Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-03-04
A Racy War Sketch.

"lnto the Lions Mouth" is the title @
a chapter in Hosmer's "Color Guard,
, perhaps the most readable and valuab
book called forth by the war,-the fol-
lowing is specimen of the book, Guile,
from this chapter
The Fifty second bad stopped for it
{ dinner last Saturday noon. lay, as
have written it, on my side, pencil il
hand; then / snooze1; then / looked
across the furrows, through the sweet
sunny, blossom scented airs, to the long
line of the Ninety first, their color ex.
actly opposite ours. Half dozen pigs
ran down between the regiments; a
gauntlet, ! believe, not one survived
and before night they were eaten with
much gusto for, during our stay at Ba-
ton Rouge, we have very rarely tasted
fresh meat.
Boom, boom big guns from the riv-
er. We can hear, too, the cough of high
pressure transport steamers, and know
now that the fleet are, at least, as near
old Port Hudson as we are and we are
only four or five miles away. At length
"Fall in, men, at once p An aid has
come galloping up TO the colonel, who is
on horseback in moment. ave shall
probably have sharp work before we
come back Keep cool, and do not
waste your fire." So Capt. Morgan and
the rest gave such caution TO their men
as is needful on the eve of battle
Leave knapsacks here; the footsore
men will guard them,"-poor Hines, and
the like of him, whose feet these real Sc
cesh roads have beaten and bruised with
true rebel violence.
How do we feel? We are going out
to meet the enemy, we all fully believe,
and so do our officers and even staff
officers of the General, who are friendly
to us, look pityingly after, as we march
on; for they know, though De do not,
that we are to be pushed up in front of
the whole army, into close range of the
cannon upon the fortress walls. The
Fifty-second is cool, and yet eager; and
not man, that can limp at all, wants 10
stay. For the last thing, load" !" Open
cartridge box; tear the tough paper from
the powder and-there it goes down the
barrel; and now the ball half.cock,
then cap the cone, and all is doue. If
have to fire, it will be for the cause
Scruples, now, are mere squeamishness.
Now, "By :he right flank, forward p
Hardiker carries the white State flag,
the tall sergeant, the Stars and Stripes.
Old flag, you are woven of no ordinary
stuff Rank and file and shoulder straps,
is sacred thing !! 1t has for warp, lib
erty; and for a woof, constitutional or
der +; and is dyed deep in tints Of love
and justice. Between Hardiker and the
sergeant marches Wilson-a fine looking
corporal, with military face, eye, and
figure; mustached, bearded, eager-such
a face as have seen in Horace Vernet's
battle-pieces. A good marksmar, too, is
Wilson; for many years the terror Of
squirrels in the woods of E.. Prince
and Claypole cover Hardiker and Will
son while l march behind, right in the
folds of the great flag. Alongside, in
the line of file closers, go West, and lisp
ing light-haired Wiebel, the German
and, last, the ever sage, serene, and sat
isfactory Bias Dickinson.
So we go out of the field into the road,
in the centre of the long column, with
banners waving, and, | hope, the true
light of battle upon our faces-solGiers
in a noble cause-iarmer and mechanic.
merchant and preacher, shoulder to
shoulder. Boom = 90 the far away guns.
We are moving rapidly to the front: so
the other regiments and the stout battery
men and the yellow cavalry men give
way for US, cheering US on. Down
cross road toward the river, sweet south
wind shaking white cloud -favors out of
every window in heaven at us; the sun
smiling God speed, and the lady rose
bushes, from fence corners Ike balconies