, 1877-08-11

a BRILLIANT BATTLE PICTURE BY GEN.
JOHN LOGAN.
eteraal.


TsozD his sddres sat Rockford, On Decolatlou,
Day.
lsnppose tbeVe is not one here to-day
who took mp arms in defense of bis coun.
tyI, who does not on IN occasion Of this,
kind see the vast armies mnrshalsa again
AVID passing in panorama before him. and
rs the picture flashes before his eyes,
how his heart swclls, his Imagination
grows. and in moment he hears again
the words Of command, and Oh yonocr
high ground, in the midst Of the tail onks
he sees the line of enemy moving he
hears the muffled drum in the distance,
the bugle notes to the cavalry to tor
ward, The duh, heavy rumbling artillery
carriages, the heavy tramp OF infantry
columns, the commands of the officers,
Forward guide center" On they come.
What sight! He wonders why our
own lines are not moving. An officer
rides up, gives orders and moves on TO
some other command. Soon orderles
and staff officers are seen riding at lull
speed from camp to camp, the long.roll
is heard, $40 arms" To arms" the line
is quickly formed; sklrmishers are de-
ployed; the artillery moves; the cavalry
takes position on the fianks the order
is given to forward the skirmish line
a shot is heard, then another, then an
other; the skirmishers engage; they
ARE supported by one detachment alter
another from the main line; he hears
the rattle of musketry. growing quick
and sharp, sounding like hail pouring
down; then the cavalry move; the artll
lery opens and like thGnders IN the.
heavens it roars: the very ground shakes
and trembles under the shock the shells
shrek through the air, bursting and
shooting forth flames of fire, dealing out
death and desolation in their track; tug
infantry are all engaged; the rattle o9a.
'musketry is is heard S the long rull
from thousand drums Is given; charge
after charge is made, one line gives way,
then recoyers, then the other falls back,
then moves forward the sabre stroke IL
heard the cavalry engage in deadly
tiuht; the air is thick with sulpburous
smoke as if from the bottomless pit
lightning streams Of flames flash across
the field: the wounded are carried to
the rear; the groans of the dying tioat
OH the air; the right tank OF our line ID
turned, and on in deadly arms come s.le
enemy the musketry pours death into
our columns; the artillery make wide
gaps in our lines with its deadly shells:
our cavalry on the right is rctreating from
the field in the midst of great slaughter;
there is lul in the firing; weak spot
is discovered in the enemy's center; the
command is heard. "ClOse up, /" "steady,'
"lorward march y on the columns move,
receiving the fire OF the enemy, and u
our lines are thinned, the command
beard is, "Close up" "Close up" the
space is filled: on, our columns move
the stern command is given, "ehnrge
bavonets !" with the glistening steel 10
the front, with hands clenched on guns
forward they move ut steady step; the
command is given all along tue whole
line - the artillery opens its deadly fire
the cavalry ON the left come, saber IN
hand, like u hurricane the infantry
move at a rapid pace; the very earth
shakes beneath the tread the breasts OF
brave men heave, the eyes glare, the
teeth are firmly set, and the great line,
with Liberty on their coIors, sweep
forward, and the air resounds with the
voices shouting "Vlctory or death :" as
they sweep on over wall and ditch, they
break the encmy's center, and in contu-
sion the enemy roll back, they retire
slowly, fighting desperately; bayonct
strikes bayOnet, sabcr clashes against
saber, fire flashes from the highly-tcm
pered steel; then hand to hand they
fight, and IN both lines thick and iasI
they fall; horses trample over the dying
and the dead, where in piles they lay;
the enemy again fall back nn the left
they retreat ON their right; they are IN
confusion, broken in the center; they
are lost they leave the field; the day ~
ours In memory we gaze the tield IL
literally covered with muskets, camp
equipage, cannon, wounded, dying AMI
dead shout goes up along onr lines
the Dir resOunds with cheer upon cheer,
when high over the battle plain, the 0!d
starry banner We bore HasheS on In
stars OF glory