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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 1897)
DIOCK.Mlillll. lMi2. Itesoornns, recently IIKsijIlK'll tl till' command of tin1 Army f the Cumberland, Hiy encamped on tin1 Nashville turnpike almost within licfriu;: of the church bells r BiiiiTrci'Hiifiro. Kireotiy in lroni u mi shielded h,v tli o dense cedar thickets rest ed tin' army of the Confederate (Ieneral ItruKic. Tlic rebel defense described a semicircular lino between ltoycorans and Mono Itiver in n country admirably adapted to a miming litfht toward Mur frocsboro, tlio rebel Huso. Simultaneous ly Hit' comma ndcrstif the opposing forces were iiiaiinintr attack. lfnioerMii'i driirod to fiain possession of Murfrecsboro. Brass's laii was defensive 11:14 ninht after nielli ho niaili' weak demonstrations n tin- Union front, which won; recnB- izi'd by Itoseernns at their true vaini'. Unless Itraui? dislodged tin- Federal troops massing in front on his tight l'nlk'M corps must 1m- withdrawn bchinil Hie river ami Mnrfreeslioro abandoned. War slumbered in the air. The soldiers, fatigued by continuous cniupniiniiiiK, Iiy stretched about the camp in resting tliousaiuK nor did the crack of the out posts' rilles nor (lie volleys of cavalry car bines cause so niucli as tlie blink of an eyelid nor tlio raising of a head in the lump. r'aniilinrity had bred contempt for Hie musket shot and the roar of the milium in the distance may have caused 11 curl of the 1 i 1 .110 more. The powder Htiiimd hordes felt (he breath of coining bailie, but it gave lliciii no concern, and Hiey buddled snugly together ill their blankets, for they feared the shivering blasts of December more than the puny bullets of the enemy. Back in the cedars in n bouse whose portico raised Ms head above the shiver ing bare branches, (ieneral Itoseorans pored over bin plans of campaign against Hragg. It was essentia! to drive the rebel general beyond the river nml gain IttMacHsiiMi of Mnrfreeslioro and the I'n ion commander knit his brows 11 ml pon dered over bis couteinplati d plans of at tack. The door opened and a young and Intel ligent looking olllcer stepped inside. His shoulder straps showed the rank of first liiMili'iui!.t. For an instant he paused at the entrance. He seemed to know his uperior was worried and he hesitated to advance. The general was unmindful of bis presence. For an instant longer the young olllcer waited, then as 11 determin ed expression appeared on his face he lopped resolutely forward. "(ieneral," ho said. Itusoernns looked up and n smile broke through Iho clouds on his face. "Ah, lieutenant," ho said with a sigh, rushing aside his troublesome maps, "glad to gee you, Sit down. What's on jour mind 7" He leaned his head on his hand and looked dreamily from the window. He was more interested in his own thoughts than in what the young olllcer was say ing. "F,h, what!" he exclaimed, suddenly arousing like one from a dream, "what in Unit you are Haying?" The lieutenant looked him In the eye nd replied: "I was asking permission, general, to absent myself from camp for perhaps forty-eight hours." (ieneral Uosoeraus stared at him in aiuiiM'iiient. "I cannot comprehend the meaning of inch n request," be said, finally. "In less lluui forty-eight hours I expect to engage General Itnagg. I haven't a doubt in tho world bo is planning a similar nttack on my forces. A fierce eonllict is inevitable. And yet you have tho temeritv on the threshold of battle to ask for 'leave of absence. I reMat I cannot understand it, and, moreover, I am doubly surprised that sueh n request sliould come from a trusted officer like you," A flush mounted to tho temple of the lieutenant. He felt (he sting of the gen eral's reply, "I'ardon me, g.ieral," he said, with just a touch of resentment. "Your sus picions do me injustice. You have never known me to flinch from duty or to trem ble in the faci of the enemy." The general measured him closely and a worried look passed over his face. "I have spoken of no suspicions," he mid. testily, "But your manner, sir," said the other. "Pardon 1110, your manner was quite con lincing." "But such a request at such a time," aid his chief. "It is peculiar, not to say iiiniing. 