Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-02-13

summing up of the tak was in great
agreement with Thackeray, and the gen
eral conclusion that we ought to have Il
ribbon Of honor, not simply Kearney
cross, but grand GORDON 6leu, or medal
coming straight from the heart and hand
of that grand old fellow, Abraham Lin
all too modest to ever expect to be decked
in that way. but how many OF us would
disdain it? he concluded.
As the talk deepened, MelrosG S face had
lost its gayety, noticed. He drew deep
sigh us Dalzell spoke, and wislful look
came into his eyes. could guess pretty
well how it was with him. What was he,
beside them? What brilliant, or cour-
ageous, Or soldierly qualities had hep
These men would easily win their GORDON
6!c@, for they were without fear. Without
fear! That was what was in his mind, rs
he very shortly confessed by laundering,
honest question, bearing directly upon the
subject. How did it feel to be without
tearo Every man of them knew of this
little white ghost Of Melroe's, yet every
one of them knew that he had never failed
to do his duty. They had laughed quietly
together over il, and said Mel. is II good
fellow; he never will run away, but he
never will distinguish himsclf-that is GER
tain. And now suddenly with this ques-
tion arose another With them: How came
he here into this voluntary service with
this characteristic? But before asking
| if they answered his query, one and
another smiling, yet serious and truthful.
AT their first battle? yes, it had been II
shock, and then it was over. Various
emotions assailcd them now. but none of
fear But how was it with himP they ask
ed. They all knew something how it was,
as have said, but not wholly, until he
burst out impulsively.
Well, to tell the truth, boys, | will own
that am awfully afraid every time, to
this day, and cant get over it.
But how came you hero, anyway, with
that feeling; and being here, why do you
stay? asked Cam Browne.
For IL moment there was II look OF sur
prise on Melroes face; Il look rs if he
doubted whether he had heard Alright.
How came |? he uttered slowly; how
could stay ut home? Il man can't choose
at such time. If | saw an assassin enter
my friends house while lie lay sleeping, l
might be very much afraid of the assassin,
but couldn very well 90 on my way in
safety, and tell some other man to 90 tor
ward to the rescue. | might recoil from
the encounter, but | should recoil ten times
more from the skulking away from it, No,
he went on, thought this all over; | knew
it would hurt--lhis kind of life-but |
concluded it would hurt great deal more
to turn my back upon il. Why, believing
as do, you know, n fellow couldn't. |
can see Iloyle and Dalzell, and the two
Brownies exchange glauces here. They
too, aey, and every one Of them there, |
knew, thought of the story of the boy ut
school, even then nIanlully fighting his
ghosts for his principle Those of us who
had smiled at this ghost, and said Mel is
good fellow; lie never will run away. but
he never will distinguish himself that is
certain, now, i'll contemplation of this
courageous cowardice, felt inclined to doff
our hats to the simple manly fellow we
had underratcd, and to ask his pardon.
But there was little said in acknowledge
ment or praise; it was II tender subject,
involving this loregone lighter estimate;
but there were warmth and lriendliness
in the good nights" which conveyed to
him a sense of sympathy, an assurance TO
his modest mind that he had not spoken
too freely remember Cam Browne said
laughingly, us he left the tent, After all,
Captain, you may win your Gordon Jleu
before any of us yet.
'Hbnv ,vnru li,rIt ,,,..l ....
out Of the warm, kind heart of the Young
officer, as a good natured remark to cvince
his belief in that moral courage that he
admired. Light words, and even while
they were being spoken perhaps fate was
weaving that destiny which should make
them no longer light in the memory of
we who listened 10 them.
The next day we fought the battle of
ChancclloryiIle. Toward the latter part
of the day, when defeat was beginning to
stare us in the face, after the early promise
of victory, which combined and splendid
action and the most untiring galIantry had
given, receiJ Jed message from Major
DIlzel to send reinforcement to the left
wing, where Captain Melroe and himself
were cndeavoring to hold their ground and
save their colors. had only II handful of
men, that could i'll spare, but | sent
them Immediately, for | knew that DaIzel
would not have applied for hel p unless he
had great need, Immediately " action being
suspended for u time on my right had u
brief opportunity to observe the move
ments OF the left. As | looked through
my glass, SAW Dalzell advance with his
column,-no IL large body of men but
compact and in order. A heavy roar of
musketry met them; still they kept on
though could see that the raking fire had
told. The next charge was more FATAL
AS the smoke cleared. the lNmentabe
effect was obvious. More than one gallant
fellow had fallen; among them the leader
Dulzell. The column began to waver
The consequence at this particular point
of panic and arout would be particularly
disastrous. rose in my saddle in my
excitement All, thought if | coull only
rush forward to the rescue.
At that moment saw that II new leader
had arisen. saw him rush forwards |
saw him glance back to the broken waver.
ing ranks saw him beckoning them
on with his sword, and more than all, by
II look ol command that impressed me
even then. At sight Of him the wavering
ranks closed in, and dashed forward with
Il shout that reached me where | watched
and which | knew meant victory or death.
A few minutes later the Sixteenth came
up to reinforce the right wing, and | had
the liberty to ride forward. Melroe-for
YOU have guessed that he was the leader
who took Dalzell's place -Melroe by his
magnetic leadership, his dash and spirit,
had saved his colors, and won for his men
ut least splendid victory; one of those
side issues Of success which 90 far to
amelorate the greater defeat
Bat it was II victory that | didn't feel
much like rejoicing in, us saw Melroe
himself lying on u little hillock, Shot
through the beart. The colur-scrgeant--a
little irish felow-had dragged him to
the upland where he lay, and as | APP
preached, lie took of his cap,-more in
ton u to the dead than TO me, and said,
rhokingly:
see that. colonel, he seized en- out of
ms hand rs was TUX, dizzy-like, with this
srra'ch on my forehead, and when came
to myself, he had got his death II saving of
me and the flag, sir
The little surgeant had laid the colors
up,n the dead breast of his officer rs ten
DERBY aS II mother might strew flowers up
ON hrr child Cam Browne Just then join
ing me. pointed to the sad spectacle.
Cun beat over and touched the scattered
....,,, IIn ,,,,e ,t,on hi, corfIoD bIFgJI