Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-07-11
Stlettt0 Storp.
FATE'S CHOICE.

There were inst one hundred and three
OF Us as we marched out Of the inland
village that morning, drums beating,
hags uoaiing. aud men shouting and
women weeping Il farewell. Il was
May. 1861, and we were going 20 the
''i-oIt'
a month later. when the roll was
called on the heights of Georgetow
there were only an even hundred in
Company g. Death had claimed the
three even before they had snufTed war :
/ powder breath.
And month later still the roll was
called on the morning OF Manassas.
FootSore, hungry, excited and anxious.
the men answered aye and AYE" and
there were ninety responses. max
ing Just hundred with the three
company officers. Would We fght9 l
saw our captain looking down the line.
There were printers, lawyers. mechanics.
students, farmers. and day laborers in
company g, and not man knew what
grim war YVES.
Down across the meadow. up along
the edge OF the wood. and there we
rested and waited until the fight opened
waited half an hour longer than iha,,and
then came the order TO move. 1t was
like dress parade rs we moved by the
left flank. down across the old pasture,
aud into the edge OF the blue cloud OF
powder smoke floating on the morning
air Only the mems faces were white.
and their eyes anxious as they caught
the roar OF small arms and ielt the
ground tremble under the discharge Of
the heavy cannon which were throwing
shot and she'll into the hillside above US.
Down went a company to the edge OF
the forest spread out like fan, and the
skirmishers were hidden by smoke. The
rattle of muskeiry increased; they had
found targets for their bullets. Standing
10 line, We looked down into the smoke
cloud. trembled little, and then
came the order to 90 forward. March !!
march and tho smoke bid Us, and We
struck the Confederate line OF battle
thrown out 10 front OF an earthwork.
Crash. crack roar The line wav-
cred. tell back. sprang forward again
with cheer, and We were all theIe-all
bu, those dead or wounded. Il was like
q wild dream. Forward retreat-ior-
ward-now at the earthwoik. now
hurled back by the sheet OF flame and
daally driven back TO stay.
4 thousand men had been lighting
three thousand. and there could be but
one result. The roll was called At ArI-
ington Heights. and seyenty-!our men
responded -seyenty-four from ninety
seyeu-,weaty- three OF the rank and ME
OF Company q left dead along the iiu'e
creek which mesnders past banks oi
willows. over beds Of gravel, and around
pray old trees which have felt the blasts
of hslf century. We had no wounded
all dead-all lying under the smoke
stained leaves Of the dark forest. II was
sad and vet glorious. There would De
thirteen widows in The little hamlet, and
ten sons and brothers would be wept Tor,
I'm. we had been tried in the balance.and
Company G had made the whole regi-
ment famous.
Winter came, and war was chained LOT
while. When the south wind Ole" 'ne
fros, away and war shook OF Its lashings'
there were but seventy men to answer
roll call. WIKI mufisd drums and arms
reversed We had followed the others 10
their last sleep, and they cared not
ha,hsr Il was war or peace. The Penin-
sula campaign was not tor us but 'ne
thunder OF JacksoD's cannon as be swept
/ aov, nm 10 Manassas second Time
csllsd rs out He was the fail, We the
0raiu-it was no longer q battle out u
slaughter. 10 the gray morning bis COZ
INNS came feeling through the woous
and over The fields 10 ind Us. We healu
him coming. There was weak brigade
10 oppose ten thousand Confederate
mnskets. but if we could hold him one
hour more help would come. Company
/ G wen, cropping through the woods that
morning 10 meet death. There we've cut
six,y-eight OF US then, and it was poor
tbip skirmish line which cEepI under Tue
trees and frightened away the oifu' Jus'
singing their morning songs we
cronched down beside fence anu saw Nv,
A.. heavy line of gray come over the NH
and half way across The open heIH' anu
,hsn Death took command. We stag
gsred their line, and as it bent back ana
twisted about like huge serpent 10 DIS
death struggles. VT cheered until 'n'