The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-05

making rush straight Mt a group which
had been obstinately holding its place in q
little thcket where the oaks were sparse.
shorty was by his side, and the two emp
tying their carbines into the group, sent
them rushing back, with 81 and Shorty
following.
That's the way to do it. That's the
and Shorty halted to refill their maya
zines. Go on! go on! Don't stop! Keep
them going"'
The rest of the boys were up by this
time, and the rebel line was pushed back
two or three hundred yards. when it halted
with the apparent determination to stay
there permanently.
Forward. Forwardt'' shouted the Ma
jor. pushing his horse through the drip
ping branches. go ahead there. Go
laheadr'
81 recognized what he was up against,
and consequently advanced wariiy, keep
ing under the cover of the trees, and max
ing PUSHES from one to another. The prog
ress was too slow for the impatient Ma
jor.
go ahead faster. tell youi'' he shout
ed. Come on, tell you. Come on! I
will lead your
He spurred his horse past ST, but before
he had gone 10 rods volley from the
rebels brought both horse and rider to the
umph. but while they were still blinded by
their own smoke 81 rushed his squad for
ward. and began pumping lead into
their very faces. They broke and ran
lagain. with 81 and the rest after them,
until brought up standing by seeing the
rebels rush. slip, and Chamber over line
of fresh-made muddy breastworks, behind
which stood solid ranks of infantry.
Great Scott, Shortly gnsped 81, halt
ing to wipe the rain from his eyes and get
Ia clear view. That's n holy sight worse
than the cannon yesterday. That's Joe
Johnston's army, for fact"
Il should say so. It's mostly here ex-
cept what seems to be over there on the
road" responded Shorty, as the musketry
firing to the right and on the main road
swelled into solid crashes, showing that
whole regiments We're going into action.
Full batteries of artillery also began thun-
dering. ''Carlin's whole division seems to
be going in there"
Eve must get back at once" said 81.
lhurriedfy. They are going to charge US.
See 'em. Skip back, lively, boys, for the
next swale. Don't stop moment. Skip
backw
They did not go minute too soon, for
the rebels, stirred up by the sound of the
fearful battle opening up on the main road,
swarmed over the works, yelling and
firing.
4
they could not stop an instant as they
passed the Major to find out whether he
was alive or dead. They quickly gathered
behind the cover of the swale, and saw the
center of the rebel rush stop around the
Major in wild scramble to rob his body
of arms, clothing. watch, and the contents
of his pockets. As they passed on 81 OPEN
ed a deliberate fire on them and checked
those in his immediate front, who sprang
behind trees to reply, while others rushed
through the woods to get on Sis flank.
In minute or two bullets were coming
in every direction. At the instant of firing
a bullet plOwed through Abe Grimstead's
brain, and he sank like sack, still clutch
ing his carbine.
81 hastily unbuckled his cartridge belt
and ran back with the rest Of the boys be-
hind the next swale, where they again
lined up to check the rebels.
1t was but a minute or two until they
were again outfanked, and Tom Rath-
bones arm was broken by shot. The
hiring again became too hot, and they fled
for a cover to the next swale.
On the way Gid MacCall fell with
bullet through his thigh. Harry and
Monty took him up, ALI took his carbine,
and they ran back through another swale
to low knoll which seemed to be nearly
surrounded by marshes. Rail cutters had
been at work Oh the knoll, and as soon as
they redcheu IL 81 SET tne boys TO WOrk
rolling the rail-cuts around to make a
breastwork, and filling rails in between
Gid was carried in and laid down be-
hind the stump of a tree, where ALI twist
ed his gun-sling about his thigh to stop the
flow of blood, and tied handkerchief
tightly around Tom Rathbones broken
arm.
The rebels seemed to be checked lit
tie by the farther swales, and did not
come on very rapidly, giving them time to
pretty nearly surround themselves with a
defense as high as thick log. The knoll
was high enough to command through an
opening in the trees view of the open
field down to the road, and there the sight
was appalling. The entire plantation was
a field of battle. The Union troops in
brigades were marching sturdiIy across the
mud into the woods on the east, and pres
emily an awful din of musketry and artil-
| lery would rise, to be followed by the men
drifting back by regiments and companies,
followed by hordes of yelling rebels. Com
panies, wings of regiments, and regiments
would stop at Instructions, form a line,
call to the other fugitives to rally on them,
flaunt their banners bravely in the face Of
the insolent foe, and then be crushed into
disorderly flight by the swarms of rebels
| the dark woods vomited upon them.
| 1t seemed that the rebels greatly out
numbered the Understanding blackjacks,
among winch tney were concealed, and in
spite of the gallant stand, the Union troops
were everywhere being forced back to the
crossroad leading up from Clinton and
Troublefeld's store, where the Union wag-
Ons and hospitals were, and where soon
appeared the headquarters flags Of the
Generals commanding the Left Wing and
the Fourteenth Corps.
81 and Shorty were not allowed much
time to study this dispiriting sight, for the
rphpIS N had
and were pouring storm of bullets over
their works from the cover of the trees.
A bullet scraped Shorty's temple, and the
flowing blood blinded his eyes. He took
the silk handkerchief. in which he had the
precious souvenirs of Maria wrapped, WHIP
ed the blood from his face, tied it tightly
around his head to staunch the blood,
caught 4 glimpse in the forks of tree Of
the sharpshooter who had fred the shot,
wiped his eyes once more, took deliberate
aim, and the sharpshooter tumbled to the
foot Of the tree.
"Blast trees that grow such acorns,"
said Shorty, grimly, looking around for
another victim for his carbine. His blood
was now up, and murder was in his heart,
for the situation was every instant becom-
ing more desperate. Pete was knocked
over by bullet which shattered his car
bine stock, and filed his eyes full of splin-
tiers. He whimpered a little, pulled the
splinters out of his face, took up Toms
carbine, and resumed his place behind a
log.
a ton rail struck by several bullets at