Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-09-29

bridge was on fire, and many of til
cavalry had to ride through the smoke
and blaze to escape.
The sharpshooters kept the enemy
away from the bridge while our pi-
oneers crossed over to the fire and
eXtinguished 1t. Only a charred
stringer was left of the burnt span
connecting with the shore abutment
When the pioneers returned and the
sharpshooters stopped firing, line
of infantry formed on the opposite
bank of the river and commenced fir
ing on our men. Then we were or
dered to deploy the sharpshooters
along our shore and drive the enemy
from their position. Our rifles did
good execution, and the enemy retired
out of range. At dusk they again
moved down to the river and a brisk
fire was kept up from both sides till
near midnight, when it slackened to
only an occasional shot from either
side.
About 1 o'clock we heard the report
of one of our Windsor rifles at or near
the farther end of the bridge, and this
report kept up as fast as lively SOL
der could load and fire. Our men
recognized the gun and, as the en-
envy had commenced a brisk fire, our
entire line opened fire on the opposite
shore, avoiding sending their bullets
too near the bridge.
| fastened to the bridge and there
learned that young Hardy, of Company
A, one of the squad stationed at the
bridge, had asked and been given
permission to go over toward the
farther end of the bridge and see how
things looked there.
With the bridge squad we fastened
on the bridge, and when halfway
over, the enemy had ceased firing,
and Hardy's rife was quiet.
Young Hardy soon made his ap'
pearance and reported that the en-
envy had retreated, that they had
formed in column and were march
ing into the country as fast as they
could go.
Here follows young Hardy's mod
est narrative of his midnight trip into
the enemy's lines.
q walked over to about the middle
of the bridge; then I crouched down
and went forward very quietly, keep
ing in the shadow of the railing, till
I reached the end of the bridge. l
could not see any one right near the
bridge, but I could plainly see the
enemy lined up at the waters edge
down the river, and l thought it would
be fine to get flank fire on them.
81 discovered a single stringer that
connected the bridge with the land,
and l crawled along this until ]
reached the abutment on the shore.
Here l found a place to sit astride
come cross-timbers, where, by leaning
over to one side, mad good view
of the rebs, and they were not likely
to see me.
CAS- soon as l commenced firing at
them they opened fire pretty lively
on the bridge and at the abutment
where l was, but the timbers protected
me. The place was much hotter than
I expected, but l kept on firing al
them as fast as I could. l could hear
our sharpshooters' bullets strike the
bank.
TT was not long till they fell back
to higher ground, and from there d.
rected their fire across the road that
led from the bridge. l still had e
good range on them and kept on fir
ing. They pretty soon moved bach
diagonally to the road, and stopped
firing. Then I could not see them, and
| got out on the road, and there they
were just disappearing into the dark
ness I fired at them and they fred
back at me. They were soon out of
sight l guess that is the last we will
see of these Johnnies."