CURTIS’ heavy division, retreating before General Price all the way from Lexington to Independence, held the western bank of the Little Blue, and some heavy stone walls and fences beyond. Marmaduke and Shelby broke his hold from these, and pressed him rapidly back to and through Independence, the two Colorado regiments2 covering his rear stubbornly and well. Side by side McCoy and Todd had made several brilliant charges during the morning, and had driven before them with great dash and spirit every Colorado squadron halted to resist the continual marching forward of the Confederate cavalry3.
Ere the pursuit ended for the day, half of the 2nd Colorado regiment1 drew up on the crest4 of a bold hill and made a gallant5 fight. Their major, Smith, a brave and dashing officer, was killed there, and there Todd fell. General Shelby, as was his wont6, was well up with the advance, and leading recklessly the two companies of Todd and McCoy. Next to Shelby’s right rode Todd and upon his left was McCoy. Close to these and near to the front files were Colonels Nichols, Thrailkill, Ben Morrow, Ike Flannery and Jesse James.
The trot7 had deepened into a gallop8, and all the crowd of skirmishers covering the head of the rushing column were at it, fierce and hot, when the 2nd Colorado swept the road with a furious volley,214 broke away from the strong position held by them and hurried on through the streets of Independence, followed by the untiring McCoy, as lank9 as a fox-hound and as eager.
That volley killed Todd. A Spencer rifle ball entered his neck in front, passed through and out near the spine10, and paralyzed him. Dying as he fell, he was yet tenderly taken up and carried to the house of Mrs. Burns, in Independence. Articulating with great difficulty and leaving now and then almost incoherent messages to favorite comrade or friend, he lingered for two hours insensible to pain, and died at last as a Roman.
George Todd was a Scotchman born, his father holding an honorable position in the British navy. Destined11 also for the sea, it was the misfortune of the son to become engaged in a personal difficulty in his eighteenth year and kill the man with whom he quarreled. He fled to Canada, and from Canada to the United States. His father soon after resigned and followed him, and when the war began both were railroad contractors12 in North Missouri, standing13 well with everybody for business energy, capacity and integrity.
Todd made a name by exceeding desperation. His features presented nothing that could attract attention. There was no sign in visible characters of the powers that was in him. They were calm always, and in repose14 a little stern; but if anything that indicated215 “a look of destiny” was sought for, it was not to be found in the face of George Todd. His was simple and confiding15, and a circumspect16 regard for his word made him a very true but sometimes a very blunt man. In his eyes the fittest person to command a Guerrilla was he who inspired the enemy before people began to say: “That man, George Todd, is a tiger. He fights always; he is not happy unless he is fighting. He will either be killed soon or he will do a great amount of killing17.” It has just been seen that he was not to be killed until October, 1864—a three years’ lease of life for that desperate Guerrilla work never had a counterpart. By and by the Guerrillas themselves felt confidence in such a name, reliance in such an arm, favor for such a face. It was sufficient for Todd to order a march to be implicitly18 followed; to plan an expedition to have it immediately carried out; to indicate a spot on which to assemble to cause an organization sometimes widely scattered19 or dispersed20 to come together as the jaws21 of a steel trap.
Nature gave him the restlessness of a born cavalryman22 and the exterior23 and the power of voice necessary to the leader of desperate men. Coolness, and great activity were his main attributes as a commander. Always more ready to strike than to speak, if he talked at all it was only after a combat had been had, and then modestly. His conviction was the part he played, and he sustained with unflinching courage and216 unflagging energy that which he had set down for his hands to do.
A splendid pistol shot, fearless as a horseman, knowing nature well enough to choose desperate men and ambitious men, reticent24, heroic beyond the conception of most conservative people, and covered with blood as he was to his brow, his fall was yet majestic25, because it was accompanied by patriotism26.
Before the evacuation of Independence, Todd was buried by his men in the cemetery27 there, and Poole succeeded to the command of his company, leading it splendidly.
The night they buried Todd, Ike Flannery, Dick Burns, Andy McGuire, Ben Morrow, Press Webb, Harrison Trow, Lafe Privin, George Shepherd, George Maddox, Allen Parmer, Dan Vaughn, Jess and Frank James and John Ross took a solemn oath by the open grave of the dead man to avenge28 his death, and for the following three days of incessant29 battle it was remarkable30 how desperately31 they fought—and how long.
