The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-12-15
THE MASTER OF APPLEBY|
BY Francis Lyndo. --->
BY Francis Lynde. ---


From u view point on the rising
ground we could see the enemy form
ing under cover of the wood: and as we
looked, the two pieces of amor We're
thrust TO the front to below out the
signal for the assaul,
Twas a sight to stir the blood When
the enemy broke cover into the opener
woodinS of the field to the tune of he
roaring cannon. the volleyings of small
arms and the defiant hu2Zaings OF the
men. The sun Mas Just peering over
the summit OF Thicketty mountain. and
his level rays fell first upon the charg-
ing line sweeping in like a tidal wave
Of red death 10 cru,nple our stiirmishers
before it.
Lord! says Richard. IF Neates and
the indian come alive out of that
SUI The outiiers closed upon our tirst
lire in decent good order, firing as they
could; and in less time than it takes to
write ii down the onSweeping wave of
red Was upon the Carolinians. We
looked to see the militia fire and run,
home-Suard fashion; but these men of
Pickens' We're made of more soldierly
stuff. They took the fire of the as
saulting line like veterans, giving
ground only when it came to the bay
onet push.
That fetches it TO u.s." said Richard,
most coolly; drawing his claymore
when the Carolinians began to come
home like spindrift ahead of the wave
of red. Then he mad Il steadying word
for the men of his company, II a
hearty shout and a curse for some of
the Georgians who had cut around the
TANKS of our main to come at their
horses in the rear.
But the lads assertion that our time
was come was only a half prophecy
The Marylanders. with the VirginianS
on their flank. stood firm. giving the
onrusning wave a shock that Went nea
10 breaking it. But the British We're
better bayoneted than We, and whel. it
came to the iron Il lads must needs
give ground sullenly, lighting their way
backward as a stubborn assault fights
us way inch by inch forward.
Here comes their reserves said
Dick. pointing with his blade to a seq
ond red line forming in the farther
Nistas of the wood. Lord. shall we
never get into it?'
Twas just here that an order sent
by Colonel Howard to his first com
pany, directing it to charge by the
flank, came near costing us Il rout
The order was Observation-Disclosures
received at the precise noment Of the
upcomins of the British reserves-and
the Marylanders fell back. In the
turning of a leaf our entire fighting
front gave way, II what of the
Georgians there We're left in the mellay
made a frantic dash for the horses.
AT this crisis Joh Howard saved the
day for us by shrewdly executing the
most difficult m%aneuver that is ever es-
sayed by a field officer in the heat of
battle. Suffering his men to drift
backward until the enemy, sure now of
success, We're rushing on in disorder to
give the coup de grace, he gave the
quick command: about face. Fire.
Charge
I saw the volley delivered in the
faces of he redcoats at pixies length
range: saw the Nirginians on the tanks
bend to encircle the enemy; saw the
rout transfer itself at the roar of the
muskets from our side to the recoiling
British. Then l heard Dicks shouted
command: Charge them, lads! they're
sabering the Georgians!"
A section Of Tarieton's horse had
heWed its way past our flank and was
at work on the mili1iamen scrambling
for their mounts At ii we went, with
u brave colonel d horses length
ahead of the best rider in the troop.
pistols banging and sword blades
whistling, and that other curious sound
you will heal only when the cavalry
engages-the heavy dunch of the horses
coming together like huge living mis-
siles hurled from c%atapults.
Twas soon over, and the enemy.
horse and foot, was flying in hopeless
confusion drought the open wood. Our
troop led the pursuit; and this brings
me to an incident in which thy old
Notwithstanding in the histories as
AN unnamed sergeant-had his share.
1T was in the hot part of the chase,
and Colonel Tarleton--a true Briton in
this. that he would be first in The
charge and last in the rctreat-was gal
looping with two Of his aides in rear of
the dragons. Since many of us knew
the British commander by sight. there
was i great clapping-to of spurs to
overtakc and cut him off. In this race
three horses outdistanced all the 9TH
ers; the great bay ridden by Colonel
Washington. Il snappy little gray be-
stridden by the colonel's boy bugler. and
my W mount.
When the crisis came. our colone; had
the wind of the boy and me and was
calling on Colonel Tarleton to surrender
at discretion. For answer the three
British officers wheeled and fell upon
him. Never was a man nearer his
death. In a Whit Tarleton was foin-
ing at him in front whilst the two aides
were rising in their Stirrups on either
hand to cut him down.
Twas the little bugler boy who saved
his colonel's life. and not the nan
sergeant" as the histories have it.
Having neither II sword nor the
strength to WELD one, the boy refined
sharp to the left and pistoled his man
as neatly as Nou please. Seeing his
fellow sabreur drop his Weapon and
clap his hand to the pistol wound, my
man hesitated Just long enough to let
me in with the clumsiest of upcuts to
spoil the muscles of his sword arm.
This transferred the duel to the two
principles, who Mere now at 1t, hammer
and tongs. Both We're good swordsmen,
but of the twain our colonel was far