The National tribune., 1904-01-14

to every furloughed man and every home
guard within reach.
At 8 o'clock the column moved on, but
moved not far. From the rear came dis
charges. from earbines, from shotguns..
from Fniilskets, scattering the negroes,
many of whom at once sought refuge
in the understanding seen but the wet
road and the flashes of hundred guns
to which we could make but feeble reply.
A picket of three men, sent forward at
the last halt, had been seen no more. and
now all knew that the enemy held the
ground i'm front. Yet we moved on.
! Dahlgrens sent forward an advance
guard-oHiy six men--and almost at once
rode TO their head.
Then the enemy challenged from am
bush.
Surrender, or We firev' cried Dahlgren.
leys from the front.
| The column fell back in confusion; and
| at once fire was opened against us on
the fanksy1ss al ~,
Dahlgren had fallen, pierced with five
balls.
In great disorder the men filed ont of
the road into the woods at the right.
A gnide who had been pressed into sery-
ice was missing; We knew he would tell
the enemy that our ammunition had been
exhausted.
The men. helpless. lay on the ground
Il III.
All hope had long since gone.
Officers counselled the disbanding of the
force. All around. except on the side next
| the river, the lights of fires Began to show
| in the woods-our enemies would wait
| until the morning to give the finishing
stroke.
| Men began TO steal away afoot; they
| would try TO slip between the fires,
| thoughtless of the pickets intervening.
Groups went. The officer now in COM
mand, Maj. Cooke. ordered all to destroy
| their arms-except pistols.
/ Morgan felt hand laid on his arm.
"Mahs Dan, dey's all a-gwyin' to go-all
| 'scusin' dem watts done broke down."
.Yes, Uncle Squire, must try it too"
| .Yassah; witch away izh you gwine,
sali!'
Lord. don't know; just risk it as the
others through the woods; but / wish to
God / could get across the river"
'Yassah, dats de hes way; you come
along wi me, Mains Dan, an eff we can't
gle acrawst. We kin a-most,-leastways
eff de good Lawdll dess be on ouah side
dess one moe time"
| Morgan was astounded ut the offer; he
knew that this negro must leave his pos
4 sessions, and must endure hardship af
ter hardship. He pressed the slaves
hand.
'Mahs Dan, l got whole lot o bread
! jit, an / spec we not a-gwine to git no
moe soon. You kin put avn one o. dezhe
heah haversacks, an / kin tote two, an
we kin dess let all deA res go; an you
/ betteh save yo' whisky"
/ Morgan gladly assented; he believed
that TO recross the river would be to find
! comparative safety; true, the Pamunkey
also must be crossed, but its banks would
not be lined with pickets, and time would
be. had in which to secure boat, perhaps;
the Mattapony was the trouble for only
I half mile Of its steep banks was access
sible because Of enemies in front and rear
TEX yo' picket rope along, Mains Dan,
an y0' reins, an all YOU straps; spec
we gwine to need 'enl. Eff you can't swim.
Mains Dan, We got to mex mighty big
raf, leastways eff We can't find no boat,
an / don't spec we kim
"Swim like a duck, Uncle Squire"
/ 1t was past midnight; the dense dark
ness was in their favor In one respect.
i against them in others. Squire led to the
i right Morgan close behind; and now in.
Nor was surprised at his own strength
I Riding, he had felt exhausted; walking
lseemed relief: perhaps the excitement
due TO this individual enterprise had given
him stimulus.
/ AT last they stood near the rivera
black, indefinite chasm. They dared speak
Ionly i'm whispers.
You seddown, Mahs Dan. an stay right
sheah tell i git back ag'in," and now
Junior was alone
The sound Of a shot broke the silence
Il in his rear, perhaps fired ut some Federal
stealing between the enemy's pickefs.'
Msrgan's hope of success was small; the
river could be crossed, yet he saw not
when he should reach the southern hank,
esquire was resourceful. but how could he
make raft sufieient to uphold their
enectsy How. even, could they descend