A Tough Tussle by Ambrose Bierce

Name: A Tough Tussle
Author: Ambrose Bierce

"A Tough Tussle" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1890. The story follows a man named John Smith, who finds himself in a precarious situation after being attacked by a group of bandits while traveling through the desert. With no one to help him, John must use his wits and resourcefulness to escape from the bandits and find his way back to civilization. Along the way, he faces numerous challenges and obstacles, including a treacherous mountain pass and a swarm of venomous insects. Will John be able to overcome these challenges and make it out of the desert alive? Read "A Tough Tussle" to find out.

By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1894 · Genre: Short Stories, Horror, Fantasy · 3,439 words

First lines

ONE night in the autumn of 1861 a man sat alone in the heart of a forest in western Virginia. The region was one of the wildest on the continent-the Cheat Mountain country. There was no lack of people close at hand, however; within a mile of where the man sat was the now silent camp of a whole Federal brigade. Somewhere about-it might be still nearer-was a force of the enemy, the numbers unknown. It was this uncertainty as to its numbers and position that accounted for the man's presence in that lonely spot; he was a young officer of a Federal infantry regiment and his business there was to guard his sleeping comrades in the camp against a surprise. He was in command of a detachment of men constituting a picket-guard. These men he had stationed just at nightfall in an irregular line, determined by the nature of the ground, several hundred yards in front of where he now sat. The line ran through the forest, among the rocks and laurel thickets, the men fifteen or twenty paces apart, all in concealment and under injunction of strict silence and unremitting vigilance. In four hours, if nothing occurred, they would be relieved by a fresh detachment from the reserve now resting in care of its captain some distance away to the left and rear. Before stationing his men the young officer of whom we are writing had pointed out to his two sergeants the spot at which he would be found if it should be necessary to consult him, or if his presence at the front line should be required.

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A Tough Tussle is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1894 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Ambrose Bierce
Date: 1894 CE
Language: English
Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Fantasy, War Literature, Satire
Length: 3,439 words
Structure: 1 section, 32 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Short Stories — The book is a collection of short stories by Ambrose Bierce, making this the primary relevant genre.
Horror — Several stories in the book contain elements typical of the horror genre, such as suspense, mystery, and supernatural phenomena.
Fantasy — In some stories, Ambrose Bierce employs fantastical elements that divert from the realism of the ordinary world.
War Literature — Certain stories reflect the author's experiences in the American Civil War, often featuring soldiers, battles, and other elements of war.