Baffled Ambuscade

by Ambrose Bierce

Connecting Readyville and Woodbury was good, hard turnpike nine or ten miles long Readyville was an outpost Federal army at Murfreesboro; Woodbury had the same Confederate army at Tullahoma For months big battle at Stone River these outposts were in constant quarrel, most trouble occurring, naturally, turnpike mentioned, between detachments of cavalry Sometimes the infantry and artillery took hand game by way of showing their good-will

One night squadron of Federal horse commanded by Major Seidel, gallant and skillful officer, moved out from Readyville on an uncommonly hazardous enterprise requiring secrecy, caution and silence

Passing the infantry pickets, the detachment soon afterward approached two cavalry videttes staring hard darkness ahead There three

"Where is your other man ? " said the major "I ordered Dunning here to-night "

"He rode forward, sir," the man replied " little firing afterward, but long way front "

" against orders and against sense for Dunning to ," said the officer, obviously vexed "Why did he ride forward ? "

"Don't know, sir; mighty restless Guess skeered "

remarkable reasoner companion absorbed expeditionary force, it resumed its advance Conversation was forbidden; arms and accouterments were denied the right to rattle The horses' tramping was all that heard movement was slow as little as possible after midnight and pretty dark, although bit of moon somewhere behind the masses of cloud

miles along, the head column approached dense forest of cedars bordering the road on both sides The major commanded halt by merely halting, and, evidently himself bit "skeered," rode on alone to reconnoiter followed, however, by his adjutant and three troopers, who remained little distance behind and, unseen by him, saw all that occurred

After riding about hundred yards toward the forest, the major suddenly and sharply reined horse and sat motionless saddle Near the side road, in little open space and hardly ten paces away, stood the figure of man, dimly visible and as motionless as he The major's first feeling of satisfaction in having left his cavalcade behind; were an enemy and should escape little to report The expedition was undetected

Some dark object was dimly discernible man's feet; the officer make it out instinct true cavalryman and particular indisposition discharge of firearms, he drew his saber The man on foot made no movement in answer challenge The situation was tense and bit dramatic Suddenly the moon burst through rift clouds and, himself shadow of group of great oaks, the horseman saw the footman clearly, in patch of white light Trooper Dunning, unarmed and bareheaded The object at his feet resolved itself into dead horse, and at right angle across the animal's neck lay dead man, face upward moonlight

"Dunning has had the fight life," thought the major, and was about to ride forward Dunning raised his hand, motioning him back with gesture of warning; then, lowering the arm, he pointed place where the road lost itself blackness cedar forest

The major understood, and turning his horse rode back little group that had followed him and was already moving rear in fear displeasure, and so returned head command

"Dunning is just ahead there," captain leading company "He has killed his man and something to report "

Right patiently they waited, sabers drawn, but Dunning come In an hour the day broke whole force moved cautiously forward, its commander not altogether satisfied faith in Private Dunning The expedition had failed, but something remained

little open space off the road they found the fallen horse At right angle across the animal's neck face upward, bullet brain, lay the body of Trooper Dunning, stiff as statue, hours dead

Examination disclosed abundant evidence that within half-hour the cedar forest occupied by strong force of Confederate infantry--an ambuscade