'Why do you, nn otllcer of my army, desire leave of absence when wo my be band to hand with the enoinv at amy hour?" He looked sharply at his subordinate and hia question was freighted with sig nificance. The young nttlccr was not un mindful of it and Hushed again. "You are hard on me. general," he said tiddly. "But let me explain. You con template an attack on Mnrfrooshoro and 's iMissible, tiny, more than probable, de struction. MurfnvslM.ro holds all that is aenr mul dear to me " The general raised his nrail In interest td iiuiuiry. The lieutenant went on: "In ime of the hospitals there lies my joung wife, who has just this very day jivou birth to our first child " "Why, how " the general began. "Here, In this pa iter," cried the lieuten ant excitedly. "It ia published in Mur frecsboro and contains the story of the birth of a Northern child and gives it mother's name and mine. It la my wife and my child, General Hosecram, and It in to save them that 1 ask leave of ab sence." Th irenernl took Uie paper from the ex tiled man and rend the account with In terent. When he laid the patter down there tii a look of grave concern ou hii war-bronxed face. "Lieutenant Henry," he said sternly, "you are deserving of the severest ceu- suie for bringing your wife to this part of the country at such a time. I am sur prised that a man of your sound sense would do it." "I could not help it," was tho impulsive reply. "1 wuulcd her where she would lie nearine. She wanted to be here. I could not withstand her appeals anil so let her come will) my faithful old negro servant. Can't you see, (ieneral Ilosecrans, I want lo move her from MurfrecsboroV It means doatli to her to remain. The roar of tho guns, the shriek of the shells, the crash of the walls and tho whole awful roar of war vnniil !;;!! her. I only want tinu. t. remove her to a place of safety. I will ride like h 1, general, and and still if you think it is only cowardice that makes 1110 ask you this favor, then I withdrnw tho request, for better her death and mine than thai." Flushed and excited, he drew himself up proudly and turned to go, but a word from his chief arrested him. Kvidently his earnest eloquence had made an impres sion. "Lieutenant," said the general, rising ami placing his hand kindly on the young olllcer's shoulder, "I appreciate your po sition and sympathize with you. Weie it at any other time I would not only gladly give my consent, but send a mounted es cort wilh you. As it is," and he paused, while the lieutenant, anticipating refusal, closed his eyes. "As it is I cannot refuse your appeal. You may go." For an instant their eyes mot. For 1111- olher instant the lieutenant seemed in capable of action, then suddenly lie sprang forward, grasped his chief by Un hand nnd exclaimed fervently: "Thank you, general, from the bottom of my heart." "Waste no time," said his chief, serious ly. "Hide for your lire. Think what it means to lie absent when your comrades nre engaged in battle. Think of your fu ture if j on fail to return in time." It was a warning kindly expressed and Lieutenant Henry grasped its full signifi cance. Twenty miles on his journey that night through the woods anil jambyes that be set his path young Henry was thrilled with the thought that he had to run the outposts of two armies. What would be come of him if he ran into the lynx-eyed sentries of either line? Musing thus, he was awakened by the sharp cry of: "Halt!" ed toward them nnrt they all looker! with friendly eyes on Henry. Tho sergeant laughed coarsely at his own shrewdness. "Stands to reason," ho snid slowly, "thet he wouldn't be derned fool enough to stumble into a gang like this if ho was a Yank. Why say, we was inukin' noise enough to scare Ilosecrans outon his boots, wa'nt we, boys?" They all laughed their assent. "Yo' air porty good," he said, turning lo