The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-06-23

A Battle Fi.li-Black masses Of smoke
drifting overhead. Below, black masses OF
mon and there-motonless --hurrying char
ging-retreating Red hsshers Of fire dart
ING cut ""at suden intervals-the stragglers
lying stark aud dead, clotting the fells, tho
woodlands and the roads-batieries with their
powder stained pieces, and the haggard artil.
ierymen fitting wildly arrounl them-an
occasional cheer coming hoarsely up in the
distance, as some regiment gpes swinging on
the double quick. tho men bareheaded, with
tongues lollng from their mouths, eager eyed
all dust, b'grinm,J and breathless. Skir.
mishers outlying in every thcket creeping
up hills aud through wo,l, 10 long, snaky
lines bare armed surgeons, sweating with
hacking aud manging, towards the rear
pale officers 10 groups, discussing, giving hur.
ried orders, and peering anxlously through
field. .glasses-aiis darting off into the smoke
and never returning stained orderlies
darting up out Of tho smoke with mysterious
dispatches. and instantly disappearing again
like phantom messengers-the roar OF the
great guns heard miles and mos away, rat
Ting the glass 10 the windows Of peaceful
hornesteads, where they think its some dis
Look at that regiment charging the rebe.
battery on tho hill, yon ler--.hat formidable
battery, which. hidden by felled trees and
stones walls and brush barric'dis. has been
playing all day with such deadly effect upon
our poor fellows. Down they 60 into tn q
valley at a bafruu, canteeus jinglng, muskets
at slope, tight-wasted officers already begin
ming to pant little; men loosening theiI
knapsack straps ready to throw them Oft when
they begin the real work. Now they cross
the little brooklet in the hollow--iozens o
them stopping to catch draught Of water--
aud now and then they check their speed fol
an instant to dress, before they face the un.
s,en battery, whose position is indicated only
by tho laundering discharges which at every
instant shake the ground.
Nick Dudley is at their head, as where else
should their colonel bel And see, SEQ! wba
a flmy fire CLEANS in those dreary eyes as ht
turns his flushed face up towards tho threat
ening heights!
I" Now, boys"
A hoarse cheer from their thousand parch
ed throats, and on they go sweeping up tn
hill like a great sea wave A deeper roa
from the rebel guns, depressed so low tha
the crucl grape gocs terring right into the
face of the advancing ranks. An instant
pause, aud out Of smoke come pouring hun
dreds of rebel horsemen, barbaric fellows, th
cleaners who follow the harvest Of the crap
shot, riding down the reelins columns--yell
ug--slasbing like devils.
Where is the Colonel, nowi Why don
his voice riso above the death shrok and mus
ket shot lik trumpet call to his brave boys
See! Flash, fash, flash from his revolver
and down goes rebel dragoon. Too late
for, with the rush and roar Of catarac,
]. they sweep over him, and Nick is left lyinl
on his back, with another aud fresher sea
across his forehead; his right arm twiste'
hopelessy under him; a singing, numbin
} pain 10 every nerve; thousand pieces OF ar
iilery 10 bis brain!
3 Oh, the sweet, sweet light--all fade to
!. gether from his bewildored soul