Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-08-21
Civil War Stories
A wornun's Courage.

"My God, Colonel, we're surrounded !
Norgan's men are on us"
1t was in 1863, at the time Whcn
John Morgan and his famous band or
ruerrillas were raiding the country,
%pllIaging, burning and striking terror
to all the country round about, that Il
little band of Union men, about QUO, Il
| detachment of General Lew Wallace $
division, who had beer left to protect
supplies at a point in Kentucky near
the Ohio line, were surprised II sur
rounded by El!sworth's division OF
Morgan's men.
A sergeant dashed without ceremony
into headquarters with the startling
news. There was no time for delay.
The outposts had reported the stimuli
taneous appearance of lines Of MOUNTED
men springing like ghosts from All
points of the compass.
..Morgan's devils? That means trou-
ble," cried the Colonel. Here, CrAW-
ford, wire Cincinnati, for reinforce
ments.'
Frank Crawford. an aid to General
/ Wallace, ind detailed as telegraph op-
orator, grasped the key of the ticker
and flashed an appeal over the wire.
Back came the swc
Especial train, 2,UGO men. south
bound, pass you in an hour. Stop
them"
Preparations for defense wcreuseless.
The gucrrillas began to close in and the
%blurroats found themselves outnumber-
ed five to one. Blu there appeared TO
be no intention on the part of the raid
crs to press a fight. They amused them
selves by slowly riding around the
camp and setting slow fires TO the SUP
ports of railroad bridges over the river
near the camp. This gave the Union
boys no little alarm. Some me must
get through the lines and flag the train.
"Who will volunteer to run the
gauntlet? p asked the commander.
He looked at the circle of brave men
around him. There was Il pause. 1t
meant almost certain death.
81 will CO." cried one.
"What, you, Crawford?'
Eyes. Here, give me the flag
Frank Crawford was no coward, but
N a tent adjoining headquarters lay a
handsome brown-eyed Q woman, his
wife, and by her side Il bright little
baby boy, born under the old flag but
four days before. Near by an old col
ored nurse vas comforting a ~3-year-old
lad who was frightened by the noise
without. The husband and father chOk-
ed back the emotions which threatened
to shake his brave purpose, and after
Il hasty embrace and parting kiss
rushed out Of the tent. 4
The guerrillas We're riding around
outside, keeping close watch over every
ford moved along, watching for an III
guarded point at an %opportune mo-
ment. Mrs. Crawford was as brave as
her husband. Rising from her bed. she
staggered to the door of the tent just
in time to see him captured. Her heart
stood still for a momen then, quick as
a flash, she turned, pressed her babe to
her bosom for an instant, then glided
out and across the camp between the
tents. like a white robed specter. Heed
less of danger, she hurried on, the eX-
element giving her strength.
The soldiers stood aghast as the wo-
man rushed past them. Ahead were
the bridges, and clouds of snake We're
slowly rolling skyward from the rebel
fires beneath.
Haiti" The order rang out above
the din.
The determined woman paid 10 at
tention to the command.
'.Fire!" AZ cloud of bullets fell on
all sides. She needed them lot, but
ran on her long black hair flying about
her shoulders and her loose gown and
bare feet giving her the appearance
of an insane woman. She reached the
bridge and leaped from tie to tie in
safety. Beyond was a second bridge.
Could she make it? 1t was burning
underneath. She could see the flames
leaplng up around the beams. She
grew dizzy. She dared not look down.
Everything was getting black. With
superhuman strength she gathered her
self for the final effort. Another beam
was reached, another, one more. Thank
God. she was over
Her foot had scarcely left the last
beam when, crash! the whole structure
collapsed. Mortified and stunned by
the effect of her narrow escape, for a
moment she was powerless to move.
Then she heard the whistle OF the To-
comotive as it rounded the curve.
Springing forward, followed by the
angry and disappointed cries of her
pursuers, and grasping the little red
skirt of her baby, which she had picked
up from the floor of the tent as she
left. she raised it, aid, summoning all
her remaining strength, waved it frant-
ically above her head. A rifle shot rams
out, and the brave woman fell, pierced
by a rebel bullet.
The signal was seen. The train with
its precious freight was stopped al
most at the brink of the ravine.
On the side track in front of the en-
CINE lay she who had risked her life
to save soldiers. White and still was
the uptur1ed face, as though death had
laid his hand upon her. Tenderly the
silent figure was carried into a car and
laid upon a hastily constructed cot, md
gentle hands ministered to her needs.
Meanwhile a dramatic scene was be
ing enacted not far away. General
Ellsworth had ridden up TO the top of