Henry, "an' yo've gotjierve. Whore's the enemy at?" "Thirty miles south, Ilosecrans in com mand," he answered promptly, "but he is hot likely to remain there long." "Yor danged right, lootenant," snid the sergeant, "and " "And," interrupted Henry sharply, "the old man would lie tickled to death if he knew I was making my report lo the first outpost I happened to run across." He spoke impatiently, and it had its ef fect. "You're right," said tho sergeant sud denly, "but we're oiily Join' uiir duly. Go along and give th' old man a good word fer us." Henry gave the rein to his horse and shot away into the morning fog. Ten minutes later he drew up in the roar of the dimly lighted hospital. The good sister gazed in mute astonishment at the uni form when bo half staggered into the hallway, then led him silently into the little room. As ho bent over the wlr.tc cot a pair of eyes opened wide. There was wonderment in them for an instant, then they lighted up wilh love and wel come and wilh a faint cry. "Hob!" she stretched forth her feeble bands to him, while the young soldier's tears rained down on Hie pillow. Shining through tho film of suffering the glad eyes gazed admiringly on the stalwart figure of tho soldier husband and tlio faded, dus ty suit of blue. Wilh a glad, happy smile the thin hands raised the coverlet, anil for the time being all thoughts of the grim struggle between the North nnd South faded from his mind as ho gazed in mute wonder on the face of his sleep ing first born. A light, reverent touch of his lips to the little one's forehead and a similar loving salute to the flushed nnd smiling mother, then the serious look re turned to Henry's face as tho exigencies of the hour crowded back into his mind. Briefly, tenderly, lest lie bring alarm to bis suffering young wife, ho told her of the necessity of immediate flight, and, brave spirit that she was, she trusted ev erything to him and bowed acquiescence. The nurse, dismayed, protested, but at length gave way. It was the wily thing to be done. As he stood watching the rapid movements of the nurse as she pre pared for tho trip tho practical needs aroused him, and 11s he stocil the nurse and inquriod, "Where's Jefi'V" there was a touch on his shoulder, and, turning, he Mid. w0wm&A, f fete- I rr. THE SHARP CilACK OF A RiFLE KOUXnSD CLOSE BY." His only reply was to crouch low over looked into the grinning black face of h tin. u.lfl.llii iiti.l ili.r Ilia diiii-u 1..h..ii1i. I..,.. ' . .... 1 - 11 .... - ........ ...... . miu irusicu negro servant, wlman the Hank of his mount. The horse re-, aglow with welcome and rnnn'imr with sponded gallantly and shot obliquely into tears. Tho two men so oddlv contrasted tho gloom lbo sharp crack of a rifle warmly grasped each other by the ham sounded close by and a bullet wU'.stled ; the, briefly the young oilier directed Jeff over he young r.der s head, followed by to secure an ambulance, if ho had t , s e n the sbnll cry of he guard, which grow , one. ami told him what to do. . off hur fainter and finally died out as Henry ried awav and an hour later n. 1 l . plunged through the cedar thickets. Long ! elook pealed , , . of 4 the v, n L " 0," before the first faint streaks of dawn ii-' cer lifted his fr ,il uir, 1 , yTK.,,m lumiuod the sky a song of joy arose in his 1 vehicle while .'l " "nmi,ive heart, when his eye. caught the flickering j w-i th ho , J , i, ?, T -c!""" afl0r lights of Mi.rfree.lH.ro. With only 1 l' ' ' ,f"n'' The ambu thoughts of. bis suffering wife nnd now- w , Lm ' !' "," a!,1' born little one iu his mind, ho .rode boldlv m L 8 and T ""7 " thr,,UKh forward ami plunged headforemost into 1 w ith the reins " fr""t Seat a squad of Confederate infantry. There I 11, .1,,... 11 , . was no chance to return. A dozen long ' rie, g , d b'v ! ', 1 !t . ""' ,hilJ " h,,r- .1 .1.1.- i......i.i ... 1.:.. 1 1 , , .r"" K"-D and then turned to .....,.i. r-iiin 4 1 limn n v iv xnw II I II .B Ut'iMl 11IIU 1 IW ttl t lut . 1 . 