File:At the front (1897) (14770616782).jpg

Identifier: atfront01opti (find matches)
Title: At the front
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Optic, Oliver, 1822-1897 Wilmer, Richard Hooker, 1918-, former owner
Subjects:
Publisher: Boston, Lee and Shepard
Contributing Library: University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Digitizing Sponsor: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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, and such other articles asthey could carry to the shore on their horses.They had several large flatboats for the convey-ance of their plunder across the river, thoughthey had not been able to gather up the mostvaluable portion of what they expected to obtain. They were plainly unwilling to return to theother side of the river after they had seen thedeparture of the main body of the Union force,and a considerable number of them had turnedtheir horses in the water, and struck out for theshore. But Captain Ripleys company had beenstationed on the bluff just above the landing-place, and Colonel Gordon had ordered them toshoot the ruffians if they attempted to return.The guerillas had been deprived of their arms,even to the pistols which many of them carried;and it was madness for them to attempt to renewthe business which had brought them over before. There appeared to be about twenty or twenty-five, led by a big fellow, who were disposed tocontest the ground with the Home Guard, though
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He was hit in tue Head Page 319 I THE BOOT ON THE OTHER LEG 319 it was difficult to conjecture what they intendedto accomplish, without a weapon of any kindamong them. Captain Ripley was not disposedto believe the ruffians would be guilty of any suchmadness, and he was not inclined to shoot themin the water. It was a hard struggle for thehorses, for even at the low stage of the river therewas a considerable current; but the ridei^s spurredthem on so that they made some progress towardsthe opposite shore. The captain of the riflemen was forced to theconclusion that the party following the stalwartleader meant to reach the shore, and pointing hisrifle at him, he fired. He w^as hit in the head,and springing up from his saddle, he came downin the water. He made no effort to cling to hishorse, and sank out of sight. His followers wereappalled at this sharp practice; and perhaps theywere not aware that the rifle company had beenleft at the place for the protection of the village,though they

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