Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1863-03-18

| ten hlnseH so lar as 10 oHer MIN an IRE
trievable insult.
! Il connot- serve loager in a position
from which my superior officer has
threatened to have me cashiered," he
said, "but am particularly desirous Of
taking part in all the actions that may
occur here on the peninsula. IF you can
give me aftemporary commando don't
care how humble--I will guarantee that
no disgrace shall come fit The reason
why withdrew the Sixteenth Regiment
from the post assigned it by General
Waring, was because General Mcclellan
himself ordered it.
Why did you not explain that to
General Waring?"
His words were such as no gentleman
could reply to-"
A Captaincy in another regiment was
offered to the Major, and it was also
promised that full investigation should
be made, into the affair,
This was the fourth day of the pro-
tracted battle that attended the transfer
of the Army of the Potomac from the
ChickahOminy to the James river There
had been some gallant fighting ever day,
and the army was thinned and weary,
but undaunted. When the line Of battle
was formed, on the following morning,
Major Godfrey found himself put in com
mand of handful of heroes, gathered
from several annihilated companies, and
formed into a new one.
As he walked down this line Of incon-
gruOusly assorted men, soiled, grimmed,
and in many cases wounded, he spoke a
few stirring words:
"Boys," said he, sternly, you look
like fighters, and fighters are just what l
want, 1 shall ask you to follow me
wherever I choose to lead you. And III
lead you into some jolly places. If you
don't follOw-Tll go alone !"
A cheer was the response to this ad-
dress, for the men saw that their captain
was in earnest, that he had a difficulty
with destiny. And the only men who
do anything altogether well, whether it
be singing, or writing, or fighting, or
preaching, or what not, are the ones who
are working out mighty quarrel with
fate.
The battle came on later this fifth day
than on the previous mornings, for both
armies were severely harrassed and wea-
ried by repeated attacks, rePulses and
retreats.
The lines were not 50 firm and steady
as on the first day, and some regiments
showed great gaps, and told most eIo-
quentiy Of the courage and determination
with which they had met the enemy.
Still, when the ball was fairly opened,
and the cannonade music began to make
the air tremble and collapse at every mo
ment, the tried soldiery plucked up
new energy, and fought-pardon me the
little patriotic egotism-as [ believe Am
orleans only can fight, North and South.
Captain Godfrey kept his word He
did lead his men, and into Jolly places
He seemed to think that he had command
ofa division instead Of a company, and
could cope with any odds. The enemy
astonished at the reckless brilliancy of
his charges, could but think that he was
supported by a powerful force, and often
fell back when they might have surroun-
ded the entire company.
During one of these savage onslaughts
sabre happened to alight upon the
young officers forehead, knocking off his
cap, and leaving fine crimson trench
from his hair to his eyebrow. After this
he looked more like the men he led. They
we're all blood, and dust, and powder
GRIM and when they came crushing
down in close order, with bayonets fixed,
called on by their dauntless leader, coat
less, hatless, with a bloody handkerchief
upon his head, and his sword dropping
gore as he waved in on the charge, it was
not so strange that the foe gave way, even
when they. outnumbered this desperate
band five to one.
The Colonel of the regiment in which
Godfrey was detailed to serve, was de-
lighted. He could not see what General
Waring could have found with such an
officer, and spoke many encouraging
words to the young man.
D @If he ever comes out of this" he
said, " he will be set up two or three
pegs higher at once, if I am judge. He
means fight, and that is just the kind of
men we want. "
There was some confusion for few
minutes on the right Of their regiment,
and the men evinced tendency to fall
back, that, to do them justice, was per-
feetly natural. The Confederates had
advanced all their lines, and battery Of
twolve-pOunder field guns had been plac-
ID so as to sweep diagonally the ground
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