The Monte Vista journal., 1906-09-08

"NNA i4aNaHAiN up me SsAhh
what 10 do, and he had to make 1t up
instantly, for Rocket was not 90 feet
from them when they fell. Raising
the horse by the bit with all his
strength. and driving the spurs into
his TANKS. he cleared the frightened
girls by flying leap and went gal.
| Looping down the field.
You ought to have heard the ringing
cheer that hundreds of voices sent
after the gallant young rider!
We had been fighting all day. The
confederate line OF battle had been
Withdrawn from the level ground.
where our division had pressed the
enemy slowly but steadily back, and
now occupied the crest of low hill
that lay south Of us. Here they made
a stubborn resistance, and twice had
they rcpulscd our charge upon their
new position.
The second charge had just been
made, and our brave men, after ter.
rlble slaughter, had been ordered to
fall back beyond musket shot. where
they now rested on their arms until
another attack should be ordered
Between us and the enemy lay a
stretch of meadow land that. in the
morning. had been very fair to look
upon Now 1t was dotted all over with
| dead and wounded men and horses.
iismantled artillery wagons and guns
and knapsacks
We had not had time. as yet. to
count up our losses, even in my own
company, but all Of us knew that
Sergt Watkins had fallen. the gallant
fellow who bore our company flag.
Gen, King, who commanded our di.
vision, had given me personal orders
to charge battery on the enemy's
left. ! led my men AT a gallop up the
\ mill. and we captured the battery:
but superior force of the enemy
swept down upon us at that moment,
and We were compelled to fall back.
1t was then that Watkins fell. but
the flag did not go down with him
Wanting both hands free In the battle.
he had devised n means of fastening
the stan TO his saddle.bow so that the
flag was always to be seen waving
above his head And so 1t happened
that, when the brave sergeant fell.
pierced by ball, the flag stlll waved,
but It was above a riderlcss and ter,
rlfied horse.
When We had gained the position
TO which the general had ordered us
to retreat. our first thought was for
the safety OF our company nag. 4 sol.
der prizes his battle flag more than
his life, you know, ahd would give
his blood freely to protect II from
capture or dlshonor Ours had been
presented to us by our friends al hume
and We loved II with enthusiasm.
Suddealy Ned Barton, who had dis.
mounted and now stood holding Rock.
ct by the bridle.roin. turned to me
aud cried with great ychcmcncc:
Captain there Is the sergeants
horse-and see' he still carries our
ilag,"
! looked toward where he pointed
and saw the horse gnlloplas wildly
over the meadow whore We had just
been fighting with the flag flying from
the upright stan AZ his saddle. Both
armies had caught sight of him. and
such a shout AS you never heard went
up at the singular spectacle.
"captain'" cried Ned again. 4 must
have that flag. II die In saving II,
| Don't refuse mo-Im on" and before
| could speak word the boy was
dashing the spurs Into Rockets TANKS
and rushing over the meadow toward
the rldorless horse. He had scarcely
started when three horscmcn gallopcd
down the hill from the cnomy's line.
evidently Intending to capture the flag
before Ned could reach II.
War. battle. discipline. ord.ra wcro
all forgotten, and then men from both
sides. federal and confedorates, crowd
ed tumul,uously forward. yelling and
cheering over the race between the
bluccoa'ed boy and his three gray.
coated competitors.
They were all four now within easy
range Of the muskcts from either side,
but no one thought Of raising n gun
agalns, ihem-lt would hay. been foul
murder, Frightened at the clamor ON
both sides of him the scrrcant's horse
now changed hi, course and ran from
his pursucrs. 30 tina, their direction
vas at u sharp angle with his.
!, was a question Of spc.d-and
Rocket proved himself worthy OF his
name Will. the conicdcra,cs wcf.
yet hundred yards away from the
coveted prize. Ned Barton graspcd the
bridlc Of the ridcrless horse and
turned In the direction OF our lines,