The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-06-28
MARION'S BRIGADE
BY MAJOR j. H. ROBINSON


ed heel, be bent forward in the saddle,
and his noble charger shot away toward
the camp fires cs the enemy, followed by
stern and resclute men who feared not
the brunt of battle nor the thunder OF
war.
Come ON. yen tarnals.- cried Hswes-
"Give IL TO 'em unspeakable. Make 'em
think all natur has busted and chaos
has come agin, knocking all temporary
consarns into eternal smash! Rare up!
Swing your cutfin' Instruments.
Frank Forstall noticed as they swept
on that quiet Job Dawson was in his
place beside Ben Rowan. His great horse
was snorting and plunging and ehamping
the steel bit as If impatient TO mingle in
the melee.
what furious beastr' remarked
Frank to Ben.
Just such another humbug as his
rider" remarked Rowan tartly.
During this time Dawson sat easily
and gracefully in his saddle, his monster
sabcr swinging at his side.
| 'If you don't intend TO fight, Mr.. Daw-
son, there's still chance for you to get
from the ranks" said Forstall.
| ~ am a man of peace" replied Job,
''but the man Francis hath commanded
me to go up to battle, and / go as a
sheep to the slaughter, and as lamb
dumb before the shearer."
There was no time for further conver-
sation, for they were now close upon the
Tory rendezvous; and their speed had in
creased TO a wild and furious gallop. Ma
rion's terrible war cry rang out with
startling energy upon the air, Liberty
or death - 1t fell upon the ears Of the
Loyalists like dread summons to the
eternal world. They sprang toward their
horses, but before half of them were in
the saddle Marion had reached them and
blasted their forming ranks like the de-
stroying lightnings of heaven. Those
heavy sabers came down, cleaving skulls,
hewing bodies with frightful gashes, and
Topping of limbs. Loud cries of terror,
dreadful walls of agony, fendish yeIls of
rage, the flashing of swords, the discharg-
ing of firearms and the thunder of horses
hoofs shook the field of conflict.
I Ferguson shouted to his Dragons to
rally round him and disperse the rebels.
Some heard and attempted to obey, while
many sought safety in fight
Forstall had resolved to mark the bear
ing Of those about him in the hour of bat
tie, especially of Dawson and Henderson.
The latter he now saw galloping from one
part of the field to another In search of
4 Cyrus Dix. As for Dawson, he had kepr
near him until he had charged through
the. enemy, at which time he observed
that his mammoth steed was in advance
of all others, and growing more furious
every moment, but the rider was still self
possessed. Ben Rowan perceived that
not to be outdone, gpurred madly after
him, and Frank initiated his example.
Ferguson's Dragons had hastily form
ed In the rear of the broken line; their
rnuskets now bristled In the faces of Capt.
Logan's company, and Job Dawson seem
ed rushing madly upon their cleaning
points.
Forsta.l wondered whether he saw them
Tor whether his horse was urging him on
against his will. He saw Job grasp his
saber and rise in his stirrups; the next
moment D sheet of fame and stream of
lead leaped from the ranks of Fe-gii-
sons Dragons and Dawson was enveisped
In smoke and hidden from view. frank
involuntariiy exclaimed: "Poof Jobw
and never expected to see him again but
the stern and bloody work now before
him engaged all his attention, for Fergu-
sons men made an obstinate resistance.
4 The next glimpse which he caught of
Dawson revealed him fighting desperately
over Ben Rowan, whose horse had fallen,
and he was now struggling to extricate
n himself. A half dozen Dragons had clos
t..1 80 al -
swords and bayonets.
job Dawson's horse pressed furiously
among the dragons, kicking, rearing and
plunging, until he planted his mighty
body directly over Rowan's fallen steed,
and laying back bis ears, snorting and
shaking his name, he was almost as much
an object of terror as Job himself, whose
saber beat down leveled bayonets and
circling swords, and sheathed itself IN
palpitating flesh.
! "Inexplicable man r. cried Forstall, as
he pressed his own foaming horse, to the
side of the Quaker; others followed, and
but the proud, defiant breast of the mann
moth horse and Dawson's terrible saber
protected him from instant death by
sword or bayonet.
/ .'Straighten up, you 'tarnal critters
Strike hard. tell yoaw shouted Capt
Nick, and the Sire Eaters" burst upon
those who yet resisted, in smoke and In
fame. Ferguson gave way, and Marion's
reserve laundering into action, the brief
battle became terrible rout on the part
of the Tories. The shrill voice Of Marion
was heard calling on the fugitives to sur'
render; some threw down their arms and
compiled. and others kept on, wero. over
taken and cut down.
j Eorstan paused an instant and looked
over the field; John Henderson was still
gallopiag madly from place to place, seek