Oxford Democrat., 1877-10-16


in the .goodnights,' which conveyed TO
him u sense OF sympathy, an assurance
to his modest mind that he had not spok-
en- too freely. remember Cam Browne
said Iaughingly AS he left the tent, Al
ter all, captain, you may win your cor
don JleU before any Of US YET
They were light words spoken hastily.
out of the warm, kind heart of the young
officer, as good nstured rcmark to
evince his belief in that moral courage
that no admired. Light words. and even
while they wero being spoken, perhaps
Fate was weaving that destiny which
should make th0m no longer light words
in tho memory of us who listened TO
them.
The next day wo fought the battle OF
Charlottesville. Toward tho latter
part OF the day, whom defeat was begin
ming to stare US in the face, after the
earlier promise OF victory, which COM
bined and splendid action and the most
untiring gsllantry had given, l received
MESA 20 from Major Dl'zell 10 send II
reinforcement to The left wing. whore
Captain Meiroo and himself were er-
doayoring To- hold their ground aud save
their colors. had only handful OF
men, that could ii spare, but sent
Them immrdiitc,y, los I Nnuw that Da,-
zell would not have applied Tor help ur-
less he had great need. Immediate ac-
ton being suspended for u time on my
right, l had brief Opportunity 10 OBJ
serve the movements OF The left. As |
looked through nay glass, saw Dalzell
advance with his coiumD. not large
body of men, but compact and in order.
a heavy roar Of musketry met them;
sill they kept on, though | could see
that the raking fire had told. The
next charge was more fatal. As the
smoke cleared, the lamenlable effect was
obvious. More than one gallant fellow
had fallen; among them their leader,
Da.ze!l. The column began TO waver.
The consequence at this particular point
OF - panic aud rout would be specially
disastrous. | rose in my saddle with
nav excitement. All | thought, ii |
could only dash forward to the rescuen
Al that moment | Saw tha, . new lead
er had arisen. saw him rush forward;
| saw him glancg back to the broken.
wgvoring ranks; saw him beckon them
on with his sword. and, more than all, by
3 look OF command that impressed me
even then. Al sight Of him tie wavering
ranks closed in, and dashed forward,
wiki a shout that reached me wnero
watched. aud which knew meant vic
tory or death. A few moments later tho
Sixteenth came up TO reiuloTc3 the right
wing, an | had the liberty 10 rida Tor
ward. Melroe-iOr You havo guessed
that he was the leader who toDs Dalze!Is
plac -Melroe, 10y his magnetic leader
ship, his dash aud spirit, had saved his
colnrs. and won, for his men at least, u
famous victory; one oi those slde-issues
OF success v hich 20 lar to amellorate the
greater deleat.
Bat il was Il victory didrt feCl much
ike rejoicing in. rs | saw Moiroe him.
eli lying on little hilock. shot through
the heart. The color little
Irish iellow-had dragged him 10 The up
land where be lay, and as | approached,
he took of his cap--m ore in honor to the
dead than 10 nIe, and said chokingly:
S ,e that Colonel, he seized EN- out OF
NV hand 80 was TUX, dzzy-like, with
this scratch on M forehead. and when
came 30 myself he had go, his death l.
saving of me and the hAG, sir
TIE little sergeant had laid the colors
upon tho dead breast Of his officer -
.onderly as q mother might s'rew flow
ers upon her child. Cam Browno just
.hen joining me pointed TO the sad
spectacle. Cam bent over and touched
the tailored remnants that meant 50
much snd had cost so much. 'Ha has
won his c3rd0u L3c,E he said significant
IL. Yes, nc had won his GORDON btcU, the
brave little fellow. fighting double enc
nry every inch OF the way. The colonel
paused a moment, and took out an old
menlorandum-b book; opening it. he drew
forth something that seemed OF many
eolors,-a strip either of paper or
silk, only a few inches in length and
breadth. This he resumed, is piece OF
tha. Gordon bleu. 1t was wet with his
blood when | took it, and have kept 1t
ever since, for | knew no one else who
was nearer to Melroe than myself, for he
was m orphan, and without brothers or
sisters. Ii he had had o sweetheart, |
would have sent it to her, that she might
have known what hero she had lost in
this young fellow, whose delicate, sensi-
tive nature shranS from the conflicts
which his great soul urged him into. |
have seen many brave charges; many
loloru hopes carried, since that day,
Howith, but never saw braver charge
or more folorn hope carried than this
That led Melroe TO his death. We mourned
Dalzell, good fellow, but there was
something in The loss OF Melroe that