The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-09-25

In the confusion, when the different
companies lost their order, and parties Of
| stIacglers began wandering TO the rear,
Captain Godfrey drew up his lnen in posi-
ton. and stepped out to the front,
.Who viii g TO glory with me, now?''
| he asked. pointing 10 the battery with his
bloody sword ..Whoever isn't afraid,
come on, If you wont follow, | shall have
to take that battery aloRe".'
This magnificent piece of hyperbele
must have been heard to be appreciated.
| The Yhole scene agreed with us tenor
4 field covered with ghastly corpsea and
wounded men wreck Of arms and equi-
page scattered everywhere; slnok y
/ stenching atmosphere, quiyering and
| pierced by the terrible wells and cries OF
! the dying, the awful scream Of wounded
horses, the horrible conclusion Of heavy
cannon necessarily fired, and the fierce
/ howl Of a thousand shot and shell ; a dis
! ordered and brok en- host of men, tremblin q
on the verge of fight, with officers gallop-
ing hither and thither, cursing, praying
threatening and implorins by turns-this
was the exaggerated and wonderful back
ground TO the picture. In front, amid the
wreck and ruin and pools of gore, and
golgotha-piles Of dead company OF sixty
or seventy heroes, without coats, often
without shirts, without knapsacks, without
a Gag, with uniforms of half a-dozen pat
terms, and arms as ill-assorted; muddy,
dusty, bloody, bruised, blackened. lower
ing OF eye anG defiant OF lips, and before
them ALL the tall. naufy fisure OF their
leader. with his face covered with blood
from tine bandaged cash on his forehead.
ms broad chest exposed, bis sleeves rolled
up, and his hands, arms, legs and feet i'm
| bued and clotted with gore. ike those Of
a butcher, waving that crimson blade, and
rearing forth his determination, too i'm
possible for threat, aud too splendid for
boast-that was the situation.
Without waiting for murmur OF assent
from his men, this aiad creature cried !:
Now then. Double quick. Charge" and
ran forward atfull speed toward the bat
tery. thsszopened ils ..deathiui, grinning
mouths" al short intervals to enit tongues
of FIRE and iron that licked up men and
horses and trees alike. The scattering
regiment saw the charge and Paused
Several companies, not vet disordered, got
into line and Followed but Godfrey and
his command were already tar in advance.
Flame aud fury whirled down IN red
hot sheets OF destruction from the battery.
/ Thick smoke and darkness lurked behind.
| 1t was an inky cloud, sitting ah6 heavy,
but charged with the splendor and horror
Of pandemonium. The air gaped and
closed with terrific blows at every shot, and
the ground trembled and WINGED at the
L i Il i
glared, and scorched the very eye balls Of
those who looked. All was vague and
bewiidcrine with dizzy noises, and roaring
as of million wheels and voices aud the
brain soon got befogged aud dazed 10y the
awful nagnifcence ot the ascent into the
teeth Of the guns that shouted defiance and
Ieaped back like living foes.
Into the centre OF this he'll went Captain
Godfrey, crying as be ran:
Il was called a coward, yesterday, boys !.
what Go you think Of this -
As the devoted remnant OF the company
for only forty men reached the front of
! the battery-cane exactly before the guns,
sudden discharge Of grapeshot roared
along the hill, breast high, and storm Of
musketry followed The few companies
llidi id4 ttE-A iltS Vi S4iC --f>
replied by close volley, as they charged,
and within few moments the hill was
covered with a mass Of determined men,
pouring up in increasing numbers, and
stretching down To the wooded ravinc be-
yond, where the enemy had already begun
to waver The ice WAS broken the path
was shown by Captain Godirey's men, and
the regiment had followed, unable TO
stand still and see such deed Of daring
done.
The battery wa. Withdrawn with mar
velous speed and address, but the infantry
tha. had supported it was driven back in
disorder 1t was successful repulse, and
due entirely 10 the untiinchihg herosm OF
the little band that led And that band !?
| know nothing OF ii, save that Godfrey 5
body was found whore the centIe oi the
battery had been. His sword, still grasped
la his hand, was through an artiiieryula1 5
ribs, aud nusket ball had gone inio his
own chest, just over the heart There
were seventeen other wounds upon him,
but thar one killed him. As for his men,
the hill was, an old sergeant said, '-carPet
cd with corpses; suppose theirs were Il
portion OF the capet