1 ' r""- the husky voice of tho first sergeant in ! f. ; ' "' ''t there was a surprise 1 as r ' . " '"K ,ur i" his hands gray 00111111111111111 linn to advance. He ' mi ... i. .,, " , ' , ' "'r irave.ing. rode forward wUh his head erect, but his j , B too " ' " ' 11 ' Ue noart sniKing wiiuiu nun. n tne verv 1 nn.i ,...,., 1,. , . . . ' "'" "aims threshold of success he saw his mission ' i,; .: ' ' "or "iri'liend with Huttermg Idly to the ground. I !n" . ' ' 6,1,0 8w,,u'd ,lot liPleased at the "Well, who in nre you, anyhow?" demanded the sergeant gruffly, surveying the hated blue uniform that Henry wore. "Lieutenant Henry of the th Ohio," was tbe proud response. "You've got a pile of nerve, I reckon, hain't ye, fer runnin' through these lines iu thet cussed blue suit? What y' doiu' yor, anyhow?" "I'm here to see my wife, who is dan gerously ill at tho hospital," he answered, hoping to stir tho sympathy iu their hearts if they had any. A laugh greeted the reply. "Mebby y'ar and niebby y'aln't," said the sergeant, slyly, "but I want f tell yo' thet I've saw Cotifedrits In blue clothes afore au' I hnnt been fooled on 'em nuth er." Hope sprang up In Henry's breast. He was quick to act. Smiling knowingly, he said: "You've Rot sharp eyes, sergeant. Think I'm a spy, don't you?" "Some folks call it that and some don't," snid the sergeant with a grin, "but I'll tell yo 1 haiu't never sovu th' Yank at'll git so danged fer away from home by liia svlf." The others nodded assout when he turn- lo the Base,,,,, frIn, M , , Henry has, ly. "Twenty mile, nor.hst ou know ,1,0 road. No one will stop you ",",u l"'re um you hear from me. li can t be long before our forces roach Mttr freosboro. UomM,v and b Ms Jeff pulled on the lines nnd the wagon rumbled away. Henry mounted his inqC- he '71" rrir' n"W" rapidly Nirne to , l e " rsh cunt'T y as a schoivlboy as he made for ,hl picket post where he had entered ,h, dty tw as easu-r to pas, there than by makl lag new nud probably sharper auX uces. ihe increased thunder of X d ant guns admonished hiut that he w no tune to lose. Twenty minutes t gone when he reached the post and lute.1 the sergeant and his ,q,,ad 8 All s well, boys," he cried, cheerfullT I saw the old man and put b . good word for you." swn "Thank you, lieutenant, thank yon," was the hearty response, "don't let cone 0' them Yanks git hold on ye or it's all day." "All right, boys, I guess there are not many in that gang that can trip me up," he replied. "All right, nil right, gnod-hy, and God bless you." He waved his hand in adieu nnd shot down the road. Wh.-.t a wkjd ride it was. Through brush and cedar and swamp and over hill, and down dale he drove his pant ing steed and tho farther on he advanc ed the louder grew the roar of war's grim cry. Daylight was coming nnd his heart bent high as ho strove to reach the front. To be absent when the grand charge was made meant disgrace perhaps death. And now to his mind came the words of his chief: "Think what it means to bo absent when your comrades are engaged in bat tle." He urged on his wenry horse and utter ed a piu.ici' i'uuL ho inigiii lie there on time. For what? l'ossibly death from a rebel bullet. The morning of Jan. 3 found the forces engaged in deadly battle. Breckinridge made a tierce and desperate assault, but it proved ill-judged, and he was hurled back with fearful loss. In vain the Con federate forces rallied and pressed for ward again and again, only to bo repulsed by tho hot lire from the Union barricades and rifle pits. Ilosecrans and Sheridan on the loft were hurling shot and shell into the main body .of the enemy, while Davis and Johnson, swinging in from the right, mowed down the hall'-formed rebel left under Breckinridge. The battle wagoil with fearful loss 011 both sides, and slowly but surely the rebel defense gave way and Folk was forced behind Stone river. During a lull iu the battle a mounted otllcer rode hastily to (ion. Hose criins anil reported the desertion of a brigade eoniniando'r nml throe other olli cers in the face of buttle. "What are their mimes?" (ion. Uose erans donianded, with a vague fear