Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-06-25
Left on the Battle-Fie

|
shrieked in agony and died-while wounded
horses sighed and groaned and dragge,
themselves along-while ghous ploddeC
over the blood-red grass and wet their fin
gers in warm blood as they searched tn
bodies of the dead and wounded for plumber
"ForwardW came the order.
looked up and down the line as we lef
the cover of the woods, and the regimen
was dressed as if on parade. We were tn,
battle front of brigade, and were going t
charge battery halfa mile away. No Skin
mishers out--no firing. Tho battery was
belching away under cloud of blue smoke
and the ground was open and clear.
Tramp tramp! trampl No lagging-nc
forging ahead. Common time-march
march march 1t was a snail's pace, but
we were to increase it, The left of the line
was swinging ahead a little as the impatient
men increased their steps, when suddenly
the enemy discovered our maneuver There
was lull in the firing for fifteen seconds as
the battery changed front, and then a shell
tore through our centre and battered six or
eight men into bloody pulp
"Doublc-quick-char and away we
WENT each man shutting his teeth hard AZ
he entered the smokc-cloud, from under
which the red tongues of death leaped for
ward to scorch and wither dozens and scores
and hundreds.
grim veteran on my left raised cheer
1t was yet on his lips when grape shot tore
hole through his breast and sent him into
a dry ditch, dead before he struck the grass.
Two boy brothers on my right halted for an
instant as the grape and canister shrieked
around Them | looked back and they were
gone-dead under the feet of the second
line.
How far it was How long it took to pass
over that quarter Of a mile! Now we see
shadows around the guns-now the powder
flames burns our taces-now we are cheering
and shooting and using the bayonet The
guns are ours Men fall to the ground as
they step into pools Of blood Every gun
has its blood stain-every wheel is covered
with crimson spots. Men died before the
guns-around them-behind them We
cheer-hip! hip hur-l
Where am | ? The afternoon sky is over
head-the roar of the battle il in my ears-I
am lying on my back on the ground. What
does il mean? How came this? Heavens
What n burning, blistering sensation in my
left leg above the knee! l am wounded,
and | am lying where first went down.
The guns were here, but they are gone now
part ofthem captured-part Of them drag
ged away by hand. The tide of battle has
shifted, and over this meadow the dogs of
war are tearing at each others Threats.
Is there any one else here? lift my head.
Any one else Great God but the field is
covered with dead and wounded-with men
writing and groaning-with fragments Of
bodies--with palc.iaced dead, with blood
stained dying can touch the dead on
either side, and close behind me piteous
voice calls out:
"Comrade, for the love Of Heaven give me
a drink ~
That pain again. Is the leg being roasted
over slow fire? Scream and shrek and
clutch the grass and keep company with the
thousands Of others who are being tortured
to insensibiity by pain or driven to distrac-
ton by the still continued carnage.
All 1t is night. The falling dew has
brought more than one poor soldier back to
life and renewed suffering. The batteries
arc silent. The muskets are resting after
their deadly work. There is silence-no!
From woods and meadow and knoll and
valley, and almost every yard Of ground on
that long battle front, rise groans, and cries
and peadings. A general prides himself on
siragctic movements colonel will be
promoted for brayery-a major is fattered
by the cheers Of the liying--a captain Is
proud that his mon stood llhe stone wall,
and the result Is five thousand dead and
wounded and mangled mcn-lathcrs, broth
ers and sons.
This is glory Scream and shrek, but
some one has won fame. Pray and plead
and rave and curse, but the telegraph Is
lIashing tho news OF u glorious victory over
the country. The enemy has not retired as
yet, but is getting ready to fall back as the
night grows older
Hank L. some one mOvingY Yes, IL isa
step. II is some wounded man hobbling
away under cover Of daIknessg Nearer
nearer-and some one looks into my face.
II is the ghou Of the battle feld--the hyena
who drags his taons through blood and
gaping wounds 10 rob the dying mems
pockets.
$50 away am not dcadv' / shrek in
his face rs he bends closer, aud he leaps
aside 10 growI and curse and soaych the
body OF quo whose pale, upturnod laoo Il
just catching tho silver rays Of the new
moon. hear moro steps. Ghoul meets
ghoul and holds a whispered conversation,
and they separate with hands full Of plum.
der Now comes heavier step. A troop.
era horse Is dragging himself across the
field, a shattered leg making him almost
utter human groans lie Is more merciful
than the ghouls. lie weaYcs and tams 10
avoid tho Lodies In his patll-he even halts
and putt his nose against the faces Of the
dead as If he would speak 10 them.
So and 80 until midnight comos aud goes,
and then lanterns fash, tho ghouls speed
away, aud strong mon carefully liz up the
wounded and carry white hleos ~ they find
old comrades laying still and dark, In pools
Of clgtted gore
And all this r-what?-.D,frat free
Prcm
~ muskcl Tall b. hiod lnto The water II
will not only rabnnnd. bnl BE- nniinned II