The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-06-08
NO. 48.
A MIDNIGHT CHARGE.
Graphic PIeturs of y BATTLE at the Mid
' s,,- iiight Hour. q, h


iight Hour. h.
Howilll Of 1eSril and slaughter were
those -nighh, and how beautiful, too,
theSswerel irs Z ligs ll- n hfl,sa
Even, yet I can see,the tremulous,
shimmering beamspf the moon stealing
down through the boughs Of the trees,
affording, here and there, aglimpse OF
the anxious, expectant faces gathered
beneath their shadows, and peering
into the night for sight Of the foe,
while out upon the open field in front,
where the moons pale light phys in
silyery. silence, her rays glance from the
glistening arms OF that foe keeping the
same quiet'watch, O'i : y ,s'i q y
.. Our Maior at my elbow, asksif Fob
servo how peaceful and calm tits. Ly-
ing side by side, we commune together
in Whispers afraid 10 hear the sound Of
our ,yoiSes-now pointing to the deli
cious light rs II trembles on the leaves !;
now startled. by tho sllrill cry OF the
Rlip.poor.will as IL breaks upon the
death.like stiffness, and now Watching
tho shadows as they weirdly dance over
heground to the music OF the breezes
sighing in the trees overhead. It is q
lovely, peaceful scene, wherc all nature
seems in sweet repose, and yet are gath
cred two mighty armies, with all the
cruel enginery OF war, shotted and
ready, standing, like two huge mastiffs,
| with nerve strung, teeth set and eyes
glating into the uncertain light, wait
ing fora chance to grapple with each
other in o death struggle.
Suddenly the sharp report OF o mus
ket awakens the Scene around. a
strange quiyer thrills our frame the
whip. poor.will stills its notes the
shadows Seem to have ceased their
play, aud the winds to be hushed and
then there bursts on the night wild,
demoniac yell, hi hi until it deepenl
into q monotonous refrain. -'y,..,...
Heavens, you know whit 1t Is"
almost hisses tho mnior in our ear,
the enemy are moving on us IL Il
their terrible battle cry" HiLhil hi
the earth seems to have opened 70 lei
forth o legion OF fisnds, 80 unearthly is
that cry-and, accompanying II with {
fitting chorus, o score Of cannon joir
n the tImult, and swell the awful din.
4 Shouting aud yelling, we hear then
\ coming, while tile earth shakes beneath
theirhurried tramp. .rI sl ar's
Nh At tliisinstant the moon peeps from
! behind o passing cloud, and q flood o
light reveals the gray lines sweeping
madly over the field, their eyes ablaze
their bayonets poised, and their hand
on the fatal trigger. "steady men
ready, hut reserve your fire" shout
the little Major, as we spring to our feet
and the sharp click, click, click, Of The
gunlock is the quick response.
"L Lie lowl' rings from behind, and
as We hug the earth again a lnril blazt
lights up the wood and field, and from
six iron throats is hurled, Missing ant
screecliing over our heads, o storm o
shot and shell that, plunging, plough
ing along, open great bloody gashe
into the coming columns. 7e d..
Still the Iii hi hi ! rings, rnbrokel
and deanant, upon the night; but thel
the raised muskets are leveled, o CLEAN
OF light flashes along our prostrat
lines, the ranks melt before tho wither
/ ing FIRE, and with loud cheers, regimen
after regiment leaps from its cover an
filings itseliin solid lines upon the foe
, There is n short, sharp, bloody strug
, gle, and the yell is heard no more att
/ all Is still again. Tho moonboams tlil
about as II naughthad disturbed thei
play, while the melancholy signing 0
the sounds more sadlystill as th
I music Of it's plant! mingles with th
groans ndmeIting cries Of the wound
cd and dying. .otl.
/ Three times in one night did tina
, dreadful yell herald tho coming OF th
foe three times did they sweep owe
that field, and three times, like asphan
toms OF tho approach Of day, did the
. waste away before the scathine
. consuming fire Of our own guns. Hol
many dead young heroes were strew
In that field and wood on that fata
/ night, lying thick by together, with th
! moons cold light tenderly kissing thei
| pale, ghastly faces, upturned to th
sky, and as each succeeding May moo
, darts It's penetrating rays through th
thick foliage, and summons theshadow
, to their support, they hold their mid
/ night reyels over the straight, greei
| graves Of scores Of these dead heroes
who, unknown and forgotten, quietl,
sleep, awaiting the final muster OF
~