The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-03-28
A BOYS FIRST FIGHT.
AN ENGLISH STORY


yard of the farm where We were quartcred
Some Of us were busily hemming in pretty
little bit Of an ensign, on pony, and trying
to drive him into the acknowledgement in
the centre Of the yard, when man looked
over the gate and quietly said: " There
leave of-there's better fun for you; the
French are coming on
We had heard for the last week that about
100000 Of them were assembling within q
few miles Of us, and we were living on, just
MS unconcerncdly as most people do live on
in this world, in the midst Of the hundred
thousand unseen dangers which beset every
path of life. Our child's play was over,
mans work was before us. We assembled,
we marched; but not up the lane which
led to our daily drill-ground; our heads
were put the opposite way; whittier bound,
we knew not, nor, l believe, did our lead
crs The general of our division had, some
days before, found out q goodly chateau
with most convenient common near it,
where he could exercise his men; and
thither he went, taking us at least 20 miles
from the place where we were supposed to
be, and close to the French frontier. We
had now to rejoin the army without 2 mo-
ments delay, If we could, which was doubt
full, for nothing definite was known rs to
on either side.
The first sign of war saw was n beecon
by the roadside, which had been fired, and
partly burned down. There was no one
near it, The bounds had been there, but
there was no trace Of them. After q toler-
ably long days march, We we're halted to
rest on a nice bit of roadside common.
Everybody threw himself on the turf, to
make the most of the few minutes; and all
was quiet-strangely quiet.
What's the matter? What are they list
ening to! What are those old hands lay
ing their cars to the ground for
Don't you hear the firing!
No. Listen.
There! No doubt about it.
Oh! l can hear it quite plain. Musketry,
and heavy guns, too ITS general action !;
they are at it, and We here
You have seen hounds in cover when first
they catch the scent-a mere suspicion, not
yet to be confirmed by the tongue-how
their bristlcs will rise, and their whole
frame CULVER. SO it was with the men !;
they were TRANSPORTED Those who min
ute before were only trying to snatch 40
winks, had started to their feet, were gath
ering in little knots, specializing eagerly on
what was to come; but there was no noise
beyond a busy, angry hum.
Tho march was resumed, and continued
steadily til dusk, when We halted Just out
side of a town, and horoi for rations. In
s,eal thereof. there came rushing by raw
Irish regiment, shouting like madmen. The
contempt with which our soldiers locked
down upon this noisy demonstration was
quite beyond words.
On we went, in darkness, rain, hunger
and thirst; on, on, until long after midnight,
when the rain, had become dcluge, we
halted in wretched hamlet, and were told
to expect about three hours rest, but no
food. got into stable, threw myself on
some straw, my head on saddle, and sub
sided into q sort Of half dreamy repose;
but others came in, and we began to discuss
our prospects, under our breaths, lest the
men should hear, for il was believed that
the French were between US and our army,
and that our chance Of rejoining It was
bad one. We we're four in that stall, and
gloomy enough. Two have long been IN
their graves, the third is q jolly old general,
and as to me-never mind.
Day broke-the march was taken up.
One Of the men near me had got drink
somehow. and showed it. His own COM
rades attacked him angrily. lie pleaded
killing weather, fatigue, emptiness; Il was
but little; it could never else have got into
his head, etc. but they would listen to no
excuses. Drink, they said, was oil very
we'll at proper times-a capital thing, no
doubt but before the enemy, never! lie
was q disgrace to the regiment.
The weather improved, and we woke up
in better humor. Coming to the brow OF
little hill, there appeared single neure
coming down the opposite slope towards US.
~
sling. Gle has been in the fray--now We
shall know something" But he could not
make himself understood, seemed to have
had quite enough Of fighting, and was evi.
IDENTIFY making for his home. Ills wound
was looked on as sham and himself rs
deserter. He was hooted out Of sight
nothing 10th. About midday we halted In
pleasant meadow, and hopes were held out
Of rations. The officers of my company
sent off one to little town in sight, to get
aomcthinr eatable. And now up came lad,
n hieh spirits At having carried his point,
At anv rate, He had been on leave at Brus-
sels when the alarm came, ana NJ once ue
4ermincd to make his way to his reaimen'.
iIe had been walking all night, and having
started. As he was, in dancing snoes, nau
soon worn them clean out. lie haa seen no
actual fighting, and could only say 'nas !"
had been heavy, and the result aououul
Ia told us Mai. -, . staff ofhcer, VINO
had been much with US, and was universally
liked. had lost Q leg "Poor fellow; what
. horseman he vast His hunting is overt
wis was realizing the matter to us--oring-
iLe it home to our bosoms.
II was the first blow; but there Was not
much time to think Of it. Our caterer re-
tnrned with large loaf like life-buoy--a
common shane then--smoking hot, and q
bottle of Curacao, both which were disPoseu
81 IN an instant There were rstions at
hand. We were told; but time was too pre-
cious to wait for them, and we went ON our
way. a
Our suspicious imaginations made II nre
of mnsketry close 1t hand. II was only
lone. rafting peal Of thunder, the arst OF
lone series Of heavy storms.
Another alarm ION rising ground,
.oma wav of. came into view strong body
Of men. We're they friends Or enemies J
II the latter, they were too many ior US.
All rieht--they were allies-the RISK OF
being cut of was ct N end-we were up
with the army. But where had We been
wandering ever since yesterday morning!
never knew. | have in after-times often
..ked men vho should have known, but
never got an answer. =,
Once more we halted; the wagons with
the meat actually came up; but u was an
nounced that the French were close upon W,
and thsrs IVES net time 70 eook y. Ias