a shot," commanded 81. "Don't
| hre until you see something to shoot at,
and try to keep your magazines full for
rush across the Slough
| The Colonel began groaning and calling
for help.
| My God. my legs caught against a
iimb, and this horses weights cutting it
of. Either come and lift him off, or shoot
me and put me out of my misery"
| He repeated this several times, until 81
and Shorty could stand it no longer.
Say, you fellers: stop shooting. over
there. till we help your Colonel" called
| 81.
Surrender. you Abolition hounds, and
| Wei help him ourselves. Surrender, or
| we'll kill every one of you. We've done
got you dead to rights. Stand hit ieetle
longer, Cnnrel. Wen finish these whelps
soon"
| You'll never get us in the world. you
Secession spawn" retorted Shorty. We'll
make those woods a meathouse for the
buzzards for the next year."
Vicious volleys followed this dialog, and
one bullet tore through Harry's hair, skin
ming his skull to the bone. He washed the
| blood off in pool, and ALT tore off piece
Of shelter tent. to bind up the wound.
The Colonel repeated his urgent en-
treaty.
| What troops are over there?" 81 called
| ont.
"Cheatham's, you bluebellies," came the
answer.
"Well, we're the Injiannians who fought
you at Chickamaugy. We're going out to
! help your Colonel. I'm sure there's not n
man in Cheatham's Division mean enough
to shoot at us while we're doing it."
| There was little cheer from the rebels,
and voice answered:
Go ahead, Yanks. We won't Shoot
ST. Shorty and Harry jumped over the
logs, ran to the Colonel, raised the horse,
| iifted the Colonel up, and carried him to
the shelter of large sycamore, laying him
so that he would be on the side next to
| his own men.
The rebels cheered again, and one
shouted, as they jumped back to their
| cover:
Bully for you, Yanks. Surrender, now.
Wen treat you far
go to -" shouted Shorty in reply,
as he picked up his carbine for a shot.
We know what you mean by treating US
fair: We've been in Andersonyille."
The firing began more viciously than
| ever. Others came up from the retreating
regiments, and Joined in it. The fire Of
musketry from the other side came nearer
and nearer, showing that the Union troops
were steadily advancing, but they were
still far off.
A bullet pierced Sis left shoulder, and
Knocked him over on his back. ALI was at
in Qr rrekn -
It's only a scratch" said 81, reassuring.
ly to the boys. calf, tie piece of that
tent around me, and I'll be all right.
Monty, Gid and Tom had seemingly for.
gotten their wounds, as they crouched be.
hind their logs and fired steadily and de.
iberately. A bullet tore along Shorty'y
forearm. but piece of the tent was wrap.
ped around it, and he went ahead. aiming
with deadly effect, whenever rebel ex.
posed himself across the swale
A nerce sputter of firing broke out down
IN the direction of the trail, and they all
looked around in alarm. They had feared
their enemies would find that approach.
and close in on them.
Ihey saw Shad Graham coming I'D.
smoking gun in hand, followed by a SQUAD
OF his pontooneers. Blood was flowing from
ms mouth, and he held a bloody hand upon
his breast. Here, men. knock over those
Fellows, he commanded to his followers.
pointing to some rebels who were Chamber.
ing up the bluff from the creek They were
Immediately beaten back with gunbarrels.
Got here just in time, didn't II" he
asked family. sinking down on a stump,
Had nm awful time, and guess they've
nnlshed me. An ounce of lead through
my lungs in addition to their other troubles {
will be too much for Them But it's an
right The battles won. The whole arny's
up, now, and Johnston's got heap more
than he can get away with. He's struck
ms last lick. I'm done for, but SOS the
internal Southern Confederacy."
Go be continued)