Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-08-20

against fearful odds Lights flashed about cheeri-
ly in the hospitable homes of the "Cockade City,
and fair maidens with faces beaming with JOY, fit
ted ike aaspieious stars, from one gladdened home
to another, TO tell and hear of the great victory
their brave countrymen had won. .,
In one home, at least, fear and apprehension
were mingled with their heartfelt joy.
sat is a splendid victory! Our boys fought Like
Spartans, said old Mr. Danvers, settling himself
into his easy arm chair, after having paced the a.
'partment, e1citedly, for some seconds-"but Their
mopyle left only the bones and the memory Of her
three hundred, and fear I'VE shall tomorrow see
q long, black-black list of the killed and wound
ed"
"Why, father --interposed his daughter, a
beautiful maiden Of seventeen -"they say our loss
has been quite small only about fifty killed and
wounded" -.->ase.s -'
'Don't believe it, Sue," replied the old gentle
man, with an incredulous shake Of the head.
s'Vietories cost human limbs and human lives
Many poor fellow who went by our door at noon
full of life and health, lies cold and stark on the
field this night They went to their fate like game
fellows. My heart aehed for them; for knew
there was deeper sleep for many Of them this
night, than ever they found on mothers bosom
or q bed of down.. As they went by, / thought of
what Byron says of the poor fellows-braVe Eng
iish bloods-who sleep at Waterloo" and with
his hands resting on his gold-headed cane, the
stately old Vnginian repeated aloud, as if to him
SELF. . . -, ... ....,, ..
aAnd Ardennes waves above them her green leaves,
Dewy, with natures tear drops as they pass,
Grieving IL aught inanimate eer grieves,
Over the unreturniDg hrave-aias!
Which now beneath them but above shall grow,
" In It's next verdure, when this fiery mass
Gnd as Susins t % h4 hope .al moulder cold and low"
sThat is beautiful" exclaimed his daughter,
looking the pleasure, which the recital Of the lines
afforded her.
''It is simply horrible, replied the old gentle
man, with emphasis. 1T is terrible to one who
has SON in the melee You see only the poetry
of battle, Sue but look at it in its prosaic light.
What if those two fine youths who halted on the
sidewalk at noon are tonight lying on the field,
shattered corpses? I thought of them and their
widowed mothers when heard the booming of
the guns. would give half am worth to know
they came out safe. That boy-Victor, think he
called himself-has gentle blood in him. am
sure of that. Did he not promise to let us hear
from him when the fight was over?"
'sI think he did, sir," replied Susan Danvers.
''He saved your cousin Nellie's life, and we owe
him every kindness and attention" said Mr. Dan
vers. "I think shall ride out to camp, to-mor-
row, and see how it has gone with him. By the
way, Sue, tomorrow will be busy day with you
There will be wounded men coming in by the first
train, and we must not let them be neglected.
Mo- no! no! The best we have is too poor for
the man who offers his life for his country. You
will have to be busy, Sue. No flags and process
sions now. All that is past Ambulances and
lint and bandages and good nursing are the cards
now. You girls think battle is magnificent
thing, and so it is when it is hundred miles away,
but when it comes to your door, it is very horri:
bic and ghastly affair"
The old gentleman arose and slowly paced the
floor of his apartment, winding up his watch as he
did So The hands showed the usual hour for his
retiring, but his thoughts were too busy and excl
ted to permit him to seek repose.
'sI am going to take short walk, Sue, but you
need not sit up to bid me good night when l re-
turn. shall go down to the depotto learn all the
particulars of the fight, as they come in. I shall
want glass of cold punch when return. You
can have it sent up to my bedroom, that it may
be ready for me, but don't wear the roses from
your face, keeping late hours on my account l
can take care of myself very well. Good night,
Sue. Don't sit up-I can give you all the news
over our breakfast" Thus saying, with proud
and elastic step and bearing himself as erect as
youth of twenty, the hale old gentleman left the
house. and twirling his gold-headed cane in his
hand as he went stroled leisurely off towards the
railroad depot, where an anxious crowd had gath
cred to CLEAN every particular of the days fight,
and to discuss the prospectsof the morrow strug,
gle.
The city was wide awake and full of rumors and
excitement, but the heroes who had made the day
so memorable, were mostly buried in sleep. There
were still, however, few whom theheavy respon'
sibilites resting upon them, did not suffer to seek
the repose so much needed.
Among that number was Colonel Giles, who,
notwithstanding the brilliant action just fought,
was not so blinded by his victory, as to rest in fan
cicd security, onthe laures he had won. He vel
knew that when the morrow dawned, he would
have to contend with an overwhelming force Of the
enemy, rendered but the more cautious by defeat
He well knew all the difficulties and hazards of his
position, and was aware that theenemy would take
advantage of the night to re-organize his forces
for the approaching conflict, and that fresh troops
would be led up to open the attack against him or
the morrow, with renewed energy and spirit.
At an early hour, so soon in fact as his picketE
had been posted, he unroled his blanket under
some wide spreading trees, and stretching his wea
ry form at length, gathered around him a small
group of trusted officers, to take counsel as to the
morrow's work.
Among those who had been summoned to this
informal council, was Captain CarbeTy, who, al
though usually prone to make jest OF the sobe'
business of life was yet clear headed and saga
cious counsellor in an emergency like the present.
As yet reinforcemeuts, though hourly expected
had failed to come up, and the question which thu
small group was earnestly discussing was, whether
they should venture, in case no reintorcements
came up during the night, to hold their present