Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-03-29
"A boys FIRST FIGHT.
AN ENGLISH STORY.

mef'S morning, Win my COMPANIONS III IN"
yard of the farm where we were quartered.
Some of US were busily hemming in pretty
little bit Of an ensign, on pony, ana trying
to drive him into the acknowledgement IN
the centre of the yard, when man looked
over the gate and quietly said: There
leave off --there's better fun for you; Inc
French are coming on"
We had heard for the last week that about
100, 900 of them were assembling within
few miles of us, and we were living on, just
as unconcernedly 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, | believe, did our lead
era. The general of our division had, some
DAYS before, found out goodly chateau
with a most convenient common near 1t,
where he could exercise his men; and
thither he went, taking us at least ~ miles
from the place where we were supposed to
be. and close to the French frontier We
had now to rejoin the army without mo-
ment's DELAY. if we could, which was doubt
full, for nothing definite was known as to
the movements which might be taking place
On either side.
The first sign of war saw was beacon
by the roadside, which had been fired, and
partly burned down. There was no one
near ii. The bounds had been there, but
there was no trace of them. After toler-
ably long days march, we were 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 the matter? What are they list
enipc to- What are those old hands lay
ing their ears to the ground for?
Don't you hear the firing?
No. Listen.
There No doubt about it.
OH | 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 bristles 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 4O
wiaks, had started to their feet, were gath
ering in little knots, specializing eagerly on
what was 10 come, UuJ IHeTc Wdo Ao hoiS0
beyond busy, angry hum.
The march was resumed, and continued
steadily TIL dusk, when we halted just out
side of town, and hoped for rations. In
stead 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.
~, ,ya want in darkness. rain. hunger
and thirst; on, on, until long after midnight,
when the rain, had become deluge, we
halted in a wretched hamlet, and were told
to expect about three hours rest, but no
food. l got into stable, threw myself on
some straw, my head on a saddle, and sub
sided into o sort of half dreamy repose I;
bat others came in, and we began to discuss
our prospects, under our breaths, lest the
men shauld hear, for it was believed that
the French were between us and our army,
and that our chance of rejoining 1t was a
bad ONE We were four in that stall, and
gloomy enough Two have long been in
their graves, the third is jolly old general,
and as to me-never mlrd.
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. He pleaded
killing weather, fatigue, emptiness; 1t was
but little; it could never else have got into
his head, etc. /; but they would listen to nc
excuses Drink, they said, was all very
well at proper times-a capital thing, nc
doubt; but before The enemy, never He
was a disgrace to the regiment.
The weather improved, and we woke uI
in better humor Coming to the brow of a
little hili there appeared single inquire
coming down the opposite slope towards US
A soldier-Belgium uniforh.-arm IN
sling. % lie has been in the fray-now w
shall know something" But he could no
make himself understood, seemed to hav'
had quite enough of fighting, and was evi
IDENTIFY making for his home. HIS woun'
was looked on as a sham and himself as
deserter. He was hooted out of sight
notbine 10th, About midday we halted In
pleasant meadow, and hopes were held GU
of rations. The officers of my eompan.
sent off one to a little town in sight, to &c
something eatable And now up came lad
in high spirits at having carried his point
Mt anv rate He had been on leave at Brus
sells when the alarm came, and at once de
termined to make his way to his regiment
He had been walking all night, and havln
started. As he was, in dancing shoes, ha
soon worn them clean out. He had seen n
actual fighting, and could only Say that
had been heavy, and the result doubtful
He told us Mai -, a stah othcer, wh
had been much with us, and was UNIVERSAL
liked, had lost leg. "Poor fellow; wha
a horseman he was! His hunting is over !!
This was realizing the matter 10 us--brlne
Jig it home 10 our bosoms.
II WAS the first blow; but there was NJ
much time 10 think of it. Our caterer -
turned with large loaf like life-buoy-
common shape then--smoking hot, ana
bottle of Curacao, both which were dispose
of in an instant. There were rations
hand, we were told; but time was too pr
cious TO wait for them, and we went on OF
way.
Presently there was startling SCUM
Our suspicious imaginations made IL III
Of musketrv close at hand. 1t was only
long. rafting peal of thunder, the first OF
long series of heavy storms.
/. Another alarm A0n rising groun
some way off, came into view strong Dos
~ men. Were they friends or enemies
II the latter, they were too many for u
An right-they we're allies--the risk
bainq cut off was AT al end--we were
with the army. But where had We be-
wandering ever since yesterday morning
never knew. / have in after-times OFT
asked men Who should have known, b
never got an answer.
Once more wa halted; the wagons WI
the meat actually came up; but 1t was .
nounced that the French were close upon Y
and there was not time TO COOK ". -