The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-01-09

our Hank, our brave colonel, In o rtngin
command, orders a charge along the Who'll
line. Then, before the cleaning brist
, ling bayoneis Of our 'Bucktail" brigade, d
!, Il wells and cheers, sweeping resistlessl
over the field, the enemy gives way AM
dies In confusion. But there Is little tim
to watch them fly, for that new line on on
left Is approaching ut q rapid pace; and
with shells falling thick and fast into GU
runks, aud men dropping everywhere, GU
! regiment must reverse the former move
ment by "changing front to rear and s.
resume It's original position facing west
ward, for the Cnemy's new line Is approach
ing frohi that direction, and II II takes u
in, TANKS, we are done for.
10 Change front to rear" Is O Difficult
movement to execute even on drill, mucl
more so under severe FIRE; but It Is execu
ted now steadily and without confusion
vet not minute too soonl For the ney
line oil gray is upon us in mad tempest o
lead supported by cruel artillery fire, al
most before our line can steady itself Il
receive the fatal shock, However, partial
ly protected BY post.Rnd.rail fence, W,
answer iiercely and with effect so terrific
that the enemy's line waivers, and q
length moves off by the right flank, giving
US o breathing space for q time.
During this struggle, there had beer
many an exciting scene all along the line
as il swayed backward and forward oyel
the feld-scenes which we have had nc
time to mention yet.
See yonder, where the colors OF the regi
ment on our right-our sister regiment, the
l4Dth-have been advanced little 10 draw
the enemy's fire, while our line sweeps on
to the charge. There enSues about the
flags n wild melee and close hand-to.haRd
encounter. Some OF the enemy have seized
the colors, and are making off with them
in triumph, shouting victory. But a squad
Of our own regiment dashes out, and amid
yells and cheers and smoke you see the
battle flags rise and fall and sway hither
and thither upon the surging mass, as il
tossed on the pillows OF u tempest, until,
wrenched away by strong arms, they are
borne back in triumph to the line OF the
l40lh.
See yonder, again! Our colonel is clap.
ping his hand to his cheek, from which a
red stream Is pouring; our lieutenant
colonel is kneeling on the ground, and is
having his handkerchief tied tight around
his arm ut the shoulder; the major and adj
iutant both lie low, pierced with balls
through the chest; one lieutenant is way
ing his sword TO his men, although his leg
is crushed ut the knee; three other officers
OF the line are lying over there, motionless
now forever All over the field are strewn
men wounded ordead, and comrades pause
a moment in the mad rush TO catch the
last words Of the dying. Incidents such rs
these the reader must imagiRe for himself,
to I'LL in these swift sketches OF how the
day was won-and lost.
Aye, lost! For the balls which have so
far come mainly from our front, begin now
to sing in from our left and right, which
means that We are being thanked. Some
how, away off to our right, haG.mile or
so, our line has given way and is already
on retreat through the town, while our left
is being driven in, and We ourselves may
shortly be surrounded and crushed-and
so the retreat is sounded.
Back now along the railroad cut we 90,
or through the orchard and the narrow
strip of woods behind it, with our dead
scattered around on all sides, and the
wounded crying piteously for help.
"Harry! Harryw 1t is u faint cry of a
dying man yonder in the grass, and must
see whoit is.
"Why, Willie! Tell me where you are
hurt y l ask, kneeling down beside him,
and ! see the words come hard, for he is
fast dying.
Here Here in my side, Harry. Tell-mother
Poor fellow, he can say no more. His
head falls back and Willie Black is at rest
iorever
On, now, through that strip Of woods, at
the other edge OF which, with my back
against stout oak, stop and look at
beautiful and thrilling sight. Some re.
serves are being broughtuP infantry in the
center, the Colors flying and officers shout
ing; cavalry on the right with sabers flash
ing and horses on trot; artillery on the
left, with guns at full gallop sweeping into
position to check the headlong PURSUIT.
is Il grand sight and fine rally but vain
one; for in IN hour We are swept off the
field and arc in full retreat through the
town.
Up through the streets hurries the REM
nant OF our shattered corps, while the enc
my is pouring into the town only few
squares away from lis. There is atempest
Of shrieking shells and whistling balls
about our ears. The guns OF that battery
by the woods We have dragged along, all
the horses being disabled. The artillery
men load aswe so, and double charge with
grape and canister.
snake way there, men" is the cry, and
the surging mass crowds close up on the
sidewalks to right and left, leaving long
lane down the centre OF the street, through
which the grape and canister go rafting in
to the ranks Of the encmy's advance guard.
And so, amid scenes which have neith-
or space nor power TO describe, we gain
Cemetery ridge toward sunset and throw
ourselves down by the road in tumult OF
excitement and grief, having lost the day
through the overwhelming force OF num-
beIs, and yet somehow having gained it,
too although as yet we knew It not,) for
the sacrifice Of our corps has saved the po.
sition for the rest OF the army, which has
been marching all day, and which comes
pouring in over Cemetery ridge all night
long,
Aye, the position is saved-but where is
our corps. Well may our divislon-general,
who early in the day succeeded to the com
mand when our brave Reynolds had fallen,
shed tears Of grief rs he sits there on his
horse and looks over theshattered remains
Of that LIST army corps, for there is but d
handful OF it left. OF tho $50 men thai
marched under ourregimental Colosin the
morning, but 100 remain. All our field and
staff officers are gone. OF some 20 captain:
and liGutenants, but one is left without-s
scratch, while Of my own company only /;
out Of 81 sleep that night on Cemeter,
ridge, under the open canopy Of heaven,
When man is seriously III he should cal
on his doctor at once, but when his trouble 4