Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Literary
January 22, 1957
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
During an Indian attack on a sawmill, Lieutenant Chad helps Colonel Randall direct cannon fire from a blockhouse. After initial misses, they target the mill effectively. Randall orders Chad to lead 50 men in a flanking maneuver to drive the attackers into cannon range, referencing Lee's Chancellorsville tactics.
Clipping
OCR Quality
92%
Excellent
Full Text
Angerson grunted and joined
his men. Chad glanced back at
the blockhouse and saw Randall
beckoning to him.
Randall shoved a pair of field
glasses into Chad's hands with
the single word. "Here." There
was a lull in the firing. and Ran-
dall demanded, "What in the devil
are they up to?"
Chad said, "One of the bucks
has a sledge. He's pounding on
the saw."
"They're wrecking the place!"
Randall shouted. "Wrecking it. I
tell you, You've got to get them
out of there! Get that twelve-
pounder loaded with grape."
A moment later the gun roared
and then recoiled sharply. The
blockhouse shook and the little
room was filled with the acrid
smell of burned powder. The snow
showered up in a rippling, uneven
pattern at least twenty-five yards
short of the mill.
"Ever run a gun before, Lieu-
tenants?" Randall sneered, "That's
not a snow shovel, you know."
Chad snapped, "Up five and to
the left." The gun roared again
and splinters flew from the saw-
mill.
Randall grunted. "That's bet-
ter."
The gun crew fired rapidly at
the sawmill, ripping at its rough
board sides and sending splinters
flying into the air. After the sec-
ond shot. the Indians took cover.
Now the gunners were shooting
at nothing more than the long
shed which housed Randall's
prized saw.
Randall snapped. "Endicott."
Chad turned to him. "Yes. sir."
"I'll not see my mill chewed up
with grape while those Indians lie
out of range and watch it. We're
going to try a little attack stra-
tegy ourselves."
Randall, ignoring the amazed
expression on Chad's face, hur-
ried on, We're only seventy
men, and they say a man's a fool
to divide an inferior force. but
Lee did it at Chancellorsville and
beat Hooker. We'll give it a try.
I think I can hold the fort with
twenty men. That will give you
fifty to work with. I want you
to circle that bunch and drive
them into range of our twelve-
pounders."
Chad was silent "We'll give it
a try." Randall had said. "We."
And you, Lieutenant, will go out
and die trying. and when the In-
dians have taken your scalp, the
Colonel will write a report that
"we tried."
Chad looked Randall in the
eyes. He said, "Yes, sir."
Tomorrow: Zack does some
scalping too. Read Chapter 21
of "Silent River."
his men. Chad glanced back at
the blockhouse and saw Randall
beckoning to him.
Randall shoved a pair of field
glasses into Chad's hands with
the single word. "Here." There
was a lull in the firing. and Ran-
dall demanded, "What in the devil
are they up to?"
Chad said, "One of the bucks
has a sledge. He's pounding on
the saw."
"They're wrecking the place!"
Randall shouted. "Wrecking it. I
tell you, You've got to get them
out of there! Get that twelve-
pounder loaded with grape."
A moment later the gun roared
and then recoiled sharply. The
blockhouse shook and the little
room was filled with the acrid
smell of burned powder. The snow
showered up in a rippling, uneven
pattern at least twenty-five yards
short of the mill.
"Ever run a gun before, Lieu-
tenants?" Randall sneered, "That's
not a snow shovel, you know."
Chad snapped, "Up five and to
the left." The gun roared again
and splinters flew from the saw-
mill.
Randall grunted. "That's bet-
ter."
The gun crew fired rapidly at
the sawmill, ripping at its rough
board sides and sending splinters
flying into the air. After the sec-
ond shot. the Indians took cover.
Now the gunners were shooting
at nothing more than the long
shed which housed Randall's
prized saw.
Randall snapped. "Endicott."
Chad turned to him. "Yes. sir."
"I'll not see my mill chewed up
with grape while those Indians lie
out of range and watch it. We're
going to try a little attack stra-
tegy ourselves."
Randall, ignoring the amazed
expression on Chad's face, hur-
ried on, We're only seventy
men, and they say a man's a fool
to divide an inferior force. but
Lee did it at Chancellorsville and
beat Hooker. We'll give it a try.
I think I can hold the fort with
twenty men. That will give you
fifty to work with. I want you
to circle that bunch and drive
them into range of our twelve-
pounders."
Chad was silent "We'll give it
a try." Randall had said. "We."
And you, Lieutenant, will go out
and die trying. and when the In-
dians have taken your scalp, the
Colonel will write a report that
"we tried."
Chad looked Randall in the
eyes. He said, "Yes, sir."
Tomorrow: Zack does some
scalping too. Read Chapter 21
of "Silent River."
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
War Peace
What keywords are associated?
Indian Attack
Sawmill Defense
Cannon Fire
Flanking Maneuver
Chancellorsville Reference
Literary Details
Key Lines
"They're Wrecking The Place!" Randall Shouted. "Wrecking It. I Tell You, You've Got To Get Them Out Of There! Get That Twelve Pounder Loaded With Grape."
"Ever Run A Gun Before, Lieutenants?" Randall Sneered, "That's Not A Snow Shovel, You Know."
Randall, Ignoring The Amazed Expression On Chad's Face, Hurried On, We're Only Seventy Men, And They Say A Man's A Fool To Divide An Inferior Force. But Lee Did It At Chancellorsville And Beat Hooker. We'll Give It A Try.
Chad Was Silent "We'll Give It A Try." Randall Had Said. "We." And You, Lieutenant, Will Go Out And Die Trying. And When The Indians Have Taken Your Scalp, The Colonel Will Write A Report That "We Tried."