Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-04-13
GElep[D MIST
A TALF OF CIVIL STRIFT 7.
&cRANDALL PARRISH 'T
ILLUSTRATIONS zlls'I1[ 36}~c.DpIloDES
CHAPTER xxvII-continued.
i c0oN3IGHT
1<.cHeCLLIHG sea


40
They were upon us, jammed In the
harrow doorways, each man fighting
FOR life. / used gun and revolver. In
the red mist before me were black
shapes, hateful faces. Twice ! lost
foot and fell. but was up again. front
tng them. / stepped on dead bodies.
slipped in pools of blood; falling men
caused me to stagger; slug Of lead
tore burning through my shoulder; a
glancing knife blade ripped my fore
arm. had no time, no ROOM in which
to reload: my hands gripped the hot
carbine barrel, and | swung the stock
like fail.
Inch by inch they won through the
door; we could kill, but not stop them.
and they hurled us back, stumbling
over the dead, clambering across over
turned benches, but unable to stem the
increasing tide. We were all together
how-Harwood, Wharton-the sole
handful left, and we made fight of it,
the best we could. There was a mo.
ments pause, the merest instant in
which to breathe, and my eyes met
IHarwood's. He was naked to the
waist. hatless, blood dripping from a
cut over one eye, the stock of his car.
bine shattered.
"Ah, gunner Of Staunton," he called
out cheerily, although his voice
cracked with dryness. Didn't tell
Hou IL you wanted good time to fine
the cavalry"
Forward. men, forward" 1t was
Fox's voice, although saw nothing OF
him. Once more, and it's over with
forward"
Nov, lads, meet them!" burst GU,
HARDWOOD about me. Third Kentucky
here they come!"
They drove us in so as to encircle
us. yet the tumble of benches served
rs some protection to our rear Per
haps the fact that there were Yankees
between US and the pulpit prevented
Hiring for we met hand to hand in 9
death grapple. / have seen battles
yet nothing like that; it was as though
beasts of the jungle fought; men strug
lgled with naked hands, struck death
blows, fired into each others faces
trampled over writhing bodies, ours
ling, or yelling defiance as they fell
I'VE scarcely knew friend from foe
blue from gray. ! cannot even tel
what occurred to myself in those
breathless moments. / know / fought
lvvno dIx
sweeping a space clear with my
weapon; hands gripped my throat, my
hair, and ! tore loose; fingers clutchet
at my legs. but kicked free. was
conscious OF blows, of wounds;
knew when 3 HARDWOOD fell, and wa.
trnmpled under foot; / heard others
scream saw the hated face of Anse
Cowan in the ruck and leaped fol
him, but whom my mad blow struck i
could not tell. Some rush, some quick
pressure of bodies, hurled me side
wise, caught me In wise; tripped
overa dead man, staggered to my feet
again. got footing on the pulpit
platform, and held 1t for an instant
my gun-barrel crashing into the mass
of faces below. Wharton Joined me
bull mad with rage; saw him rend
the pulpit stand from the floor and
hurl 1t with all his strength into the
ruck. Then twenty hands gripped him
hauling him down, dubbed musket
descended, and the sergeant pitched
forward like log of wood. There was
a shot, the blow of rifle barrel, and
j went down, the very breath of life
seemingly knocked out of me.
fell on the platform, back of where
the pulpit desk had stood, and body
lay across me. If lost consciousness
1t was for no more than an instant, yet
my whole body felt numbed and use
less. l could scarcely move my fingers
to unclasp them from the gun barrel,
and every breath drew was in pain.
Still I realized all that happened, dis.
tinguished voices, and the shutting OF
feet on the puncheon floor. I heard
Fox shouting orders, as the mad hub.
bub ceased.
that's enough! That's enough,
men! It's all over with. Here. ser.
geant, round up those prisoners; God
knows there are few enough of the
poor devils left. Guard those able to
walk outside. Now. Herzog, carry the
wounded over here. What? Why, of
course. you idiot, we are not savages-
those fellows fought like men, and are
20 be treated decently. No distinction.
mind you. Let the dead lie where
they are till daylight. but don't over.
look wounded man. Where's Cowan
Does anybody known"
"Shot. sir; he's here in this pile
somewhere"
See If the fellow is alive. Who is
his leutenantr'