The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-10-22

security, when dispatch came down for us t,
JOIN our brigade, which was just ordered away
with naval expedition on the coast. l wa!
conscious OF my own utter cowardice; was
aware that on the very first occasion of danger
should disgrace myself. The mirth of my com
panions grated harshly ON my ears. The night
before we expected to come to an anchor my
forebodings of evil would not allow me to rest in
my cot; | therefore went on deck and lent des
pondingly against the mast. had summoned to
my aid all that had ever heard or read of heroic
achievement; and having thus made up my mind
for the worst that could befall me, 1 sunk into a
state of calm and almost selfdevoting despair.
| was interrupted in my revere by voice at my
| side: "Fitz-James," it said, 'what a glorious
moonv' Languidly looked upward, and, see
| ing Wilson's beaming face said in low and
| subsided whisper, " Yes, very"
"We shall have bloody work of it at all events,
and glorious victory, whoever lives to see it.
We shall first have to stand the fire of all the
batteries in going ashore; and after we land, we
shall be attacked by the whole army of the enemy
drawn up On the coast bullets will be as plenti-
full as peas in August, and our regiment will have
it's full share, as we shall most likely be pushed
first to land"
"Indeed ?" I said, as you may imagine, with
no diminution of my dislike to honorable service
"that arrangement strikes me to be very unfair.
The rest of the troops"
"Spoken like yourself; you are always so kind
and cons;derate- why, it may be their turn next
time, and they should not grumble if we step for
once before them into the field of glory"
"Oh! no, have no doubt they don't envy
our situation in the least. For my own part, if
were in their place"
"You would be in devil of passion at being
hoh1 h,,f T Al
from you tomorrow. The eyes of the whole
regiment are upon you, and all Of expect
something quite out of the way"
"They will most probably not be disappointed"
[ said with bitter consciousness; ~ have no
doubt they will see many things to amaze them"
Chow? have you fixed on any plan? That
you will distinguish yourself 1 have no doubt;
but if in doing so, you require the assistance of
another, my sword, my life, which l owe to your
intrepidity, is at your service"
[ grasped him by the arm, and said slowly
and distinctly: "By exposing myself Mark
my works. and remember what have told you"
Having made this confession, I let his arm
go; and IS | slowly turned away to hide my
agony and humiliation, instead of his eyes being
turned on me with the contempt deserved, they
were fixed with look of generous enthusiasm
"For Gods sake" he whispered, edo not ex-
pose yourself too much; but wherever you are,
[ shall be at your side. God bless you! good
night"
Day came at length, and land was deserted at
the distance Of less than twenty miles Every
heart except my own bounded with animation );
but alas with me the sensation was only one of
increased misery and dependence.
Two gunboats were placed in position to de-
molish the battery and cover the landing of the
Tho oof ~ .,,ko
tenfold confusion; the smoke rose in dense
wreaths and under cover of the bombardment
the boats pushed to land. Of my own behavior
l can give you no account. Listening only to
the thunder of the artillery, thinking, suppose
of nothing, but in state of complete torpor and
bewilderment, [ took my station in the boat.
We soon found ourselves drawn up on the shore;
and shout, which for a moment drowned the
roaring of the guns, showed the enthusiasm of
our men, and the success of our enterprise
Mechanically marched along with the others,
rushed up the hillock, and after melee mingled
with many horrd sounds, halfmaddened with
groans shrieks, shoutings, and exclamatons of
every tone and nature, found myself alone.
How it occurred | have never been able to guess
but alone, on the hostile side Of the hllock,
cut off from our own forces, the bravest might
have been excused for giving himself up for lost.
| saw no possibility of escape, unless by conceal
ing myself in the thicket to the right, and | &C
cordingly directed my course to the nearest
clump. The fate Of the attack was not long
doubtful The enemy began to waver, and in a
short time a complete route took place. Horses
in great numbers wild and unmanageable, rushed
past me on every side. In momentary expeeta-
tion of being cleft by some retreating horseman
or trodden to death by the hoofs of his charger
I shrieked and hallowed, but luckily the enemy
were generally more frightened than myself.
In the despair of the moment, although from
my childhood in the utmost terror of trusting
myself On horseback [ determined, as the only
chance of avoiding being ridden over, to seize
some masterless charger, and trust to good for
tune for the rest. | luckily soon caught one as
it galloped past me, and climbed into the saddle.
In an instant the horse continued its flight, and
badly at all times l rode, and half derious as
| was with ALARM l rejoiced to see that its speed
would soon get me out of the crowd. lntently
anxious to preserve my seat, chung with despe-
rate energy to the name, and unfortunately my
sword, which | still retained in my hand, was
jerked by the tossing of my career against my
face, and inflicted this CHASTITY wound, of which
you see the mark upon my brow. My horse
with untired speed continued his fight, and was
evidently gaining rapidly upon those who had
HeO DtIoTc LII particular, L sd" was ioiIo"lHS
exactly in the track of an old officer, evidently
of distinction, whose horse gave tokens of fatigue
The blood, perceived, was trickling from seve-
raj wounds it had received, and / began to be
dreadfully alarmed that its rider, when should
overtake. him, you'd blow out my brains with
the pistols at his holsters. In this state man
aged to catch hold of the reins, but alas! found
that had little power in reducing my horses
speed. Just, however, as got up with the Off