Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-09-17

Of tbt Souutlgb. y e 80. ....... :. ..s ...,.,
1868. 4....-z- z-..,~-.-,.-- .-,.y,e,..-,..
tance, ooloing up, in his confusion, and picking
at the tender grass which had dsprung up along the
road-bed. It was an rnuonted spectacle "A youth
telling his comrade the story of his first love. while
bursting shells were falling and flying bullets we've
whisthng around them Surely the passion must
bea syren that can wean the thoughts away and
lull them in the repose Of forgefulness when dan
ger and death are holding their carnival around
While the thoughts Of Victor and his scompanion
we're far away, cry rang along the line. I'll
"Here they comet Look out rnen--to your
gpns sung out chorus Of voices, while the lire
from the Confederate line ceased to sputter here
and there, and became one continuous roll along
the ranks without pause or intermision.- Victor
and Prescott sprsng up to their places, and leok-
ing over the slight earthwork before them, saw the
enemy emerging from the shelter Of the woodsand
rushing on to the attack Il $tp;ssF 5itmsEs
The hill, from which they descending, was
scarcely more than two hundred yards from the
crest of that through which the railway cut was
made, and midway between the two was hollow
which, like the hil sides which sloped down to it,
destitute Of any growth that might shelter the
enemy in their advance. Here and there, at long
intervals, stood clump Of small oaks or. an old
field pine, but these were too few in number; toe
dimnutive, and too scattered, to offer any shelter
from the fierce fire Of small arms that now blazed
along the line of road. The regular slope from the
excavated road-bed, down to the hollow midway
the opening, formed, for the most part, natura
glacis, across which the Confederate fire Of smal
arms would sweep with terrible effect q
As the enemy came down the slope Of the oppo
site hills, IN three columns, the green hill side was
dotted quite thickly with their slain and wounded
but when, having passed the hollow, they began
to ascend the slope Of the hill to the railroad, they
fell no longer at irregular intervals, but whole plat
oons fell under the sesthing fire that swept the hill
as with scythe. -stsj {. - ass-'s<
Had there been but one line to contend with,
not man would have been able to reach the sum
NIT of theslope alive but though the foremostfne
had been fearfuly thinned, the second, closely fol
lowed by the third, began to mount the slope al
most intact. It seemedi in vain to contend against
such overwhelming odds.
If they could be staggered but only for . mo
mentI IF they would but quail before the fire and
stand irresolute, for but few seconds ere they
rushed on, the bullets would have time to tea
their broken line into shreds and patches Oh
the value of time at o moment such as this was
But twenty seconds of looking to the right and
left, of skirmishing from the murderous fire rolling
down. and of meditating upon retreat! aye, ever
ten seconds to suffer one or two more yoleys to be
hurled into their ranks, and the day will rest
with Observation-Disclosures, pale with excitement
not with fsar-whose hearts are laping wildly
fercely, tumumously, in their bosoms, as they SEE
line after line that they cannot break with theil
fire, rushing on to the assault They grow despe.
rate in their resolution to die on the spot-die
fighting for theirsunny South, without one thought
of yielding to the foe. They feel that in afeu
minutes all will be over forthsm ands line f.gory
corpses and nultilated forms, too terrible 10 lool
upon, will mark the line where their struggling
ranks made heroic and desperate stand. Eact
one feels that he, too, will form one 10 that line o.
CORY death or living agony, racked with torture:
that language cannot compass.
Victor was brave soldier, and yet the sweat o
agony stood on his brow, when voley after volle!
swept down the hill in vain, and he heard th'
tramp of armed men rushing up, and could clearl!
read their countenances as, with set teeth and pa
stern faces, they came swarming up in the face o
the unntermitting fire that swept the hill in vain
There was slight curve in the line Of the rail
road, and the enemy were now within forty steps o
that portion of the line where his Company stood
while enght of their line, having greater spac'
to pass over, had not yet begun to mount the slope
Victor felt that before he could run down anothe
cartridge the enemy would be upon him. "Fl,
bayonetsl'' was the order that Captain Carbeny a
this moment issued, and Victor promptly preparet
for the shock he saKnothing of what was spassini
behind or on either side Of him. ALI his thought
were engaged with the enemy in front, whom h
was about to meet in fierce death grapple. HI
let 20 all dreams of victory or of life. The enem.
were too many for the feeble hHe,, Of which b
formed part, to contend with successfully. H
put away the hopes of life and desperately
to die where he stood. There was wild throb o
his heart as he thought of his mother and of Mel
lie, and then, with mighty effort, he put then
away from his thoughts, that vain longing afte
things Of life might not give double bitterness d
death.
AT this juncture calm, quiet, composed voict
from behind reached his ears, and startled him BY
its very composure. 80
sTake care there in front {; I am about to oper
with my gunsl" 4. - - . -
Victor started, and glanced back. Scarce tWsnt.
feetbehind, mounted upon q handsome charger, ant
with small riding whip in his hand, sat the blue
eyed artillery officer directing his guns into posi-
ton. Victor was startled blythe apparition. Nc
Gregors face was as calm and serene, as quiet ant
composed as if he were but taking pleasant rid'
through the balmy air of May, and felt in his owl
soul, the soothing influences which the green land
scape and the fresh flowers and verdure Of Spring
were calculated to impart. His tranquility was un
disturbed by the long lines Of excited men, rush
ingon to tomortalcombat with fierce yels, the ground
trembling beneath their feet and the air lighted NJ
by the metallic simmer of their cleaning musket
and flashing bayonets. The prayers and impress
tions of the wounded their walls of agony and tn,
fearful objects, fightfuny STILL. with which tn
slopes of the hills before him were covered seemet
mere phantoms conjured up by the excited imagi
tions of others which, for him, had no reahty-nt
existence that his face was beardless and il
the fresh bloom of youth, his sudden appearance