Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-06-03

cousad his comrades tp'survey him in
wonder and regret
The day of the big fight and Gilbert
steele was snd and gloomy. Some
thing wrong with him. sure" was the
comment banded about among his fel-
low musketeers.
True. he had beer sharply repri
manded by the captain for his deiin
ouency of the day before. He hac
promised Wolf. back in the forest. ~
the river. that he would not delay II
given permission to stop few mo-
ments to talk with a young lady. de
mad failed to keep his promise to the
letter. for he had not caught up wltb
the squad of backwoodsmen under
VOLTS command when they reached
their boats at the rivers edge.
They had waited and hallooed FOR
him. He. did not appear and had been
compelled to walk the entire way I"
the carp. arriving after midnight
thus firing him for the work OF the
day in which every ounce or energ!
he could command would be required
Yes. the captain had been hngry
with Gilbert. but his good points were
so well known that he was not penal
lied i'm any way. Therefore the LADS
associates were certain that this sub
iect was not the one that was worry
ing him
Perhaps, after all. II was the gill
that the men with Wolf had seen hiri
with who was responsible for his
drooplng spirits. Yes. that must b'
It, the men finally reasoned. But they
could not understand why Uf all men
Gilbert Steele should be disturbed over
girl Surely youth of his makeup
and personality would never lack al
tention from and admirers among the
women folks. No. indeed. Ut THIS
they were assured
Forward. march, At last the wei
come order came. But very Ie"
hours now would pass ere the momen-
tons issues at stake on that day would
be decided
The detachment to which Gilbert
had been assigned was to occupy
line of trenches outside the earth
works which partially protected New
Orleans. An attack was to be mace
on the right flank of the British llne'
then these attackers would rail- pach
behind the Notifications. 1t devolved
mon Steele and his associates 10 ala
in covering the retreat OF the attack
ing division and to repel the onslaught
of the Britishers, which. 1t was wei
calculated would follow.
The maneuver. as briefly Indicated.
was one Of great strategic Importance
TO the American side. General JACK
son had outlined it to his stan, ana
they unanimously Endorsed it.
The onslaught began. The Amerl-
cans valiantly assailed the forDlddlns
lines of grenadiers. Cannon thunder
ed. rifles spat their deadly missiles
| swords glistened before the brightness
of blue steel became dulled WIN
blood, men and horses writhed ana
screamed in the death agony, prayers
and curses were heard on every size
amid the awful din. men who hau
souls and men who had lost their souls
went down in the hellish holocaust 10
sin no more. fathers stabbed fathers
and rode them down with sharp shod
| chargers. towards killed brave men
and brave men killed towards. all Oh
springtime morning. for the ghouilsn
inn of misrule was running amuch
among mankind. eager for the harvest
of fears. suffering and death.
| false king had decreed thai noneSl
men should murder one another III or
der to support his dishonest govern
ment and 80 his men went forth to
battle. singing hymns in cause they
little knew was unholy.
| Gilbert Steele lay In the trench
barely deep enough to shelter MIN
from the singing messengers OF LEAD
that threatened him.
The exutation Of the fighting man
combating his mortal foe sent MS
blood a-tinging. thrilled his throDoine
heart. captured his soul.
The fears of yesterday. the premoni-
[ tions of the night. were gone. he
was goirg 20 win. and he was going
|
The impulse to jump from the mud
DIV trench and 10 rush single handeC
across the bullet swept field before
! him TO the slccor Of his hero com
rades. who were hard to hand with
the foe. almost controlled him for the
moment-then he gritted his teeth and
mastered himself
He loaded his hot barreled match
lock. Again and again he laid the
smoke blackeued barrel across the
earthen mound and ,oolly aimed at
point above the belt line of red uni
form He was one Of VOLTS sharp
shooters, and he meant this day to
justify the reputation of that careful
ly picked band of patriots-men who
could shoot the left eye out OF wild
turkey at fifty PAGES!
And live up to that reputation he
did
Heard suddenly from the lips Oh
Gilbert's commanding officer was the
cry Of Ready, men! Form into line!
Fix bayonets! Go at them. boys!
Charged
Almost before he realized what had