Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-03-27

We halted on the slope of a ravine.
Mimic balls are singing over our heads
as we cook our coffee, while sounds
of axes and falling trees are heard
on all sides: and still that merry
Zip! z-i-p!' goes on among the
tree-tops and sings US to sleep, at
length, as we lie down shivering I'M
der our India rubber blankets, to get
what rest we may. How long we
had slept l did not know, when some
one shook me, and in a whisper the
word passed around:
"Wake up boys! Wake up boys!
Don't make any noise, and take care
your tin cups and canteens don't rat
tie. We've got to get out of this on
a double jump p
We were in pretty fix, indeed !!
In placing the regiments in position,
by some blunder, quite excusable no
doubt in the darkness and the tangled
forest, we had been unwittingly push
ed beyond the main line-were, in
fact, quite outside the picket-line 1t
needed only daylight to let the enemy
see his game, and sweep us off the
boards. And daylight was fast COM
ing in the east.
Long after, a Company A Boy,
who was on picket that night, told
me that, upon going to the rears
somewhere about three o'clock, to
cook a cup of coffee at half-extin-
guished fire, cavalry picket ordered
him back within the lines.
ssThe lines are not back there; my
regiment is out yonder in front, on
skirmish -
'sNo," said the cavalryman; "our
cavalry is the extreme picket-ine,
and our orders are to send in all men
beyond u.s."
"Then take me at once to General
Bragg's headquarters, said the COM
pany A Boy.
When General Bragg learned the
state of affairs, he at once ordered
out an escort of five hundred men to
bring in our regiment. Meanwhile,
we were trying to get back of our own
accord.
"This way, men. p said a voice in
a whisper ahead.
''This way, menu said another
voice in the rear.
That we were wandering about
vainly in the darkness, and under nc
certain leadership, was evident, for
noticed in the dim light that, in oul
tramping about in the tangle, we hac
twice crossed the same fallen tree
and so must have been moving in {
circle.
And now, as the day is dawnins
in the east, and the enemy's picket'
see US trying to steal away, large
force is ordered against us, ant
comes sweeping down with yells ant
whistling bullets-just as the escort o
five hundred, with re-assuring cheers
comes up from the rear to our sup
port
Instantly we are in the cloud anC
smoke of battle. A battery of artil
lery, hastily dragged up into position
opens on the charging line of gra,
with grape and canister, while from
bush and tree pours back and fortl
the dreadful blaze of musketry. Fo
half an hour, the conflict RACES ferc
and high in the dawning light ant
under the dripping trees-the officer
shouting, and the men cheering ant
yelling and charging, often fighting
hand to hand and with bayonets lock
ed in deadly encounter, while the al
is cut by the whistling lead, and tn
deep bass of the cannon wakes th
echoes of the forest. But at last tn
musketry-fre gradually slackens
and we find ourselves out of danger
The enemy's prey has escaped him
and, to the wonder of all, we ar
t brought within the lines again, be
grimed with smoke and leaving man
, of our poor fellows dead or wounde
! on the field.
Anxiously every man looked abor
for his chum and messmates, 10;
sight of during the whirling storm {
d battle in the twilight woods. And
l. too, looked, but where was Andy
a Harry ". Kiefer, an st. Nichola