The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-10


yielded, broke and fled.
The whole fire of the Southern army
now concentrated on the federal CENTER;
broken ranks, and rent and bloody Ian
which opened before their ceaseless fire, tol
how terrible was the deadly encounter. Agai
Lyon rallies his broken legions, again he hurl
them on that steadfast column-but 1t Is o.
no avail The iron tempest rains upon them
1t sweeps them before its angry glare like
insects before the breath of q tornado. But
new, and until then unengaged, reserves come
to the rescue. The federal line thickens, and
again its unbroken front presses the Confede-
rates on the ravine. They gather around
their batteries, on the crests and banks OF the
gnllies and ridges, fighting in sullen silence,
slowly forcing the Southern column back.
Heaps of dead and dying strew the ground.
Siegel, on the right, pours steady and unre-
lenting fire ON our ranks, while on the left the
federal reserves swarm on the plateau and
fight in circle of flame and steel around the
batteries. Men are dying everywhere; the
sod is crimson with gore; it pours in
pools on the ground; it spurts in
and dying wretch that is carried to the rear.
And now the contest thickens and the car
mage grows horrid. Through the white smoke
you behold the cleaning bayonets of the Ar
kansas veterans and the Eighth and Twelfth
Missouri-they are all there in the rayine,
along the banks of the creek whose waters
have grown purple with a sanguine tide, along
the crests of the slippery ridge, the battle
seethes. and burns and glares like demon fes-
tival sword clangs against sword and bayo-
net meets bayonet, while along the line swells
the fierce unceasing shrek of exploding mus
kerry. Thick clouds envelop the combat
tants, and for moment they are hid in the
pail But suddenly the batteries in the center
speak out and by their blazing light we see
the faces of a hundred bleeding and fallen
men.
And now the federal line waivers aud bends.
Slowly, foot by foot, the serried columns sway
backward with a tremulous impulse, while
their unslackened fire CLEANS and burns and
brightens all along their line. Step by step
the Southern ranks advance On, on, over
the dead and the dying, move those inexora-
BILE foes, while the battle flame flashes on
each set, determined face in blush light.
A shout-a deafening roarl Lyon is down;
the strength of his army is brokeni
Price saw that the moment for decisive
action had come. A word passed his lips,
and an aid-de-camp darted over the field to
the left; moment more the dark mass of
moving squadrons break into view-from the
bosom of that cloud of battle smoke the
heads of horses start into sight-a rumbling
sound on the cindered sod-and Bartrelle, at
the head of two hundred horse, rushes upon
the TANKS of the enemy; the ranks bend and
break like retreating waves before the fierce
impetuous charge; rank recol against rank,
until men and horsesI whirl together in
indiscriminate confusion; not q moment to
recover themselves-not moment for
thought; but pressed back one against an
other, the pail of the battlefield settles
heavily over horse and rider, foot soldier and
dragoon. .
But it is for a moment only From out
those lowering war clouds mass of panic
stricken fugitiyes rush by hundreds and thou
sands, whilst the wild bugle Of Siegel attempts
to recall the scattered forces to cover the re-
treat.
But the impetuous torrent cannot be stayed;
they scatter their arms as they run; they
trample down the wounded and dying who
impede their course, and like a mob drunk
with terror and blood, whirl on IN indiscrimi-
nate rosd.
Yes, the victory was won; the flag of the
new republic waved triumphant on the bloody
battlefield; but-the cost in bloodl 81
Night was coming on; even now its shadows
were settling along the forest.
Yes, it was night on the battlefield
Oh what terrible spectacle is field of
recent battle, when night has thrown her
mantle on the scene Did you ever witness
a scene so sad?
| Look the stars shine serenely; the moon
pours a food of light on the sickening scene
| The pale faces of the dead glare, sepulchral
and white, as they lay strewn along those
forest aisles; the means Of the dying mingie
| ct intervals with the sad wall that breaks
above the pulseless heart, which affection has
| discovered amid the heaps that strew the
plain. And anon, the footstep of the
living, searching silently, endeavoring to
recognize among the dead kindred or
friend by the light of the starsl
In secluded spot, on the edge of the bat
tie ground, was the bivouac of the rangers.
| It was ON the banks of little riyulet and
there, having picketed their horses, stretched
| their canvas, and washed the'dtist and smoke
of battle from their faces they reposed from
the fatigues of the day.
In tent set apart from the rest a solitary
light burns on small wooden table, A
young lad sits beside it-pale and care-worn.
his face reveals look of unutterable weari-
ness. Suddenly form darkens the open
door of the tent face, bronzed and dark
ened, gazes on the boy; the figure moves to
the boys side
| f.Voo 80 4f-aI 20 Hath IoJ~ ToE 40