The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-08-15


woods and poured in deadly volleys.
There was no sound now, no yelling
only the incessant rattle of firearms,
as they crept from log to log, and
tree to tree, slowly drawing closer.
They filed off to either eide and
hemmed us in, the river alone protect
ing our rear. Through the clouds OF
smoke we caught gllmpses 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 as they did that day-rushing to
the charge, leapipg straight at us
through the smoke, and firing with
deadly aim into our very faces. They
ton, no time in which to breathe.
Twice they took the guns, swarming
forward with fierce rush that hung
us back. and crushed the gunners I'M
der foot. But they we're in the open
now, and we could see; with bayonets
ard dubbed rifles we charged home,
driving them back to the woods. There
they held rs, while from every hollow
and grass patch. every tree and fallen
log, their rifles spat fire. The bands
Of my gun flew off, and 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 over 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
men 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 Wom-
en-, camp followers, were 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 a 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
/ 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.
was beside Butler when he was struck,
and helped drag him aside out Of the
rout Then l saw st. Clair, and, as |
stopped a second, staring into his face
to be sure of his identity, an officer
rushed 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 five minutes longer. III
that line breaks it will cost every life.
For Gods sake, let us 60"
"Yes-yes, Colonel Darke, but how
is it 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
steady; they'll cover the rear and
give the others a chance. One fierce
charge forward with the bayonet will
drive those devils back, and open the
way. May try it, sir?"
"Ay. try it. Hold! I'll lead them
myself. Here, Simmons, Cauley, lash
those skulkers into the road there,
while we clear a path"
sprang forward with the others in
response to swift orders. We made
the woods and plunged into their
shadows. There was a fierce, mad
struggle face to face, bayonets and
dubbed muskets, knives and toma.
hawks. st, Clair, on an artillery horse.
led the way. We swept the front of
the broad road clear. the impetuosity
of our reckless charge forcing the
startled savages into full retreat.
Then we dropped to our knees, loading
and firing to hold the advantage. Be- !
hind us, into the open road, surged the |
mob OF panic-stricken men, fighting
and crowding, beginning their long
race back to the Ohio. 1t was sick |
ening sight, the white, CHASTITY faces, !
the wounded limping along, the bru- |
tai acts of fear. and over all the cease |
less cries and profanity. | caught |
glimpses of women among the seeth-
ing mass, hustled and thrown under |
foot in the mad terror. The sight of |
them brought back to me the remem- |
brance of Rene. Was she also crushed |
in that mob, fleeing for life. or was
she still in the cook tent. trembling /
as she stared out helplessly on the |
stricken field? l turned and ran, heed
less OF all else. plunging through the
stream of fugitives, blowing a passage
with my bulk. had done my duty
now | must save her!
CHAPTER XIV.