Until General Price started southward from Mine Creek32 in full retreat, the Guerrillas under Poole remained with him, scouting33 and picketing34, and fighting with the advance. After Mine Creek they returned to Bone Hill, in Jackson County, some going afterwards to Kentucky with Quantrell, and some to Texas with George Shepherd.
217 Henceforward the history of the Guerrillas of Missouri must be the history of detachments and isolated35 squads36, fighting always, but fighting without coherency or other desire than to kill.
Anderson had joined Price at Boonville and the meeting was a memorable37 one. The bridles38 of the horses the men rode were adorned39 with scalps. One huge red-bearded Guerrilla—six feet and over, and girdled about the waist with an armory40 of revolvers—had dangling41 from every conceivable angle a profuse42 array of these ghastly trophies43. Ben Price was shocked at such evidence of a warfare44 so utterly45 repugnant to a commander of his known generosity46 and forbearance, and he ordered sternly that they be thrown away at once. He questioned Anderson Long of Missouri, of the forces in the state, of the temper of the people, of the nature of Guerrilla warfare, of its relative advantages and disadvantages and then when he had heard all he blessed the Guerrillas probably with about as much unction as Balaam blessed Israel.
General Price was a merciful man. Equable in every relation of life, conservative by nature and largely tolerant through his earlier political training, thousands are alive today solely47 because none of the harsher or crueler indulgences of the Civil War were permitted to the troops commanded by this conscientious48 officer.
218 Finally, however, he ordered Anderson back into North Missouri, and he crossed at Boonville upon his last career of leave taking, desperation and death.
Tired of tearing up railroad tracks, cutting down telegraph poles, destroying miles and miles of wire, burning depots49, and picking up and killing isolated militiamen, terrified at the uprising in favor of Price, Anderson dashed into Danville, Montgomery County, where sixty Federals were stationed in houses and strong places.
He had but fifty-seven men, and the fight was close and hot.
Gooley Robinson, one of his best soldiers, was mortally wounded while exposing himself in a most reckless manner.
It was difficult to get the enemy out of the houses. Snatching up torches and braving the guns of the entrenched50 Federals, Dick and Ike Berry put fire to one house. Arch Clements and Dick West to another, Theo. Castle, John Maupin and Mose Huffaker to a third, and Ben Broomfield, Tuck, Tom and Woot Hill to the fourth.
It was a night of terror and agony. As the militiamen ran out they were shot down by the Guerrillas in the shadow. Some wounded, burnt to death, and others, stifled51 by the heat and smoke, rushed, gasping52 and blackened into the air, to be riddled53 with bullets. Eight, barely, of the garrison54 escaped the holocaust55.
219 Anderson turned west towards Kansas City, expecting to overtake General Price there. En route he killed as he rode. Scarcely an hour of all the long march was barren of a victim. union men, militiamen, Federal soldiers, home guards, Germans on general principles—no matter what the class or the organization—if they were pro-United States, they were killed.
Later on, in the month of October, while well advanced in Ray County, Anderson received the first news of the death of Todd and the retreat of Price. By this time, however, he had recruited his own command to several hundred, and had joined to it a detachment of regular Confederates, guiding and guarding to the South a motley aggregation56 of recruits, old and young. Halting one day to rest and to prepare for a passage across the Missouri River, close to Missouri City, Anderson found one thousand Federals—eight hundred infantry57 and two hundred cavalry. He made haste to attack them. His young lieutenant58, Arch Clements, advised him urgently against the attack, as did Captain A. E. Asbury, a young and gallant Confederate officer, who was in company with him, commanding fifty recruits. Others of his associates did the same, notably59 Colonel John Holt, a Confederate officer, and Colonel James H. R. Condiff. Captain Asbury was a cool, brave, wary60 man who had had large experience in border fighting, and who knew that for a desperate charge raw recruits could not be depended upon.
