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THE DARLING OF THE C.8.A.
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All the time that she was under scrutiny she kept waving her handkerchief frantically, and, at last, two soldiers dropped down from the works and came toward her.
When they had approached near enough to hear, she said simply: "I am Agnes Lane — please take me to General Prentiss."
The three figures walked back across the field, and disappeared over the ramparts.
An hour afterward, as the sun was sinking across the broken and desolate country, a stray horse was brought into the Confederate camp. General Morton looked earnestly at the animal as if in recognition — but then, he reflected, Agnes Lane must be safely back in Corinth.
The patch of white under the bridle caught his eye, and his hand slipped out the girl 's parting note :
' ' I am a prisoner, ' ' he read, ' ' in the enemy's lines. They are going to shoot me. Good-by. — Agnes Lane."
"Good God!" he exclaimed, "I would rather have been shot in the back on the clearing today than to have this thing happen to the sweetest and bravest little woman in this here Confederacy. ' '
"Lieutenant Walker," he said, turning to one of his officers, "you can make this public — it wasn't written to me, but to you all. ' '
The message swept down the dispirited ranks, like a prairie fire. In
disregard of orders, the Pelicans formed in excited groups and discussed this new catastrophe.
Suddenly the tall form of Captain Hunt stood out in front of his own remains of a company.
"All Pelicans this way, ' ' he shouted. "I'm going to ask the general's permission to lead a charge — I just know he's going to give it. Recollect, I want only volunteers."
This last was superfluous, for on Captain Hunt's return from the general, with the fire of a born fighter in his eyes, the entire regiment of Pelicans volunteered.
"Now, boys, this is to be a surprise party," the captain shouted; "no yelling till you're out of the woods — do you understand ? ' '
The Union troops had withdrawn their gunboats with the deadly shrapnel, and were making their homely preparations for supper, counting the day as won, when the formidable rebel yell came down the wind for the second time that day.
The surprise was complete and electrical. Prentiss's troops were swept back from the defenses and thru their camp, a disorganized and panicstricken mass, without organization, and driven to the Federal second line of defense near the river.
The camp, its guns and supplies, were captured, including General Prentiss's tent. But what it contained was more precious to the at
THE LAST CHARGE OF THE CONFEDERATES IS SUCCESSFUL