Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-11-09
CHAPTER NNNIN.
NJ. .....L,l tla.,t I.sa.;I

The rain continued all That FRIDAY
night and Well on into the forenoon of
the Saturday During this interval we
waited with scouts out for the upcoin-
ing of the mountain men. At moor Ma
jor Ferguson sent II final express to
Lord CORVALLIS, urging the hurryine
on of the reinforoements, not knowing
that his former dispatch had been m
tercepted. nor that Tareton had not as
yet started to the rescue. "A little later
the scouts began to come in one by one
with news of the approaching rfiemen.
There Was but Il small body OF them.
not above a thousand men in all. so the
spies said, and my heart misgave me
They were without cannon and they
lacked bayonets: and moreover. when
all Was said. they Were but militia. all
untried save i'll border warfare with
the Indians. Could they successfully
assault the fortified camp whose de
tenders thanks to the majors ingen-
uity--had fitted butcher knives 10 the
muzzles of their long. guns i'll lieu of
bayonets? Nay, rather would they
have the courage to Try:
Twas late i'll the afternoon before
these questions We're answered. The
rain had ceased. and the chill October
sunlight filtered aslant through the
trees. With The clearing skies Il cold
wind had sprung up. and ON The hill
breastwork and waited in strained 81
lencc. a, the last moment Major Fer
guson sent Captain de PeNstei 10 me
With the request that ! take command
of the Tory force set apart 10 defend
the wagon balricade this If my weari-
ness would permit. ! Went With the
captain to make my excuses in per
SON
Say no more Captain said this
sole
lame plea for further exemption: A." |
had forgot Your swold-cut. Take shell
Yer for yourself. and look OH whilst we
skin this riffraff alive
And SO he let ne off; a favor which
will make me think kindly of Patrick
Ferguson so long as shall live. For
NOW my work was done: and had he
who and what | WAS and paid the
penalty.
had scarce rejoined rybee at the
wagons when the long roll of the drums
broke the silence of the hilltop, and a
volley fire of musketry from the rock
breastwork ON the right told us the
battle was ON. Tybec gave me one last
leproachful look and stood out To see
what could be seen, and stood With
him.
Your friends are running. he said.
when there was no reply To the opening
Nolley, and truly feared he was right.
AT the bottom of the slope, scattering
groups of the rifemen could be seen
Fastening To right and left. But
would not admit the charge 10 TNbee.
II think not objected denying the
apparent fact They have come too
far and too fast TO turn back nov for
81 single overshot Noiiey.
But they'll never face the fire up
the hill With the bayonet to cap i, at
the top" he insisted.
THAT remains to be seen: we shall
know presently. All, though, 50: here
they come
AT the word the forest covered steep
at our end of the hill sprang alive with
dun-clad figures danting upward from
tree to tree. Nolley after vollcy thun-
but not once did the lodging charge
up the slope pause or falter. Unlike
all other rrcgulars | had ever seen
whose idea OF battle is TO let off the
piece and rum. these mountain mel
held their fire like veterans. closing III
upon the hilltop steadily and in grin
/ silence broken only by The shouting en-.
| couragements of the leaders this unit!
their circling line MAS completed.
Then suddenly from all sides of tht
beleaguered camp arose Il yell to slakt
the StOutest courage. and With that
the wood covered slopes began 10 spi,
fire, NOT in volleys, but here and there
in irregular silappligs and cr;tcklilgs
as the sure shot ritemen SAW q mark
TO pull trigger ON.
The effect of This fine bead target