The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-06-09

| ground. Yet the storm of shot rainef
its deadly fire from the battery line.
on the hill. Preston again gallant,
attempted the charge, and ordered al
assault. But a look up that steep hill
and into not only the shadow but the
deep and dismal valley of death wheel
yawned along those rocky seams, and
were lighted by the red and sulphu.
rods glare that cleaned from the
mouths of horse throated and below
ing guns, was sufficient to keep us
from attempting the terrible ascent.
Along the entire line it was evident
that the soldiers in grey were stormine
the last stronghold of the enemy. Al
this exciting moment General Brock
inridge appeared on the scene. lie
was riding a magnificent gray horse,
whose every movement was the very
Interpretation of flexible grace and
mobile elasticity. Seated firmly in his
saddle, and looking like splendid
knight of the age of clivalry, drew his
sword; and as its cleaning blade
flashed in the undulating twilight, he
was recognized by the division, which
had often followed Ills huge form and
nodding plume into the thickest of vic
torious battle. A shout rang ont on
the evening air, and its tones were so
oniinously full of exultation and in
vincibie courage, that the enemy ceased
firing, and hesitated lii their work for
few moments.
The General looked; in his moment
of pride, a very Hercules in gray ar
NOR. Pointing to the battery, and, in
accents that thrilled his soldiers and
were heard above the din of combat,
he shouted: "My brave soldiers follow
me! J" The magical influence Of his
talismanic eloquence was apparent; in
an instant, for wien the line moved. it
was in as compact and solid rank MS
the soldiers had ever done'on field par
ade. With q yell, that told all their
Confidence in their leader; they sprung
forward and bravely advanced on that
strong centre.
The first line Of Federals attempted
to run from their works, but before
they had decided as to their course, the
Kentuckians were on and over them
trampling and shooting them at the
mnzzle ends of their flaming guns.
Rapidly the Confederate line swung
round and up the hill, and as far as the
eye could see through the open fields
a sheet Of flaming, fiery muskets
closed the Gordon of destruction above
the doomed enemy iii blue:
Rushing over the broken, rocky
ledge; torn surface of the fields, through
the peach orchard and right on the
terrible battery. Breckenridge and
his gallant soldiers quickly closed the
final scene of the battle. Tile red and
blue uniforms of the cannoneers quick
~ disappeared beneath the terrific
blows and death dealing shouts of the
assaulting forces. a yell of victory
reverberated through the hills and
the shout was taken up and echoed
from thousands of hoarse Threats, that
were parched and dry with the fever
thirst of successful battle.
Like the roar of distant waterfall
mingled with the wind soughins
through u pine forest, there came to
us the sounds of fight Of the retreating
army. The sound of shots had ceased;
ind there was something not only very
dreadful and appalling in the noise of
The enemy's flight: but also an unex-
plainab1e excitement and discomfort-
ing nervousness in the uneasy Confed-
crate lines. The anxiety to pursue and
lestroy the now routed army of Feder-
lis, was the hope that made us SO
that OUR hearts were almost
stilled as we eagerly listened tor the
charge. s
Onthe Hill Where those now silent
guns had bayed bloody and fhhospita-
de welcome to our bfave Kentuckians
General Breckirridge rested on his
lorse. His gallant soldiers surrounded +
rim with admiripg ard eager eyes.
others clustered IN little parties, and
mingled their congratulations and cons
lolence on the events of the dng.
On the slope Of that terrible hill lay
he still forms of many of our COM
aides, who but few moments before
lad started with US in the race for vic
DRY. Sadly we gathered them together
md looked with fearful ind misty eyes
IN their pallied and blood stained fea-
ures,. that were now rigid in death.
With many Of them we had campaign
ID through all the fierce dangers and
assaults that were incident to Breck-
uridge's campaigns. Surely we did
air martial bonors to those soldier
lead, when we laid them to rest ON the
,ery spot whence the rain of death
lad sped to their hearts. And We
reasure the glorious memory THAT not