The Portland daily press., 1866-05-25

| ing in brigade line of battle down upon the
enemy. Hard work was it for us, ara put
slow. By the right of companies to the 'front.',
where the hanging vines and fallen logs rmped-
ed our progress, and by companies INTO line,
whenever things would admit ofour resnming
the line of battle.
| Aware of our close proximity to the enemy,
| and to guard against surprise, the precaution
was taken by the Brigade officer to throw out
yidettes-two from each company-alone the
entire line, fifty yards in advance
With trusty "Springfields" balanced in their
hands, ready Tor instant action, this new line
proceeded carefully to the front, peering eau
tiously, indlan-like, expecting each moment to
| receive the fire OF concealed foe.
IL Is at such moments as these that Pc
cuilar, lll-defined apprehension will thrill the
man whose courage is not altogether british.
Many brave eye that would not shrink from
what was before us, at that moment turned
wistfully to the startled birds of the forest, en-
| wing their freedom and power to escape from
| the conflict towards which every step was
bringing us nearer. There was the usual pro-
portion OF cowaldice, that manifested itself in
the pale face, quivering lips and almost invol-
untary disposition to get little in the rear, as
chance offered; no opportunity now to linger
to NIL canteen, to tie up shoe, or to be
seized with sudden illness; onward was the
word.
1t was bright, beautiful SATURDAY. after
noon, this April Esd of 1864, and now recol-
| lect that was wondering as l advanced with
| that line OF battle, whether it was as pleasant
in old Portland, and how it would appear to
our friends, could they see us pushing down
Since the battle of Pleasant Hill, strong
aeslre ior one more crack at the enemy had
possessed me, but it appeared differently at
Snis moment when they were soon to have the
first crack at us. There was reinsurance,
however, in the calm, determined, though
thoughtful expression of my comrades faces,
| and but grasped my musket tighter and felt
That pride if not courage would take me
| through. r ~
The bright light Of the afternoon sun, glin-
merinS through the trees in our front. indiicat-
ed the edge of the woods, and breaking sud
denly out into cleared space of ground
thousand yards wide by twice as many in
length, we beheld directly in our front close
ly wooded hill, steep of ascent, and upon which
we knew the rebels had taken their position.
1t was clear there was no diminishing in the
woods, among and behind the trees, for us,
| but charge across that plain in the face Of
| an unseen foe, to whose sure aim we could re-
turn but an uncertain and Intellectual fire.
| A puff of white smoke-cr ack-zip-an-
other and another, and zip-zee, zip-zee whiz-
zed the enemys messengers.
rail fence which ss;rted tRe forest and sta ~
| inc there. with no foe in siolt +hn,,,l, ~
pleasantly conscious of his presence from tha
| puffs of smoke which questionable floataJ ont
| from among the trees. the order fo s.l;a downn
was received with some Satisfaction
A line of skirmishers taken from the ex-
IRENE right, was now seen rapidly deploying
out from halt, about half way across fine field
and soon the answering crack of their rif1as
gave intimation to the "rebss Of our inten-
tions.
Passing in their fight, above the heads of
the skirmshers. the bullets s1no their ION
twit around us. ticking the rail fence and hnz-
zing on over our PROSTATE forms into tho for-
est, cutting leaves and twigs here and there
dropping them not unlike the first few fakes
of an approaching snow-storm.
Zeu-ping! warbled n brllet inst ovor M,
head, and burrowed closer to tbe oro,,, nd,
while at the same moment another cr,t the
cloth of Billy CTS coat-collar. T believe ,re
each experienced but one feeling that Of in.
tolerable suspense and a lonoin@ for inn, ID;
ate action, when the order came from our cap-
tain:
slump up, boys, and throw down the fence
work lively, we've no time to lose" and in con.
cert with other companies, up we spranp. ton.
ping over the rails like so many iacx-straws
One moment more. and forward lido GEN.
tre-donble ouick-marcb w r.nr into orr
ears and amid the increasing ha;I s. r-b;,4,:~e
balls dasbaJ Tho hovs tbas 10. - mn,su,no
twenty Yards in advance Will Ioior DTS, o. Name
ssr;oht sia,,i5a,sl;s az, mnhe WIN pieces at
ch oina vol ,vh;ch ;nsr; aadS gave voice 10
ver;ast eoynard -, ~ se1d anu cneereo tne
sorao ~ a. ti,u VI u,lo neiu.
and fa,Is uni ' f.or up nas lndsket, staggers
o,,,. no,,,nam1 WI e aow IRREGULAR nne OF
thn,, v aash W" hoe Is Ls-Dut on we dash,
.nousalo ,i.snes pe'ore US, tne dead and dy-
sS ns.n IN, IS soor Jerry a., the pest boy
han - Id a." .a.s aSi IoA IN .ne mead by r1ne
tIa saiJ % .ua. oiaveiy away rom thc pat
ia =. a., '4e puies causing no pam save that
S. irn s ~ ne". 70 VI .nose VINO loVed MN.
gun , ot we 20, no opportunity 70 return the
nv whns sloa M here OF "a snrlek there, with
Ine eIacu'al I ~ 0oq, Doys, I'm mtE ever
alIsl rings ~ our ears SUI leaving more
anu anu more wcundeo, aynng sunerng ones be-
lllnu Us, clyins lor a i'ltle wafer onward
s anu THOUGH tne sIorln we plunge, until as IL
cy co.iInoh conseht we nait ana denver our
nr y IRE IRE.
oIr Hoionefs gone up, boys. said one. as
ne took aeaoerate sight along the barrel of
nis piece. AN, anu tnere goes 'Dutter-nuf to
pay icr II, u'scharSing ms rlne at felfow
s1aIiding OUT rom pehind we trees.
. puI ule coionel hao not gone up. as the
4