tug ging at his heart. The olllcer ran over tho list and con eluded with: "Lieutenant Ilonrv of the th Ohio." For mi instant the chief bowed his head. "My fault." he muttered to himself in sorrow, "and yet I felt in my heart be would return in time." Thin a hard look swept over his face, and, turning to the officer, he said stiffly: "We will attend to that a little later, if we live." He turned his attention then to the bat tlefield, with its hurrying, soiirrying hosts of blue and gray. Suddenly bis attention became riveted to the left of the lino. Charging down the slope into the very jaws of death it seemed was one of Sher idan's regiments, evidently bent on sweep ing down tho rebel wall Hint had stood invincible for hours. Tho nttack was planned so suddenly nnd put into execu tion with such dispntch that the rebel skirmish linos barely had time to fall back and take tip a pns!lion io wllLtu::' shock when, the rushing, screaming l.or.'e vras u-K.-n lliom. A thrill ran through the old warrior on the hill and for an instant he closed his eyes. Another instant and the crash must come. As he opened bis eyes again a sheet of vivid (ire shot from the rebel line, then was borne to his ears the dull crash of volley after volley and he dimly saw tho Union ranks thinned out by the storm of hail. The advance win checked. The Union line staggered and stopped. Out from the shivering, crouching front rode a gallant young officer who, with his saber swinging wildly over his head, struck down half a dozen muskets leveled to work his end. then turned in his saddle and waved his men on to lenewed effort. It was a daring thing to do and Ilose crans marveled at the man's reckli 'ssness. Ihe move put new life Into the broken ranks. As if by magic they formed ngain. nnd with a lionise yell of rage moved rap Idly on the living breastworks and swung again into a seething fire. Now it was hand to hand and the crash of arms was borne distinctly to the listening cars on the slope. 1 Ilosecrans was entranced. He seemed lost in n dream. The charge was the most daring he had ever soon. He vainly tried to follow the movements of the young officer, but the rolling linos of smoke obscured his vision and he caught alternate glimpses of the blue and the gray as they struggled for the mastery. A long, low cloud of smoke came between the watchers on the hill and the fighters below just as the climax seemed to come, and impatiently they waited for a friend ly wind to lift the dense curtain of haze. Then as the fog lifted they bent eagerly forward in their saddles nnd joy welled Into the heart of the chief as he saw the rebel lines waver and break. Now iu from the left and right pressed masses of others in blue swinging along like automatons, halting every now and then to pour a volley into the confused, straggling ranks of the men in gray. Join ing together with a beautiful precision, they formed a solid wall in front of which the rebel defense gave way com pletely, and rout pervaded their ranks. The last line of a gallant defense shivered nito clouds of smoke and when Ilosecrans looked again the Union troops were throwing their caps into the air In their frenzy of joy, while the scattered rem nants of the gray forces hurried down the bank of the river nnd disnpieared from view. As the smoke again dropied down and obscured the vision lien. Ilosecrans awoke as if from a trance and, riding hur riedly to a staff officer, who had been in tently watching the battle through a pow erful field glass, he exclaimed: "That was the grandest charge, sir. I have ever beheld. Who led It?" "Lieutenant Henry of the th Ohio " was the answer.-Chlcago Chronicle. Iff l4mo, IIP L j l.n t.'i) IDC he Vesuvius' Lara. It Is computed that all the houses In London and New York could be built of the lava thrown out by Vesuvlua since the first recorded eruption in A. D. 79, Lord Kelvin holds that flic J boat of ttui i.i.t.ii. 1 .1 ,. . . n the climates. The earth. henv. . be of tlie teiiiiioi'atiii'n nt .i.i.'t ' "i "ill UOnjyl 2,0(10 feet below the surface, oratj freezing tioltit fiftv fi.ot 1 ... ,, .. . , nt nil MfTecting a climate. . To lessen, If not to abolish altogett- the Ilolsp of 11 train u-l,., , brlilRe, 11 (lennnn engineer linsdeviJ a .