THE WEST SHORE.
rner to lure the boat awaitl them. There were
I wenty UihU in all, capable of holding ten men each.
Two r:i n in each M were provided with malletc
an i vc-n plugH to stop up any bullet holes which
might be madf in the Rides of their little craft. Per
fect Ailonce wan on joined ujton the men; not ft word
m to rjkf-n during the passage; all orders had
in given ore they took to the boats; oar locks were
mufiiwl, and every precaution taken to insure success.
Thf night woh jiropitioua for an undertaking of
thi kind The moon had sunk below the horizon,
and a derifv fog hung over the river, concealing the
nun from view while they launched their boats and
ptmUl out into the middle of the stream. Captain
Norwood' Ixmt vm the first to leave the shore. He
had taken with him a red licht. which, when disnkv.
od, wm to I the signal that all was well with them,
and then the onginoor corps was to commence laying
the j-ontoowi. IWed on the south side of the river
w the picket of the enemy, and as Captain Nor
part; floated by in the darkness they could
hear the ntine! talking to each other.
" IWMharP wid one. D'ye see them ar logs
iWm patyer?"
" amercd the other, "I've been watchin'
m fonder ,ho'. put 'cm in the river this time o'
)(vU? M,u wu lU0 nver in them pant-
loon Uinta?
" N, I kinder reckon not; I've been pecrin' into
7' 1,01 1 vory for, the ty. thicker'n sor
ghuro rnorlui" b lu,CKCrnsor.
to fr, luck," De of
t . lot ' ,K S'1 "n (or iiliootin'
'li"lr.to,, u, Z' l"1"'"1' the men
"r, m moro '.,.,, , , ?' "1,r c-
with the oars sent the boats into the muddy bant
Scarcely had the first boat touched the shore, when
Captain Norwood, sword in hand, leaped out, followed
by his men.
" Halt! Who goes there? " shouted a roii .m.
et, and getting no reply he fired his gun in the direc
tion of the party.
" Forward!" shouted Captain Norwood, as he led
his men up the bank.
The men sprang after their leader, discharging
their guns at the rebels as they fell back. The rebel
reserve had been aroused by the discharge of the
guns, but before they could fully comprehend the sit
nation they were made prisoners. Ten minutes from
the time the first boat touched the bank, the caDtaiVa
vnnyuw Kniea or captured the entire picket post
with a loss of only two men. Up went the red light!
and soon was heard the sound of the laying of the
pontoon bridge, and preparations for crossing by the
army. By daylight, General Thomas' corps was in
line of battle on the south side of the Tennessee riv
er. It was learned from the prisoners captured that
only a small portion of the rebel army was encamped
near the river, the main body having kept on to Chat,
tanoogaat which point they intended to make a
stand. Two days were consumed in crossing the riv
er, and when the troops had been revictualed the or.
der to march was given. The weary and footsore sol-
mora ti'hrt UJ l ii . "
i uau ueen on tne mnh for more ttm thir
j yB and during that time bad engaged andde-
i , d11the ,enemy at Mahoma and other point.,
j Jiang the.r knapsacks oyer their shoulders and cheer.
! Z b7ed th order- Slowly they climbed the
; cop and rgged side of Sand
' J ? afu. them- 14 a sight to see
tb se heroK solders toiling wearily along, day after
Jj , no word of complaint escaping them. The lore
T it ' W WBderfnl cffect ia "'aining them
m the many arduous duties they were called upon to
Chat !rmeMb,e V army e the rear of
the Sf T , 6 18,h f SePtefflber- comPelliD
S : aGS: bBt rcepted' by
could no t e,l? tT f that he
having Z VS IT " fT 'he rebe' 6CDer
alwt an,l T , , my r"forcements, tnrned
Z i J ' " Wi attemP c-t Union
-nog reEam lhe oId Potion at Chatta-
t To b continued