Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-08-25
From the Detroit Free Prcss.l
DYING WITH THE REAR GUARD.

We wero going TO fall back.
No one but q soldier realizes the
meaning Of an order to fall back In
the face Of a foe flushed with victories
gained on right, lett and center It Is
next to a panic. One false move will
make 1t a panic and ront.
The army will fall back to more
favorable position" were tho words OF
the general to tho various command
ers.
That meant defeat. II meant that
our dead and wounded were to be left
in the hands Of tho enemy. II meant
that we had been out-gencraled, and
that the only hope left was TO with
draw and reform in n new position.
The wagon train had been moving Tor
two hours, and now, within three
hours of sundown, our battle-line
melted away as regiments and brig
ades were called In and divisions wen,
marching down the highway.
There were pale faces and timorous
glances among the old fighters. They
had laughed and joked each other on
the battle.line, hut there were no
smiles now. Put u soldier with his
back TO the foe II you want TO see a
coward.
The enemy are pressing forward
They are exultant aud reckless. There
is only the one dusty, crooked high
way t!r hunted and hunter. One
charge of cavalry down upon our rear
"A dozen screaming shells from
battery placed on this hlll-will be the
signal for such panic as only Sold
iers ever see. Men will throw away
everything that impedes flight--they
will frighten each other with looks
and words-they will forget their bat
ties, their scars and their flag, and
think only of n swifter pace. Who
will be the rear guard' There comes
an order to settle the question.
''The general orders the third to
form in rear and fight and tall back
fall back and fight. Leave your dead
and wounded where they fall. Hold
the enemy in check at all hazards.
On this depends the salvation OF the
whole army!'
Fight and fall back Fight first.
Where? Begin right here on the
crest of this hill. The enemy is COM
ing up the road at gallop, cheering
and yelling, and determined to ride
over us. Steady now! Here we are
in battle line across the highway. with
company on each flank along the
fences. The road is full Of the charg-
ing cavalry, and with grand yell
they are upon us. 1t lasts but min
ute, and as the wind whirls the smoke
away we see that the road is full OF
men and horses dead as the
stones under their teet-some writh-
ing in the torture of ghastly wounds.
There is cheer as we see the remnant
galloping back out Of range, but it
dies away as we count thirty Of our
own dead and wounded. In that one
minute of fierce fighting more than
one hundred men went to the dust.
Fall back No! This is our bat
tlc-line for while yet. The wounded
are lifted from the dust and laid upon
the turf, and we are yet at the work,
serving friend and foe alike, when the
enemy comes again. 1t is cavalry as
before, but while they are massing as
best the narrow limits will permit, a
battery on the hill behind them shells
us as if 1t meant TO leave no one
alive. Fence.rails go aylng-dust
and dirt are sent higher than the tree
tops-trees are cut short of or splin-
tered as if lightning had spent its
fury there, but no one moves. Our
order was to die ON the line
"Ready, menl Hold your fire un-
til every bullet will count! We can
hold this line until dark.
Here they come! Beyond US is the
last OF the great wagon train. followed
hv hri0sdea which are looking back