The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-11-06

when the Onion roo Nere 1nne
ting II the soaliS the gefe
obiifed Is pro eei iona lines q tafls
road over which they received tlleiF.
supple The ulheEI fi0iut were
the 2brlde,es 9lnecqle
built bloclEhpJ sim 70 tllllle leIl
b our aIlis TO- SIefenft tlleins elye
lelinst Iftdli lis
ono afferhooh 4 fotee OF Cohf6der1te
cavalry attacked one 1f 4 lie e Posts
The bioclSh61se Wlts built on the rfv-
er bank ut the north entrance Of the
bridge. the rear being pretected by tlle
riReF, running some forty feet belosE.
a slngle company cGmmghdea BY q
captain CONSTITUTED the bridge sllartL
From his 1oophoies lie gdrvcSTeti the
Confederate, IS 10. disthounted: we're
advancinG IN The Of battle. and his
heart sank within him at seeing q
force three times that OF ms OWL
Fortunately they had no nrffllery, while
the Union troops bad two. small how
ttzers
Time and again the sOutherners as
sanlted, and every time they we're
driven on But at last the defenders.
who had been for q, week begging for
a new supply Of ammunitIon, saw that
within. a few hours what powder and
bail they had wOuid be exhausted
There was boy III the command who
at the age Of fifteen. He was fond OF
the water, and his captain had noticed
him often rowing skin he had pressed
Into his own service. Taking the boy
to a back opening, the captain said to
him:
go to your skin ;,pull down the river
to where It Is crossed by the bridge
next below. There You VIII find three
companies. You must row around the
bend, but re-enforeements can 6eut
across and reach us within half IN
hour. Tell the commanding officer to
come at once or I'VE will lose the
bridge"
But VIII not the-enemy see me and
pick me ons"
ssYou can hug this: shore till you get
down to the bend. when you must pull
across to the point OH the other bunk
For 1--WE minutes sou VIII he exposed
to their fire, and there are hine chances
in ten that they wfIhhIt you.-
"I see.'' .* 800
Catching up rope the captain low
cred the boy 10 a point some ten feet
below, where he struck a steep path
leading down to Tie waters edge:
The captain saw him get into his boat,
but lost him le once under the over
hanging. trees. Tllen. he waited breath.
iessly till the skin shot out from the
bant's protection to. make the turn In
the river. Scarcely had the boy APP
peared thau bits of spray broke all
about him, bullet taps on the water
Hes halfway OverT' 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 Hes lost.
FIe can't pull with one oar. And the
arm has been hit. Hes binding it up
with his handkerchief. BY thunder
he's padding! Some of the shots are
beginning to fan 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 bc be |
lind the point. There he goes. IIur- |
abr
Then the captain ram to the front OF |
he blockhouse to see 81 long, brown, !
lusty looking line advancing for am |
,ther attack
s.Give it to 'em, boys he said. III |
We can keep 'em of for an hour the |
bridge II be saved. and Wen escape
Iouthcrn prison"
The attack was repulsed. but when /
he next one was made the UnfODists
aw something that made their blood
un cold. A single man appeared roll
nE a bale OF hay. 1t was to set on
Ire and burn the blockhouse. He was
PARTIALLY protected by his bale and/dif-
Icult to reach with bullet Directly
,ehind him was another man rolling
mother bale. Then a third and q
n long line-cach man
olling his bale. The Union SharpShoOt
RS picked or the first man and the
econd The third pushed on. The
ourth fell. Tie fifth fell. The sixth
eemed to bear charmed life and with
he third was getting dangerously near
he bIockhouse. The hay rollers came
o fast that, though more than three
quarters OF them were put out OF the
ace, a number were now within TWEEN
Y yards, and one man had come 80
ear that no rifle could reach him. lie
vas cutting the ropes that held the hay
ogether. Then cOmrade left his OVID
ale and Joined him.
The captain strained his eyes across
he bridge and saw the head OF a col
mn of bluecoats coming on trot.
water he shouted. Some OF YOU
aen go down to the river In the rear
nd get water IN your canteens! There
ras little else for the purDose.l II we
an keep the flames on for u few min
ties wen save the fort"