Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-11-01
STORY OF q
BLOCK HOUSE


[Originall
| When the Union troops were maneu.
| yering in the southwest they were
| obliged TO protect long lines of rail
road over which they received their
supplies. The vulnerable points were
the bridges, near which the LmCcoats
built blockhouses similar 10 those used
/ against Indians.
/ One afternoon force of Confederate
cavalry attacked one of these posts
( The blockhouse was built on the riv-
er bank at the north entrance of the
4 bridge, the rear being protected by the
river, running some forty feet below.
/ single company commanded by Il
/ captain constituted the bridge guard.
| From his loopholes he surveyed the
| ConfederatcS, who, dismounted, were
/ advancing in 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 Southerners as
saulted and every time they were
| driven off. But at last the defenders
who had been for a week begging for
new supply of ammunition, saw that
within a few hours what powder and
ball they had would be exhausted.
There was boy in 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 sllifr he had pressed
into his own service. Taking the boy
to back opening, the captain said to
him:
go to your skiff; pull down the river
to where it is crossed by the bridge
next below. There you will find 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 at 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 you will be exposed
to their fire, and there are nine chances
in ten that they will hit YOU"
81 see"
Catching up rope, the captain low
cred the bow to a point some ten feet
below, where he struck 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 skilf shot out from the
banks protection to make the turn in
the river Scarcely had the boy APP
peared than bits of spray broke all
about him, bullet taps on the water.
Hes halfway overr 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 1t 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 1t up
with his handkerchief BY thunder,
he's padding! Some of the shots are
beginning tC fall short. Hit again!
It's all up with him. No; he's on his !
knees again padding for dear life.
Twenty more strokes, and he'll be be-
hind the point There he goes. Hur-
rahr'
Then the captain ran to the front Of
the blockhouse TO see a long brown,
dusty looking line advancing for an
other attack.
Give it to 'em, boys he said. IF !
we can keep 'em off for an hour the |
bridge II be saved, and wen escape q /
southern prison"
The attack was repulsed but when /
the next one was made the Unionsts !
saw something that made their blood /
run cold. 4 single man appeared roll /
ing a bale Of hay. 1t was TO set on /
lire and burn the blockhouse. He was /
partially protected by his bale and diff /
lcult TO reach with 4 bullet Directly 1
behind him was another man rolling
another bale Then a third and q (
fourth--indeed, a long lne-each man .
rolling his bale. The Union sharpshoot- (
ers picked OF the first man and the /
second. The third pushed on. The /
fourth fell. The fifth fell. The sixth /
seemed 70 bear q charmed life and with .
the third was getting dangerously near 4
the blockhouse. The hay rollers came I
so fast that, though more than three
quarters Of them were put out Of the /
race, d number were now within TWEEN