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THE WAR LIBRARY.
and quickly realized that the Union troops at this point were
made of the same good material as their fellows in the center.
For the third time the rebels were beaten back.
It was discovered, however, that the stock of ammunition was
almost exhausted, and General Lytle fearing that the next mad
assault of the rebels might be successful, ordered the batteries io
the rear, and the whole line began to recede in good order.
The enemy, decrying this movement, cheered exultantly, and
began to press up the acclivity.
Rousseau, finding the heat of the contest transferred to the right
from the left center, pushed forward in that direction with his
staff.
Captain Loomis, commanding a battery, had taken his position
on the hill after the withdrawal from the first position, and seeing
‘the immense rebel column advancing like the onrushing tide in
* the Bay of Fundy, brought his guns to bear upon the enemy, hay-
ing secured ammunition, and opened fire.
The consequence was fearful.
Great lanes were cut in the rebel ranks that seemed to yawn
like so many open tombs, though they were speedil~ closed by the
coming together of the masses.
Great God! whata sight that was!
The rebels stumbled forward almost blindly, with the despera-
tion of brave men, but each moment the fire grew hotter, untilit
wasas though Hades had opened upon earth to hurl shot and
shell upon their devoted ranks,
To add to the fearful nature of the fire to which they were sub-
jected, Rousseau and his staff routed out all the stragglers in the
woods on the right and left, for supports to the battery.
The men were armed with carbines and muskets, and began to
pour such a hot fire upon the rebel forces, already reeling before
the murderous ayalanche of cannon balls, that they quailed.
Human nature could stand it no longer.
They broke and fled like sheep alarmed at sight of a wolf near
the fold.
That ended the battle.
The Confederates had done hard service, but they dia not suc-
ceed in cutting the Union line.
They Jost some three thousand, three hundred in killed ‘and
wounded, while the Union loss was about the same.
In half an hour the picket fires of the enemy were seen five
hundred yards away, and the Federal troops, after a hasty sup-
per, lay down on their arms, utterly exhausted, to gain strength
in slumber.
There was no night attack.
Perhaps Bragg had gained his object so far as delay was con-
“cerned, but Perryville was certainly no victory for the Confed-
erates.
Bragg moved away secretly from the vicinity, and. continued
his retreat ina masterly manner, eventually reaching Tennessee,
where, later on, General Bragg was destined to make his name
famous at Chickamauga.
Twice during the battle of Perryville I had come near laying
down my life for my country—once when a bullet struck the sad-
dle just within an inch of my body, and again when a minnie-ball
tore through my coat between my arm and my side. ~
* .CHAPTER VII.
BETWEEN THE RAFTERS.
fter the battle of Perryville I left Buell’s army.
Isaw there was going to bea period of inaction, and resolved to
take the opportunity to visit some friends I had twenty miles or
more fromm the line of arch.
~The country was in a most peculiar state.
Men were 1n arms at every hand, but no one knew to which side
he belonged until he had committed himself, and then a bullet or
a hand shake was the result.
The mountains were full of refugees.
“When the rebels overran Kentucky those in sympathy with
them became audacious and hunted their neighbors to the death,
while the boot was on the other leg when the Union forces took
the aggressive and ran the Confederates out of the state.
Of late the rebels had been rank indeed,
- There was no crime in the calender they had not perpetrated.
The most bitter feuds were engendered between former neigh-
bors, which death alone could end.
Men were hunted from their lairs like wild beasts, women were
tarred and feathered, and children often brutally murdered.
It was as much as a man’s life was worth to travel through many
parts of the state.
Without warning he might see the grizzled head of a bush-
whacker appear above a bush, and hear the crack of a rifle that
sounded his doom,
It was therefore with considerable apprehension that I set out.
I knew tho danger full well.
&
i
| Being well armed, I was ready to do battle in my own behalf
should the emergency arise.
I reached the homes of my friends among the hills without acci-
dent.
They were glad indeed to see me, and eagerly inquired concern-
ing the movements of the loyal troops, for they had been perse-
cuted so long by the exultant rebels, forced to often to live in dens
and caves, that they gloriedin the prospect of a release.
There were a few negroes among them, and it was only lately
that they had dared to come out of their retreat in the hills to
occupy their old homes.
The men were nervous and ready for flight at the first indication
of danger, yet they were hardy fellows who would have died in
defense of their families, and only deserted them when they knew
a regular force of Confederates was approaching, who would treat
their dear ones at least half decently. §
It was late in the afternoon.
I was at the cabin of an old lady, talking to her about her son,
whom I had seen die in the hospital after the battle of Perryville,
when I heard sounds of confusion around, the tramping of hoofs
and loud shouts.
AsI leaped to my feet the door opened and a young woman
entered.
She was the daughter of my old friend.
At sight of me she uttered a cry.
I could see she was terribly excited, and from the manner in
which she looked over her shoulder I imagined that the danger
was of magnitude.
“My God!”’ she cried, in alarm, “I thought you had gone with
the rest vf our men. They are hunting for you in the village.
They mean to kill you.” :
“Killme! Who do you mean?” I exclaimed.
“ Morgan’s men. Listen! even now they are searching the house
for you. . Your nameis on every lip coupled with curses. They
say you are a spy, and that they mean to hang you toa tree.”
It was with no enviable feelings that I sprang to the little win-
dow in the side of the cabin.
‘ If the girl’s words were true, and I ‘had no reason to doubt
them, knowing what reason to hatemeI had given Morgan and
his men in the past, my situation was, indeed, desperate.
Thad left wy horse secreted among the trees some little distance
away from the hamlet, not being sure as to whom I should find
occupying the cabins, friends or foes, andif I could by any man-
ner of means manage to reach him, all would be well.
Too late.
As I looked out of the window I saw a dozen rougi men dashing
hither and thither through the little hamlet.
Some were entering the cabins, others questioning the women,
and still others chasing a pig or a sheep with drawn sabers. ~
The reports of revolvers fired in the sir added to the confu-
sion.
There could be no mistaking these men.
Their rough faces and reckless riding proclaimed them followers
of that dashing cavalryman, John Morgan.
Bad as they undoubtedly were, yet at this stage in their career
they were not as vindictive and bloodthirsty as later on, and at
no time did they perform acts of barbarous cruelty equal to those
committed by the savage rebel Kentucky bushwhackers.
Was there a chance of escape?
Iturned away from the window, intending to leap from the
door and take my chances running for the woods and rocks be-
yond.
Although none of the men folks were in sight, I knew that they
were in hiding close by, and that sharp eyes were watebing every
action of Morganu’s men.
A wurderous act on their part would have drawn’a deadly fire
from the guns that never were discharged save to kill, no matter
what the odds in favor of the rebels were.
When I reached the door, however, I came to a full stop.
There, issuing forth from the woods just before me, were 2 num-
ber of mounted men, who were, without a doubt, members of
Morgan’s band of rough-riders. ,
Thus even escape was cut off, and nothing remained save capt-
ure—or death.
Calmly I dre ¥ my revolver and looked at the priming.
The rebels ¥ ould have to meet a deadly fire before they got at
me,
The two women saw my action, and instantly guessed the
stern resolve I had taken not to be captured without a desperate
struggle.
‘There is still hope,” cried the old lady, whose mind was full of
expedients; * the chimney, Hugh, the chimney.”
Wise thought!
The chimney was one of those old-fashioned, wide-throated ones,
whose fireplace can accommodate a huge back-log, and as it hag