Arizona republican., 1912-08-30
DEFENSE OF A
 BloCkH|O(USE
Heroism of a Boy Turned the Tide. of Battle.

obliged to protect long lines or rali- road over which they received their supplies. The vulnerable points were the bridges. near which the bluecoats built blockhouses similar to those used by our ancestors to defend themselves against Indians.
 One afternoon a force of Confederate cavalry attacked one of these posts while the Union troops were mostly outside the blockhouse. Quickly with dra wing within the wooden walls. the latter closed the entrance and from loopholes cracked their rifles at the enemy.
 The blockhouse was built on the riv- CT bank at the north entrance of the bridge, the rear being protected by the river. running some forty feet below. A single company commanded by a captain constituted the bridge guard.
 Time and again the southerners as- saulted. and every time they were driven off But at last the defenders saw that within few hours what powder and ball they had would he exhausted.
 There was boy in the command who had run away from home and enlisted at the age of fifteen. He was fond of the water. and his captain had noticed him often rowing a skiff he had press ed into his own service. Taking the boy to back opening. the captain said to him:
 'Go back to your skiff: pull down the h1 bridge next below. There you will kind three companies. You must row around the bend. but endorsements can cut across and reach us within hal" an hour"
 But will not the enemy see me and pick me off"
 You can hug this shore till you get down to the bend. when you must pull across to the point on the other bank. For five minutes you will be exposed to their fire. and there are nine chances in ten that they will hit you"
 Il see"
 Catching up rope. the captain tow cred the boy to a point some ten feet below. where he struck steep path
 
 captain saw him get into his boat. but lost him at once under the overhang- ing trees. Then he waited breathlessly till the skiff shot out from the banks protection to make the turn in the river. Scarcely had the boy appeared than bits of spray broke all about him. bullet taps on the water.
 Hes halfway over." 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. He's lostl He can't pull with one oar. And the arm has been hit. He's binding it up with his handkerchief. By thunder. he's paddling. Some of the shots are beginning to fall short. Hit again. It's all up with him. No: he's on his knees again paddling for dear life! Twenty more strokes and he'll be be- hind the point. There he goes!"
 Then the captain ran to the front of the blockhOuse to see long brown. dusty looking line advancing for an other attack.
 Give it to 'em. boys" he said. If we can keep 'em off for an hour the bridge'll be saved. and we'll escape southern prison"
 The attack was repulsed. but when the next one was made the Unionists saw something that made their blood run cold. A single man appeared roll ing bale of hay. It was to set on fire and burn the blockhouse. He was partially protected ny his bale and diff ficult to reach with a bullet. Directly behind him was another man rolling another bale. Then a third and a fourth-indeed, long line-each man rolling his bale. The Union sharp shooters picked off the first man and the second. The third pushed on. The fourth fell. The fifth fell The sixth seemed to bear a charmed life and with the third was getting dangerous ly near the blockhouse. The hay roll lers came so fast that. though more than three quarters of them were put out of the race. a number were now within twenty yards. and one man had come so near that no rifle could reach him. He was cutting the ropes that held the hay together.
 The captain strained his eyes across the bridge and saw the head of col umn of huecoats coming on trot.
 Water" he shouted Some of you men go down to the river in the rear and get water in your canteens. Crhere was little else for the purpose.i If we can keep the flames off for few minutes we'll save the fort"
 But there was no need of water. The Confederates seeing the advanc- ing troops. who were by this time near the opposite banks. withdrew their "firebugs." All mounted and dashed away. followed ny a volley from the advancing infantry
 The boy who had saved the bridge led the rescue party. He was carried on the shoulders of his comrades They placed him on a cot. where a surgeon dressed his wound His cap- fsrSr k,s,