The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-02-28

~ ~ va '"e "''"'S, WY 0~P
firm on the sword, every knee was
pressed on the saddle laps, every
rowel was tinged with blood: so hol-
ster to holster and boot to boot, the
squadrons we're pressing on.
"Charger' escaped me, almost be-
fore the time, and then the madden
Ell horses rushed on at full racing
speed, with long invigorating strides.
Our lances were all unslung, and in
the rest, the banneroles tluttering be-
fore the horses heads and outstretch-
ed necks from which the names we're
floating backward like smoke.
We were soon within the lines of
fire. Like the thunder Of heaven the
park of artillery shook the air, as
cannon, mortars and rifles opened
like fiery hell on front and fanks at
once. An iron shower of round shot
and grape shells and rockets, with a
tempest of conical rife bullets, whiz-
zed past our ears, or tore through
horses and men: and down they went
on right and left at every stride.
Struck on the breast with a shell
the gallant Nolan fell back on his
saddle with wild and narrowing
cry, as his horse swept round and
bore his body to the rear, with his
feet still in the stirrups, vindicating
even in death his reputation as one
of England's noblest horsemen.
Man after man, horse after horse
are now going down thick and fast,
and shreiks, and prayers and curses
rise together to heaven, but the rest
close in form the flank, and firmer,
denser, wilder and more rcsolute
than ever we ride the race Of death !!
On and on yet, steeds snol'ing,
|ances rising and falling, pennons
duttering, and sabers flashing in the
sunshine.
''Steady, lads, steady" cried Lilo.
mel Beverly, as another shower of
grape tore through the squadrons,
and many more went down, though
some Of the horses remained rider
less in the flank, and galloped me-
chemically on. For moment amid
the confusion, | saw the colonel for
the last time as he led us-that no.
bic heart, that polished gentleman
and noble lancer. He was deadly
pale, for he was MORALLY wounded in
the left side. His life blood was eb-
hing, but his sword was still uplift-
ed, and a light was flashing in his
eyes, which already could see the
"glores and the terror of the un-
known world"
"CIose up, gentlemen and COM
ra,les Keep your horses we'll in hand
but your spur on-charge, and charge
home! Hurrah:"
A ball hummed pasta twenty
four pound shot, apparently-and
where was Lionel Beverly?
Doubled up-a deadly and CHASTITY
heap-under a dying and mangled
charger. The next who fell was my
friend MILFORD. If he was somewhat
of a dandy in England, there was no
want of pluck in him here. Leading
his troop, he fell close by me, and l
leaped my horse over him as he roll
ed past, chnrning a mouthful OF
grass and earth, his features awfully
convulsed, and his limbs trembling
in their death agony. Poor Fred
MILFORD!
On and yet on! Many a familiar
face is gone now; the gaps are fear
full, and men who were on the flank.
now End themselves in the center.
On we still gallop toward tn,
mouth Of fire-on and fearlessly.-
The best blood Of the three king
doms is in our ranks, all we'll and no
bly, mounted, the flower of our nobl
cavalry-on yet like a whirlwind, tn
hearty British "hurrah hurrah hui
rah!' rings in our ears; the heart
blood seems mounting to the brain
and we are upon them! Now tn
red flashing muzzles of the canno
are passed; the gunners are THROWN
themselves under the wheels, whel
we cut them down, and spear or pi
. them to the turf. Others are RUS
ing for shelter to their squares of
fantry, under whose rifles they
fiat and securely, while sheets of les
are tearing through US.
Ooh, the superlative bitterness
that moment, when with all our he
ses blown, l look back and see tn
we are without supports.
= Tho ~ oro taboo,