220 Anderson would not be held back. Ordering a charge, his horse ran away with him and he was seventy-five yards ahead of his followers61 when he was killed. Next to him was William Smith, a veteran Guerrilla of four years’ service. Five balls struck him, and three struck Anderson. Next to Smith was John Maupin, who was wounded twice, and next to Maupin, Cundill, who was also hit, and next to Cundill, Asbury, who got four bullets through his clothes. John Holt, Jim Crow Chiles and Peyton Long had their horses killed. The three Hill brothers and Dick West and ten others of Anderson’s old company fought their way up to Anderson’s body and sought to bring it out. Tuck Hill was shot, so was his brother Woot and Dick West. Their wounds were severe, but not mortal. Once they succeeded in placing it upon a horse; the horse was killed and fell upon the corpse62 and held it to the ground. Still struggling heroically over the body of his idolized commander, Hank Patterson fell dead, not a foot from the dead Guerrilla. Next, Simmons was killed, and then Anson Tolliver, and then Paul Debonhorst, and then Smith Jobson, and then Luckett, then John McIlvaine, and finally Jasper Moody63 and William Tarkington. Nothing could live before the fire of the concealed64 infantry and the Spencer carbines of the cavalry.
A single blanket might have covered the terrible heap of dead and wounded who fought to recover all that remained of that tiger of the jungle. John Pringle,221 the red-headed giant of the Boonville scalps, far ahead of his company, was the last man killed, struggling even to the death to bear back the corpse. He was a captain of a company, and a veteran of the Mexican war, but he did what he would not order his men to do—he rushed up to the corpse heap and fastened about the leg of Anderson a lariat65 that he might drag the body away. The Federals killed his horse. Shot once, he tugged66 at the rope himself, bleeding pitifully. Shot again, he fell, struggled up to his feet, fired every barrel of three revolvers into the enemy, and received as a counter blow two more bullets.
This time he did not rise again or stir, or make a moan. All the wild boar blood in his veins67 had been poured out, and the bronzed face, from being rigid68, had become august.
Joseph and Arch Nicholson, William James, Clell Miller69 and John Warren, all young recruits in their first battle, fought savagely70 in the melee71, and all were wounded. Miller, among those who strove to rescue the corpse of Anderson, was shot, and Warren, wounded four times, crawled back from the slaughter72 pen with difficulty. A minie ball had found the heart of Anderson. Life, thank God, was gone when a rope was put around his neck and his body dragged as the body of a dog slain73 in the woods.
222 Many a picture was taken of the dead lion, with his great flowing beard, and that indescribable pallor of death on his bronzed face. The Federals cut his head off and stuck it on a telegraph pole.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
regiment
|
|
| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
regiments
|
|
| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
cavalry
|
|
| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
crest
|
|
| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
wont
|
|
| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
trot
|
|
| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
gallop
|
|
| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
lank
|
|
| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
spine
|
|
| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
destined
|
|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
contractors
|
|
| n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
confiding
|
|
| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
circumspect
|
|
| adj.慎重的，谨慎的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
implicitly
|
|
| adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
dispersed
|
|
| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
jaws
|
|
| n.口部；嘴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
cavalryman
|
|
| 骑兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
exterior
|
|
| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
reticent
|
|
| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
majestic
|
|
| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
patriotism
|
|
| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
cemetery
|
|
| n.坟墓，墓地，坟场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
avenge
|
|
| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
incessant
|
|
| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
creek
|
|
| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
scouting
|
|
| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
picketing
|
|
| [经] 罢工工人劝阻工人上班，工人纠察线 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
isolated
|
|
| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
squads
|
|
| n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
memorable
|
|
| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
bridles
|
|
| 约束( bridle的名词复数 )； 限动器； 马笼头； 系带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
adorned
|
|
| [计]被修饰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
armory
|
|
| n.纹章，兵工厂，军械库 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
dangling
|
|
| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
profuse
|
|
| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
trophies
|
|
| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
warfare
|
|
| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
generosity
|
|
| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
solely
|
|
| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
conscientious
|
|
| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
depots
|
|
| 仓库( depot的名词复数 )； 火车站； 车库； 军需库 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
entrenched
|
|
| adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
stifled
|
|
| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
gasping
|
|
| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
riddled
|
|
| adj.布满的；充斥的；泛滥的v.解谜，出谜题(riddle的过去分词形式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
garrison
|
|
| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
holocaust
|
|
| n.大破坏；大屠杀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
aggregation
|
|
| n.聚合，组合；凝聚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
infantry
|
|
| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
notably
|
|
| adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
wary
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
corpse
|
|
| n.尸体，死尸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
moody
|
|
| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
lariat
|
|
| n.系绳，套索；v.用套索套捕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
tugged
|
|
| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
rigid
|
|
| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
miller
|
|
| n.磨坊主 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
savagely
|
|
| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
melee
|
|
| n.混战；混战的人群 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
slaughter
|
|
| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
slain
|
|
| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |