Year: 1868

the sad spectacle OF men StTaggfing ABOUT W1toous
leader, with very sad forebodings as to the result
Of the impending fight When he reached the
head of the dam he found the canal, through which
the waste water from the food gates was usually
discharged, occupied bya few men, Il was, in
truth, but feeble line, amounting to not! more
than sixty or seventy men, irregulariy deployed for
nearly two hundred yards along the canal, 70 dis
pute the passage of the enemy. Victor passed
along their line, stopping, now'and then, to- 'ex-
change few words with some friend or acquain-
tance. Old men with white hair, and boys mi the
bloom Of youth were there ali cam, resolute, un-
unexcited and animated by the most soldierly qus-
tiles They had caught the spirit Of the high
spirited and clear.headed man who was IN imme-
date command at that point !; who, though totally
inexperienced in war, was every inch soldier.


''Go on, Victor, my good fellow, !" said he, with
nod and pleasant smile, as Victor. passed him ;
ssyou can find room anywhere there Youwill find
mo crowding from any Of my boys. Keep the
Yankees at arms length and you won't complain
of elbow room" ~ '4s''-%'


Victor found the canal too wet. and after short
time decided on taking post near the head Of the
dam, where he knew the fnal struggle would oc-
cur. He found that the planks Of the bridge over
the pier head had been taken up, and only the
string pieces remained, over which the enemy could
make their way but slowly, 80 long as steady fire
could be kept up upon them. The food-gates
were at the head of the dam, and some seventy or
eighty feet beyond stood the mill house, behind
which bis quick eye discovered that ;the, enemy nemy
might easily effect Judgement While surveying
the ground before him. videttes, who had been sta
toned on the hill beyond, came hurryiDg across
the dam, reporting the enemy near at hand


Victor stepped back and took post behind pine
and unslung his carbine. As he did so, he calmly
glanced around, and started With surprise as he
encountered two figures standing by the guns, but
a few yards distant, for the protection Of which,
slight insufficient, and imperfect earthworks, had
been thrown up but few hours previously. The
one was stranger, but one whose noble and COM
manding bearing would have attracted attention on
any field. He was slight, graceful, soldierly young
man, whose swarthy complexion and dark glitter
ing eye, steady in its gaze, yet flashing out like q
diamond, told of the Franco Moriscan blood dan
cling in his veins, leaping like a torrent at every
word that touched the sensibiGties or passions ;
yet, even in moments when the widest impulses
were quickening its current, leaving the intellect
calm, clear, and unembarrassed, Such natures are
like Heckla, with its snow crowned granite cliffs
towering up into clear and freezng atmosphere,
while the boiling lava leaps in eddying torrents
within. .. .. -


By his side stood one of more rounded form,
with a smile upon his lip and his steady blue eye
fred with the light of battle, His cheek was as
clear and fair as that of his comrade was swarthy


But why should we describe him, whom the reader
has so often seen before-the blueeyed, ion-heart-
ed lieutenant of artillery, who, with wounds hard
ly healed upon him, had come forth to fight bis
last battle. His last battle2 AVE. his last Was
it not the Ninth of April, and, though he knew it
not, had not his comrades at Appomattox already
furled the flag under which he was fighting? Had
some swih-winged messenger flown down through
the air, fresh from that sad scene Of sorrow, and
whispered into the ears of these gallant compato.s
that their war-rent banner had been fured forever


would they not have chosen that this day should
be their last, and longed for grave under the
green sod at their feet2 Happy would they have
deemed it to pass away with their country shopes,
leaving their flag still flying in the breeze, and es
cape the long years of blight, and wrong, and hn-
initiation, coming upon people on whose neeks
the heel of the conaueror was about to press.


There was no time, at. moment like this, for
Victor to leave his post, even for brief greeting
with an old friendand comrade- McGregor' 'sstern
glance was fixed upon the hill top beyond thedam,
where the enemy would soon appear, and his hand
was on the lanyard ready to begin the work OF
DEATH The swarthy browed officer, too, stood at
his gun, watchfal and intent. =" os :


Silence reigned, undisturbed by sound, save
the clicking of locks, as the men got their small
arms in readiness to fire. Over the hill beyond,
there was heard the continual tramp Of feet, hur-
rying with dull tread along the sandy road. A
cloud of dust rose above the hill, then appeared
the head and shoulders Of mounted officer, and
next, like the waves of surging sea, a dark mass
of human beings, with forest of bright bayonets,
appeared streaming over the brow of the hill. This
was the signal for the strife. The two guns roared
out their then angry defiance, hurting their mis-
siles among the enemy, and the conflict was begun.


IL Is nOG OuF purpose hoAo w on0S. Also Z" NSS


cription Of the fercely and obstinately contested
conflict that ensued. Two guns and about seventy
undisciplined men, under leaders that had never
before seen an armed enemy, were disputing the
advance of an army of three thousand disciplined
troops, over position altogether indefensble and
most easily turned. The issue was at no time
doubtful, and the result could not long be delayed
The pertinacity and obstinacy of the defence may
be inferred from the fact that assault after assault
was made upon the feeble line, that heroicaly held


its position for nearly three hours and refused to
withdraw until, pressed by heavy force in front
and fanked on the right, orders were issued for
them to retire and consult their own safety. 3,


As they were fanked on the right it became
necessary for them to retreat towards the head Of
the pond, passing just in rear Of the guns which
were disputing the passage Of the enemy over the
mill.dam. A few of the militia with their mus
kets, and the artillerymen, were struggling obsti-
nately to beat back the enemy at this point and
enable their retreating comrades to escape in safety


Victor, and small squad Of eight or ten men, had
posted themselves few yards above the dam and