The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-02-24

Z west angle, Cook and Baen herei Tel
: Colonel Decker to send Wilson's com
t pany to the northwest angle, Colone
D bartholomew to send SCOTS compan,
with Wilson's!"
The night was slowly giving plac
to the gray dawn. A faint light stol
gradually through the drippin,
branches. David could see how vel
low the faces of the wounded looked
in the pale break of day. Baen. b,
knew, was wounded MORALLY, Barthol
omew hurt.
As he neared the center of the
camp, Robb's Mounted Rifles, 76 men
went by him with rush, the gallon
ing hoofs thudding on the wet turf
Here and there the smoldering embers
of the campfires blazed up again. Da
vid went on with the sickening work
Of the hospital corps.
He was carrying a wounded man fl
the shelter Of the wagons when little
Jimmy Spencer, Captain Spencer's
fourteen-year-old son, ran from the
tents and clutched him by the sleeve
begging to be told if his father was
unhurt. David answered the boy re-
assuringly; he had just seen the CAP
tain cheering on his men, a bloody
handkerchief tied about his head.
When they went back to the right.
Jimmy ran at David's side, refusing TO
stay behind.
Father" he cried. and the soldier
turned at the hail. He was about to
warn the boy to go back when a bullet
struck him in the hip and passed
through both thighs; he tottered and
fell.
go back to the tent, son." he said,
smiling. "Your mother will need You
If don't go home"
He drew the boy down and kissed
him. For long minute he rested till
his faintness passed; and then he be-
gan calling to his men to fight on,
Suddenly the voice ceased altogether
as ball tore it's way through his
heart.
With the flies shrill music In their
ears, the Yellow Jackets held their
ground, though MacMahan, who took
Spencer's place, fell dead, and Berry,
his second lieutenant, fell also; held
1t for two hours in the face of the
frenzied attack of the Indians.
The men with the filters were very
busy; not only here but back at the
northwest angle, where the first attack
had been made. At the opposite angle
10 Daviess was still chatting with i'm
patience. From behind a log, sew
enty yards away, dozen Indian |
sharpshooters were pouring q wicked |
f1re into the mass of tethered horses
or the three squadrons of dragons
Parke's, Funk's and Beggs' companies.
Twice Daviess had sent to Harrison
for permission to charge and dislodge
them. The STRIPPING Croghan carried
his third request. Presently Croghan
came back on the run. He was wild
with delight.
'Tell Major Daviess," Harrison had
said, that he has heard my opinion
twice; he may now use his own dis
GOD be praised!" calculated Da-
Viess. Hastily he called for twenty
volunteers. Quickly they threw them
selves In the saddle. David saw them
lash across the little space between
The line and the log where the Indians
we're hidden and saw the spurts of
ed flame run along the top Of the log.
For every flash Of fire q trooper reeled
n his saddle; at the front rode Da-
7iess, the idol Of the backwoodsmen.
As the red warriors began to break
md scatter from behind the log, the
asst of their rifles rang out together,
ind the Kentuckian rose in his STIR
ups, clutched at his breast, and
'itched headlong. Il
AS he saw Daviess fall, David drew {
deep breath and began to run across S
he wet and slippery grass that lay
etween the camp and the ambuscad- I
ng woods beyond. The bullets ripped 1
iciously through the dripping weeds l
nd tore into the frozen ground at c
Is feet. He heard shouts of warn t
1g, like voices in q dream, behind b
i'm; but he paid no heed and reached I
ne Kentuckian's side unhurt. He v
laced his hand under Daviess' Shout
ers and the dead weight sickened 7
Inn. Three men from Parke's COM C
any ran out and Joined him as he 6
rove to lift the body; with a des- n
crate heave they raised up the dying "
AN and staggered back toward the s,
ne of rilemen. it
The men of Parke's and Beggs' dra- v,
IONS began to cheer as the four men b,
ID their unconscious burden down in ii
Ifety, and the exultant yells spread OF
re fire from end to end Of the little te
ateau; for Daviess had been struck a
the very moment when the attack tn
the savages had ceased, and from vi
CUP to group of powder-grimed and of
oodstained riflemen ran the shouts ne
victory. bi
The sky had scarcely lightened. The hi
ses still dripped with rain. They re
d been fighting less than four hours: hi
d the baffled Prophet, his incanta-
ms futile, his power shattered, was
ing through the woods. A hundred VII
his braves lay upon the sodden he
Id; the rest had faded away like the tel