The Washington times., 1913-09-10


We're Just waiting for orders
, u 20 in," returned that young gunner.
"Breasf1ed :s my last reserve, Graf
ton," said Stuart, familiarly; when
turn him loose the Yankees would bet
ter get to cover. You snoGld have seeu
him fight yesterday and the day before
at Todd's Tavern. But go on, man
and look for your wife
Grafton saluted and turned away. He
ran rapidly down the hill until he so'
to the bypath back Of the hastily I'M
provised breastworks behind which the
Confederates were holding back the
Union advance He turned to the right
and darted up the road. A few hundred
wards away there was a large clearing,
a great house had been in the center OF
IL once but had been burned, ana the
clearing was bare OF buildings save toi
one little whitewashed negro cottage
1t was there that his wife had been
taken.
AS Grafton approached 1t he was
startled beyond measure to observe the
wood on the edge Of the clearing sew
eral hundred feet away from him sud
denly alive with horses and men. A
section of artillery broke through the
trees and wheeled to the front Grafton
had a repeating rife which he had taken
from one of Harrington's men.
AS he saw the gunners prepare to fire
the piece he realized that they had got
in such a position that they could en-
filade and make untenable the right OF
Lees division, which had not observed
the danger. Before Grafton could ride
back and warn the men the gun WOULD
open fire.
The little house in which his wife lay
was SO near the line Of fire that care
lessly aimed shot might demolish 1t.
Grafton's first impulse was to gallop
to the house. His second was to warn
aft G.
ticable. There was but one thing he
could do. He could fight the battery.
This would perhaps save his wife.
alarm Lee. and bring Stuart to the
rescue.
He leaped from his horse, threw the
bride over the branch of a tree and
stepped out in the open. rife In hand.
The weapon was a brand-new one OF
the latest and most approved pattern.
Grafton had filled his pockets with cart
ridges, and he was dead shot: He
took deliberate aim and pulled the
trigger. One Of the canoneers fell.
Another took his place and Grafton
sped another bullet ipto the group.
Another man fell Now the canoneers
expected to get hit. of course. They
in the dangerously open place to secure
the advantage of raking fire, but as
one after another was shot down be-
fore their gun could be discharged
they perceived that q sharpShooter OF
some kind had their range. and at the
fourth shot they marked him standing
boldly in the open on the other side Of
the clearing.
There we're no infantry supports with
that piece of artillery at the time:
some bold youngster-why was II that
most of the artillery commanders in
both armies were such young men,
had conceived the desperate design and
was carrying 1t out on his own hook
They were well within range of Graf
toms rife hut they had no weapon
with which 70 return his fire save the
cannon. The place was untenable un-
less that pestilent Johnny standing
there in the open. composedly fighting
them. could be put out of the way.
The trail piece was Thirled around
and a canister shot which had been In
tended for the lighting line was fired at
him In the hurry their aim was poor.
BY a miracle Grafton was untouched by
the storm of bullets. He fired rapidly
again and again into the smoke. making
some Of his shots tell. The report Of
that cannon called the attention of Stu
are to that end Of the line. Through q
vista in the trees he saw the whole per-
formance. Grafton standing there alone
fighting the cannon. He could see more
than Grafton. too; for beyond the gun.
which was being reloaded for another
discharge against the lone soldier. he
marked othe- sections of some bat
terv and heavy column of infantry
or dismounted cavalry. The Union COM
mander had quickly backed up the
perceiying the Importance OF the posi-
ton.
.Breathed," said Stuart to his sub
ordinate, look yonder at Grafton. It's