Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-08-13

heels. They lined the edge Of the
woods and poured in deadly volleys.
There was no sound now, no yelling
only the i~ncessant rattle Of firearms.
as they crept from log to log. and
tree to tree, slowly drawing closer.
They filed of to either side and
hemmed US In, the river alone protect
ing u rear. Through the clouds OF
smoke we caught glimpses OF their
fitting figures, distorted. horrible, Of
faces striped black and red, Of waving
feathers, and brandishing arms. Never
before or since have l. seen Indians
fight al they did that day-rushing to
the charge. leaplng straight at US
through the smoke, and firing with
deadly aim into our very faces, They
shot us down with no rest, no cessa-
tion, no time in which to breathe.
Twice they took the guns, swarming
forward with a fierce rush that flung
us back, and crushed the gunners un-
der foot. But they were In the open
now, and we could see; with bayonets
and dubbed rides we charged home,
driving them back to the woods. There
they held us, while from every hollow
and grass patch, every tree and fallen
log, their rifles spat fire. The bands
OF my gun few off, and I picked up
another; l was out Of powder and ball
and took them from a dead body. The
dead lay everywhere, alone. in heaps;
cries of the wounded rose above the
din. We charged w the bodies.
crunching them under foot, seeking
to reach our invisible foes. They
would not stand, would not meet US.
Helpless, bleeding, dying, confused by
many orders. we fell back, yet still
retained line, and fronted that blaz-
ing wood. Frightened, panic-stricken
were everywhere, running and
%shrieking In terror. seeking vainly for
some means Of escape from the savage
Gordon. Indians crept forward under
the smoke to scalp and mutilate the
dead and dying. Horses from the ar
tillery and staff, breaking loose,
charged wildly about, trampling living
and dead alike under their feet. Won.
en-, camp followers. we're wedged In
the mob, their shrill screams piercing
the mad uproar. Only the regulars
stood intact, a thin blue line, with
here and there among them . few mi
litiamen who kept their heads. About
the guns, not a dozen powder-grimed
artillerymen remained. Not an officer
Of the battery was left; not one of the
regulars unwounded.
l heard st. Clair storming up and
down behind us. swearing and shout
ing orders in his high, cracked voice,
yet took no time. to glance toward him.
The smoke settled down upon us in
a cloud; we fought blindly. in the dark,
hardly certain but we stood alone. I
was beside Butler when he was struck,
and helped drag him aside out of the
rout. Then l LAY st. Clair. and. as !
a second. staring into his face
to be sure Of his identity. an officer
up through the smoke cloud.
knocking me aside. everything forgot
ten but his urgent message.
General st. Clair" he cried, I'VE
must get out of here, sir. My men
cannot stand Ave minutes longer. II
that line breaks It will cost every life.
For Gods sake, let Is CO."
"Yes-yes, Colonel Darke. but how
Is 1t to be accomplished, sir? See
those, fool towards"
Darke swept his hand out to the
south in sudden gesture.
There is only one way, sir-there
by the road. l can hold the regulars
they'll cover the rear, and
give the others a chance. One fierce
forward with the bayonet will
those devils back. and open the
way. May l try 1t, sir?"
"Ay. try 1t. Hold! III lead them
Here, Simmons, Cauley, lash
those skulkers into the road there,
while we clear a path"
l sprang forward with the others in
response to swift orders. We made
the woods and plunged into their
shadows. There was a fierce, mad
face to face, b~ayonets and
muskets, knives and toma-
st. Clair, on an artillery horse,
led the way. We swept the front OF
The broad road clear, the impetuosityJ
If our reckless charge forcing the
savages into full retreat.
Then we dropped to u knees, loading
and firing to hold the advantage. Be-
hind us. into the open road, surged the
mob Of panic-stricken men, fighting
md crowding. beginning their long
back to the Ohio, 1t was a sick
sning sight, the white. CHASTITY faces,
he wounded limping along, the bru-
al acts Of fear, and over all the cease
ess cries and profanity. / caught
ylimpses Of women among the seeth.
ng mass. hustled and thrown under
'oot In the mad terror. The sight OF
hem brought back to me the remem
france Of Rene. Was she also crushed
n that mob. fleeing for life, or was
'he still In the cook tent, trembling
10 she stared out helplessly on, the
stricken field? I turned and ran. heed
ess Of all else. plunging through the
'tream Of fugitives, blowing a passage
With my bulk. I had done my duty
low l must ave herl
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