The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-11-28
sTORy OF A
BLOCK HOUSE
[Original.l

ROAD over winch tney received tnelr
supplies. The vulnerable points were
the bridges, near which the bluecoats
built blockhouses similar to those used
by our ancestors to defend themselves
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
bridge. the rear being protected by the
river, running some forty feet below.
A single company commanded by a
captain constituted the bridge guard.
From his loopholes he surveyed the
Confederates, who, dismounted, were
advancing in line of battle, and his
heart sank within him at seeing
force three times that of his own
Fortunately they had no artillery, while
the Union troops had two small how
itzers.
Time and again the southerners 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 be exhausted.
There was a 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 a skiff he had pressed
into his own service. Taking the boy
to back opening, the captain said to
him:
GO to your skiif; pull down the river
to where 1t is crossed by the bridge
next below. There you will find three
companies. You must row around tie
bend, but re-enforcements can cut
across and reach us within half I'm
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 oif?'
"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"
"I see."
Catching up rope, the captain low
cred the boy 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 Mt once under the over
hanging trees. Then he waited breath
lessly till the skiiI shot out from the
banks protection to make the turn in
the river. Scarcely had the boy ap-
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 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 u,
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 life.
Twenty more strokes, and he'll be be-
hind the point. There he goes. Hur-
rahv'
Then the captain ran to the front of
the blockhouse to see Il 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 we'll escape II
southern prison"
The attack was repulsed, but when
the next one was made the Unionists
saw something that made their blooG
run cold. A single man appeared roll
ing bale Of hay. 1t was to set on
fire and burn the blockhouse. He was
partially protected by his bale and diff
ficult to reach with a bullet. Directly
behind him WIS another man rolling
another bale. Then third and Il
fourth-indeed, Il long llne-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 to bSlr Il charmed life and with
the third was :;cttAg 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 We're now within TWEEN
ty yards, and one man had come so
> IT that no rifle could reach him. He
was cutting the ropes that held the hay |
together Then comrade left his own
bale and joined him.
The captain strained his eyes across
the bridge and saw the head or a col
umn of bluecoats coming on trot.
''Water" he shouted. "Some of you
men go down to the river in the rear |
and get water in your canteens There |
was little else for the purposel If we |
can keep the flames off for few min
utes We'll save the fort
But there was no need of water. The |
Confederates, seeing the advancing |
troops, who were hy this time near the |
opposite banks, withdrew their fire |
bugs" All mounted and dashed away. |