Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-08-06

was no time to linger or delay: The battalion
passed through the streets, md was gone like tn,
shadow Of a flying eagle aedNyaa
| One or two old and thoughful men shook thei
heads forebodingly, as thelsoupd Of the measured
footsteps of this handfulof brave men, died out il
the distance. .s4g,i a!'i ns s:1E'i zs7s ...s:aA,
'They are too few-too fsEto accomplish any
thing, +" muttered one. "What is 50 small hand
lfal Of men, however brave, against against thousands o
"You are right, neighbor,' responded another
sThe skirmish line alone Of Che enemy will over
match them. Yet they seem 10 be right pluck!
tfelJows! More's the pity-they viii die like gam,
cocks in the pit, shouting defiance with the las
breath. Poor fellows !. before ;yO1der sun sets
many Of themEwili lie stiff and stark on theiool'
ground" a'!2"21f't,' .''S''-i 5';t 1'''.::;'
Thus spoke, two of the spectators in tones o
depondepcy ssto the result but the general feel
ing throughout thecity, was one of exhilaratot
and hope. They were no longer q population de
fenceless and abandoned The bayonets of bray.
Carolinians were cleaning between them and tn!
foe. There was at least comfort and hope in that
If there was apprehension, il vas still hope apt
/ how little hope will oyerbalance well justified
fear, and Danish it, from the thoughts, a few
hours Of delay would enable reinforcements to inter
pose, in numbers sufficient to make the enemy
tremble in turn. None or almost none-market
how few were the bayonets flashing along the road
| to meet the enemy. That insignificant battalion
was, to many, Gideon and his host an instrument
in the hands of the Almighty to triumph over th'
|legions of ON impious and cruel foe. To others i
was as an armed knight, ;sheathed in the psnopl!
Of righteous cause, going with eonsecrated ban
ner and sword against horde of, enemies, naket
and accused. Surely, theusht they, ,the blessing
of heaven viii surround, as with 9 wall Of fire,
city where 80 many hands are lifted up in praye
for help. 4 - a III. 1..., ~ qr,,,s5a
The battalion passed on amid the waving .
hankerchief, and cries Of welcome and joy ,fon
sweet lips, while the refreshments provided fo
their use, stood untasted by the wayside. The sol
ders were gone, and the citizens began to leave th
sidewalk andreturn slowly into their homes; sepa
rated from the street only by small gardens o
shrubbery and flowers, when Two soldierswho hat
become separated from their command, came hast
ening along, with rapid STEP 70 overtake thei
companions "A group, consisting Of an elderl!
gentleman and his wife and couple Of young Ia
dies, and two youths of twelve or thirteen, wa
still lingering by the sidewalk, ID front Of house
evidently the abode Of ease and refinement. Th'
two young ladies having entered t6e.gate Of th'
garden of shrubbery, were advancing along th'
grayelly walk towards the house, when the sount
Of rapid footsteps, hurTyiing along the side walk
caused them to pause and look back e be elderl!
lady was also about toretire, followed BY servan
with basket of provisions upon her arm, .WheI
the sight Of the young soldersap causet
her to linger. sa 27'' '1.4 s>'' = ''''eS~';.@ =
Raising their caps as they came up; the youni
soldiers about To pass with His simple sall
tation, but the old lady taking the basket of pro
visions from the hands of the servant, came kindly
forward and urged the youths to eli up their haver
sacks. 7.. SO % 30 -..7.- q
While Victor-for he was one of the two belatet
soldiers-was storing his haversackwit the tempt
ing viands, the old lady ventured gently TO censu
the conduct of Col Giles, IN not permitting hi
men to halt and partake Of the good cheer whicl
had been provided for their comfort a-.'h ..-s
81 think he acted quite prudenly, madam,
returned Victor, helping himself from the tray
1T would never do to suffer the regiment to breal
ranks at time like this, when we are hurryinl
to meet the enemy. Moments areipreciousin sucl
emergencies; and besides, manyJa soldier VIII
would acquit himself well, if brought'face to face
with the enemy, would fail to find his place in tn
ranks again, if suffered to leave it, ever so short
time" faaz sss,s = = ,a~7S a1 g. bG7 nj is3SIa9
t' And you2 2',tasked the Virginia matIon, ,.with'
quiet smile, while her penetrating eye rested upo'
Yictor's face sza ~ 7z>sa{!Gs T-rsT 5a'i'-.
"I," responded Victor, "happen'Rhat may,
must be with my regiment. Ny widowedsmothe
would die with shame, were there asbatie. .ands.
not there: I thank you, my hayersaek is nowfulL'
Harry Prescott, Victors companion, urged b.
the hospitable matron, had also wellsupplied hi
hayersack With the tempting fare, which WIS mos
kindly pressed upon theiraeceptance. Victor ant
he were now inseparable companions, and Will
their regiment Was marching Through the city
their we'll known sense of honor and fidelity, hat
obtained for them leave of Absence to makes fes
purchases of much needed articles nnder o stric
injunction to hurry forward to the Richmohdant
Petersburg depot, and rejoin their regiment with
out delay. .a sz.sq1sa.ea .s,s& .zr
"And your metheris widow r. asked the el
derly gentleman of whomlRe have spoken a tall
! portly man, whose head was 'blossoning like tn
snow plum" but who stood as erectas q youtho
twenty-five, '.Poor woman trust she will hea
nothing of this affair, until she learns by lette
from yourself, that you have come off safely. I
makes my heart ache to see youths Of your age 60
ing to battle Life all before you with Its pleas
ures, its enjoyments and its hopes and yet dali.
exposed to mttilation, and brought face to fac
with death. It is, indeed, desperate service yo'
are engaged in now. How many Of You ar
there ?" .5'aNsi sF'---''' -'s'
tThere are but three companies Of my own reg
imeut, sir, replied Victor, land nine Of the -th
all thinned by absences and sickness We car.
scarce six hundred muskets into the fight. >" "
"A desperate service -adesperate service SAT-
the old gentleman, shaking his head ominously
Buffers whole army numbering from twelve +
twenty thousand, is advancing upon the city-thinl
you, your Colonel will be foolhardy enough to en-
gage them?" ~
'Foolhardy is not the word, sir" rejoined Vic
tor, modestly. "We have no choice but to fight
be the odds what they may We cannot let Gen
Lees communication be cut and the fate Of th
whole army be imperiled. Reinforcements will b
coming up in few hours and we must keep th
enemy in check until they arrive if it costs th
life of every man. But must hurry to overtak
my company. I" 80 ,-. ''..
4 1. Il. L.