-M-neiiie which mis proved surprlsi ly successful. He puts n decking! ldnnks between the cross girders, n on tbe tibinks n donliln lnvn.jM 1 ""- "i.'u uiiaiM rdncod. In this way. tiny noise IntJ vented. I In tlie French navy it has been torn that the electric search light mm!. on men of war Injuriously affects 'tJ eyes or sen men who nave to workato the llirbt. and durk-hlnu supplied to them for protection, Brow eyes are less iiiiccteil than gri'vorbl ones, the reason suggestei .ing tLi the former are mure heavily chars w iiu pigment. In Russia 11 horse that is adilictal the habit of ruiinlug away lias a til corn vvltli 11 running noose around 11 neck nt the neck-stay, and tlie end tied to the dashboard. When a horJ bolts, lie iilways takes the bit In til teeth, nuil the skill of the driver U tisfl less; but the moment the pressure! the cord conies on the windpipe Hi horse Is conquered. A single tree, according to a conpti tiou Iu Knowledge, is able, tlirou:: leaves, to nurifv the air from them bonic uelil arising from the resplralH of a considerable number of men, pt: baits a dozen or even a score. Then! nine of carbonic ncid exhaled by at man being. In the course of twentylc hours 1h put nt about 100 gallons; lc by Bousslngnult s estimate, a slap square yard of leaf-surface, couniiL both the tinner nml the nmler sides 1 the leaves, win, under favorable clrcR stances, ilecoinnose nt least a calloiii ctirboulu acid in a day. One nundn- . square ynnls of leaf-surface uw j w ould suffice to keep the air purefe ; one mini lint tlio loaves of a trtf ! 'moderate size present a surface il , many hundred square yaws I Engines used In electric liglitln; " j required to run with great reguuni; An liitoniHtlnir device for detectili I with extreme accuracy, any change of I speed In such an engine Is empio." I an ElizabethiKH't factory. Two mo ..it..u 01.Q iiini-foii with cnrresnonlim : .m. 111111 1,1, mm in front of the ott ; er so that, when the slits are Inline. ! spokes of the fly-wheel of the enpw them. Oneoiw ' nlntm. Iu eniweil tn oscillate, Iff " of 1111 elei'tro-nintfuet, nt suen a Hint tin. two silts are in line every tint a spoke is passing. If there are spokes In the wheel, and the j .. mo t .0 1.. . minute, the BOH- dim tiM7 ilium in " ' . blo slit nmst oscillate 2.400 times In ' minute. If the speed of the entfne l, perfectly regular, n spoke '1 ; 1,. lino with the slit If the speed varies the spoke wiu pear ahead or behind Its pror ' ...... x..- thp wheel1 ncconting as me nur m . revolution Is increased or diminish. . ,. hi rk Tw'la . it i. Hie Cenmi fliarit rwuiu wmcn n" , 11 tribute to his fellow-townsman, late James Hammond Trumuuu. CTemeus relates the following dote: t been toM. """I. " n the AuftW wiimweu iiTOTiiuiii" v. family, In desperate need, J sow " feet copy of Audubon's -Bit ' commercially minded '''olnri" -L . 1 1 .i.,n.ir. Tne " lea ior a imiuuru m,rkri was worth a thousand In the ' I The scholnr complimented uu . . t.nilness. 1 on his slirewa siroae ui .( was not Hammond TrunibuB 1 After the war a lnuy In the w f( wrote him that among the wr" , i... hna S v- ol her Better unys " . w(lrtk which some had told her wM 'J hundred dollars, and had ad";., to offer It to him; she added l, was very poor, and that "J , nuy 11 at mm jo 11. - ..iiofjli great favor to ner. n - , dlan Bible. Trumnu . .u. - , If it was a perteci coi... . fl llshed market value, like a K and wan worth a thousand W i WAiiM spnd it 10 1U lUitl. 11. sue " w.v. nrOTW ' would examine It, and if I P" be perfect he would sell It w lsh Museum and forward the ui her. It did prove to be perr she got her thousana uu li.lnir and Intact. J " . .V The ller' Ur.at rf ",,' The Tier-a ur ,,, The tiger's etrengui e- the lion. Five men can w-, down a lion, but nine are reu uubdue ft tiger. ii: :ia 1 .a: : ,31 t: ion 1