Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-23
DAILY. STORY.
STORY OF A BLOCkHOUSE.

supplies. The vulnerable points wcra
the bridges. near which the bluecoats
built blOckhOuscs similar To those used
by our ancestors TO defend themselves
against Indians.
one afternoon Il force of Confederate
cavalry attacked one of these posts.
The blockhous was built OH the riv-
er bank at the north entrance of the
bridge. the rear being protected by the
river, running some forty feet below.
4 single company commanded by Il
captain constituted the bridge guard.
From his loophOles he surveyed the
ConfcderateS, who, uiSmounted. We're
advancing i'll line of battle. and his
heart sank within him at seeing a
force three times that of his own.
Fortunately they had no artillery. while
the Union troops had two small how
tiers
Time and again the southcrnerS as
saulted. and every time they were
driven off. But at last the defenders.
who had been for week begging for
a new supply of ammunition, saw that
within a few hours what powder and
ball they had would he exhausted.
There was a boy i'll the command who
had run away from home and enlisted
AT the age of fifteen. He was fond of
the water. and his captain had noticed
him often rowing Il skiff ne had pressed
into his own service. Taking the boy
10 a back opening. the captain said to
him:
Go 10 your skifr; pull down the river
TO where it is crossed by She bridge
next below. There you will end three
companies. You must row around the
bend. but re-enforcements can cut
across and reach us within half an
hour. Tell the commanding officer TO
come ct once or we will lose the
bridge"
But will not the enemy see me and
pick me off,
You can hug this shore till you get
down to the bend, when YOU must pull
across to the point on the other bank.
For five minutes Won will he exposed
TO their fire. and there are nine chances
in ten that they will hit YOU
al see
Catching up rope. the captain low
cred the boy to point some ten feet
below. where II: struck 4 steep path
leading down to the waters edge.
The captain saw him get into his boat
but lost him at once under the over
hanging trees. Then he waited breath
lessly till the Skiff shot out from the
BANKS protection to make the turn in
the river. Scarcely mad the boy APP
peared than bits of spray broke all
about him. bullet taps on the water.
Hes halfway over" exclaimed the
captain. talking TO himself so loud that
he could be heard above the cracking
of rifles. But they're getting his
range. Heavens. He's hit. No; only
scratched. He's at it again. Good
Lord. There goes an oar. He's lost.
He can't pull with one oar. And the
arm has been hit. He's binding it up
with his handkerchief. BY thunder.
he's padding, Some Of the shots are
beginning To fall short Hit again.
It's all up with him. No: he's on his
knees again padding for dear l::e.
Twenty more strokes. and he'll be I've
hind the point. There he goes. HUI
rah"'
Then the captain ran to the front OF
the blockhouse to see long brown.
dusty looking line advancing for an
other attack
Give it to EN-. boys" he said. IF
We can keep EN- off for an hour the
bridge IL be saved, and we'll escape
southern prison.
The attack was repulsed. but when
the next one was made the UniOnists
saw something that made their blood
run cold. A single man appeared roll
ing a bale of hay. 1t was to set on
fire and burn the blOckhOuse. He was
protected by his bale and DIFF
fcult to reach with n bullet. Directly
behind him was another man rolling
another bale. Then n third and a
a long line-each man
rolling his bale. The Union sharpshoot
ers picked off The first man and the
second. The third pushed on. The
fourth fell The fifth fell. The sixth
seemed to bear q charmed life and with
the third was getting dangerously near
the blOckhouse. The hay rollers came |
so fast that though more than three |
quarters OF them were put out of the |
race. number were now within TWEEN |
~ yards. and one man had come so |
near that no rife could reach him. He |
was cutting the ropes that held the hay |
together. Then a comrade left his own |
bale and Joined him.
The captain strained his eyes across |
the bridge and saw the head of col |
umn OF bluecosts coming on n trOt.
Water" he shouted. Some of you |
men go down to the river in the rear |
nd get water in your canteens. There |
was little else for the purpose II We |
,an keep the flames off for few min |
ltes We'll save the fort
But there was no need OF water. The |
seeing the advancing |
troops. who were 10y this time near the |
opposite banks, withdrew their fire |
Bugs" All mounted and dashed away |
by a volley from the advanc' |
ng infantry.
The boy who had saved the bridge |
ed the rescue p3rty He was carried |