Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-06-02
WIGHT ~ THE WILDERNESS.

i boxed mp and down the line and tired
- form some idea OF the position, and to dis
tinsui>h the several regiments IN the dark
mass Discovering the EIghty-f0urth New
y .rk. ] tr4wlei lp among the men, and
putting my head close 10 the top log of the
TamTar, : could zee against the sky one CT
tN1 Y. the hostile caiss0ns. the 0thers being
lost iu the darkness except when the blaze
beyond -htcned the background.
While the lieutenant who had guided US
out was putting the newly arrived troops
into vacant space, found the colonel who
bad charge of the party. 10 a sudden blaze
oflght, I saw him standing behind the line
with ieg- apart AMI firmly planted in the
slippery -oi. his hands resting on his sword
Liit iu front Of him. his head strained for
ward and bis ewes Teering into the darkness
with an expression of intense eagerness and
anxiety. as though determined 70 see how
strong the enemy was and what he c1ntem-
plated. have known that man, after a
steady gaze. tell of approaching lines OF see
movements yi the enemy which would not
become apparent q Others for some moments,
though they had fei-glasses and be none
! stepped up 10 hi> side aud waited for him
10 notice me. lie continued % look until it
was dar, again. and then, putting his mouth
close % my car. be said IN q loud whisper.
Captain are they uerT going 70 help US?
Wen s10n be entirely out of ammunition.
and already some Of the men are using what
thcv can get from the dead One regiment
is firing Iete. buck and ball with wads
That ll Keep up noise as long as it lasts
which won BE long, and then, if the rebels
intend coming over as they say, we can Z do
anything The men are perfectly worn out,
and unless we keen them firing they u 20 70
sleep. They certainly ought 70 relieve us
but o. ,ley can do that, for God Is sake send
US ammunition
''Send MS ammunition. echoed the other
rcgimenml commanders.
I told them we had brought every car
fridge ! could get; that the brigadier had
again and again applied for reini1rcements,
or for ammunition. and that the general Of
the division had replied that he knew all
about il and that we mast be patient.
i wanted 10 stay with them, for though |
could really De of 100 use, there is satsiac-
ton in sharing misery which YOU cannot al
leyiate. and ] felt how hopeless another ap
peal would be but ] consented to 90 back
and 70 make one more effort for relief of
some -1rt.
j bad cardally noted the three cedars and
one pine tree hv which the brgadier had
made headquarters. and had. ! thought,
faithfully observed the direction as We came
out and So determined 20 abandon the
sheltered but circuitoas route by which
We had re1chcd tie works. and to make a
straight line @ the rear. ! struck back into
tie pitchy darkness, and had gone some dis
tanec before I began TO suspect that ! was
not quite right. / repeatedly stopped to ex-
anime the ground, as first descended a hill
and then walked through a meadow and as
each time waited 10 see the light at the
works, it was behind me, felt assured but
rs I reached the top Of the hillock from
which | had expected 90 see headquarters, I
concluded that 1 was astrav. The sky was
darl, and heavy the rain fell in cutting
drops, which tie ftful gusts of wind whirled
into my face and fairly blinded me when
attempted 20 look where | thought the road
should be The wind moaned and sighed
among the cedar and thorn bushes, which
swayed @ and fro with melancholy measure,
as though In lamentatiun for the dead that
lay under and around them. and bore TO nv
ear many distinct and indefinite sounds,
which ! first tried % define and then to
locate | could hcav she trampins and whin-
nviug Of horses and mules, the rattling Of
chain harness. and the distant rumble Of
moving trains; but where they were, and
whether In ours or in the enemy's country. |
could not tell. Several times I thought
heard troops moving, but the sound either /
died away or tie dark mass | took for men
proved, on approach, to be a group Of bushes. |
lielt satisfied tiat | had gone far enough 10 |
bring me 10 my destination, but coulG not |
imagine why found no troops There were
several splts OF faint light. as Of distantcamp
fires. but could not tell how far away they |
were OF which might be at division head /
quarters. | could see occasional flashes of |
Light IN several directions. but | could hear |
no usketry. | stopped down and brought |
against the SKY one after another the trees /
and lines 1i bills, and tried in vain to recall |
them and finally taking the direction of the |
Nina lor guide, ran down the side of the l
"'iI ana struck up @ ravine.
After going little way bullet few past |
me nom behind, and felt treasured. | was /
IN ne midst Of a marsh and while at one |
step mounted up on hummock. at the /
next was p'ungng knee deep in mud and
water. stumbled over knarsaeks and /
blankets winch lay around. and trimmed nv |
feet IN dead men & caps and straus. snranG, |
over turbid pool 70 what seemed sclii /
earth, and shudtered as falt under mo the /
yielding body Of a man. AsI plod5ed ON .
could Distinguish the Confederate and Union |
dead, lying, some with faces turned mn ana
some curled in heaps upon the ground o. /
casi0ually there seemed ahead Of me In he /
moving forms, but ar came up to them |
they vanished away, or found only cedar
bush which gritted It's branches together in
derision Behind bushes or logs found
wounded men who were trying to keep them |
selves alive. and each Of whom asked me I
whether it would not soon be day. Further |
On, I caught again the rcd glare at the
works, which leered at me through the dark
ness. took a turn to the left aud seemed
70 strike path. Dark forms fitted by me,
men going to the front or struggling to the
rear; now and then heard the singing Of
mushet ball, speniing itself as it passed me
and now and then the moan of straggler
who had been hit.
i Do not know how long wandered thus.
Several times changed the direction of nv
walk and started out with fresh confidence, |
each time to find myself no more successful |
Than before, and occasionally discovering |
that was walking toward the front.
thus ! was blindly wandering on. home
igSe oil discovering my way, when was sud
uehlg arrested by the command V,J, ,.;ra,