The Courier of the OzarksDunn, Byron A. (Byron Archibald)
History
The Courier of the Ozarks
Dunn, Byron A. (Byron Archibald)
Missouri -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Juvenile fiction
"Great God! don't shoot!" he shouted; and to Billy, "Fly! Fly."
She sank her spurs into her horse and bending low over his neck was away
like an arrow, but no avenging bullet followed her.
In a moment Harry and Jack were at Lawrence's side and helped him to his
feet. "Captain, you're wounded," cried Harry. "Your side is all bloody."
He tore away the coat and shirt.
"Thank Heaven, it's not deep," he exclaimed, "but bleeds freely. How did
it happen?"
"I was about to cut down Red Jerry when I received this wound from
behind. The same shot must have struck my horse in the back of the head,
for he went down like a log."
"And the guerrilla who shot you was the same you told us not to shoot?"
"Yes. She was a woman and she spared my life. I will tell you all about
it, but not now."
It was noon before all the men returned from pursuing the guerrillas. Of
the band not more than thirty escaped, and most of these by taking to
the woods.
When Lawrence gathered his little troop together he found that three had
been killed and six wounded, three of them grievously. Of the
guerrillas, twenty-five had been slain outright, as many badly wounded,
and twenty prisoners had been taken.
Some of the men were for shooting the prisoners. "Red Jerry would not
have spared us," they exclaimed.
Lawrence immediately put an end to such talk. "If any of the men have
committed crimes that merit death," he said, "they should be convicted
by a court-martial. No soldier has a right to put a defenceless man to
death for revenge. Barbarity begets barbarity, while mercy appeals to
the hearts of the most depraved."
He then told them how his life had been spared by the dreaded wife of
Red Jerry.
There was no more talk of shooting the prisoners, and Lawrence noticed
that not one of them was insulted or treated brutally.
The Federals remained on the battlefield for three days, caring for the
wounded, and Lawrence had it given out that anyone who cared might come
to claim the dead or carry away the badly wounded without being
molested. The news spread and soon the camp was filled with weeping
women and wailing children. Even some men came when they found they
could do so safely. From the number of dead and wounded claimed,
Lawrence thought Jerry's band must have been made up principally from
the neighborhood.
At the end of three days Lawrence began his return march. A couple of
farm wagons were pressed into service to convey the wounded. With the
slightly wounded who were able to travel he took back with him thirty
prisoners and fifty-five horses.
Great was the rejoicing when Rolla was reached, and the success of the
expedition became known. Lawrence received a congratulatory message from
General Schofield, highly praising him. But there was one Federal
officer who did not congratulate Lawrence. Captain Dunlay felt too
mortified over his own failure.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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