The National tribune., 1882-11-30
Ridge haQ Degun.

Ridge ha0 Degun.
The battle is historic. It's story has been
written upon the pages of the past as with pens
forged from steel and dipped in blood. Its
records have been traced upon sorrowing hearts
far more deeply than upon monumental marble,
and the keepers Of its memories are widows
and orphans bereaved fathers and mothers and
broken hearted maidens whose lovers there
sealed their devotion TO the flag with their
lives.
By Northern fresides and in Southern homes
it was the same, for on that day there was
mourning from the lakes to the gulf
1t was a wild, wonderful charge through
dense smoke, through enflading fire, through
a tempest of bullets. Valor and manhood were
In vain. Never fercer blow of war was
struck, never was grander or more terrible
determination displayed. Battery after bat
terry was carried by the living, charging over
the bodies Of the dead. Mission Ridge was as
volcano, vomiting flame from base TO DOME
sndtrembIing under the thunders of " PARROTS"
and "Napoleons"
"Take the rife-pits, if you csn," was the
command, and it was obeyed.
The loyal-hearted and brave men who were
there can alone tell the story aright--of the
carnival of rejoicing when the blue-coated
heroes surged like the waves of mighty sea
over the crest of the mountain, and the cheers
of the victors rent the air
Some mad with excitement and wild with
the desire to DO still more for the old flag, fol-
lowed the clouds Of dust and beating Of hoofs
down upon the opposite side.
Among the number was one who bad acted
well his part that day. Wounded, gaspiug for
breath, covered with dirt and blood, he was
among the foremost but, when bugles were
making the echoes ring with the notes of vic
tory, he gave no heed TO the jubilant strains
Plunging down the steep sides of the noun
tain, he rushed on as it were into the open
jaws Of death.
A riderless horse, with housing and saddle
bloody red, +" came dashing along, lost to every
thing save the instinct of self-preservation
The strong hand of the Northern soldier
caught the loosened rein and checked its wild
career; gentle caresses calmed its fears, and
very soon the gallant animal stood awaiting
the will Of its new master.
"As you carried the gray up the mountain.
even Sol shall you carry the blue down." laughed
the soldier, springing into the saddle and
touching the still-panting 1anks with his heels.
Swiftly he rode on over ground marked with
the debris of battle, by the wounded, the dying,
and the dead. The eager rush for safety per
mitted no thought to be given to others In
such an hour the most generous become selfish.
Not so, however, with the Northern soldier
He tenderly picked his way among the dead
and wounded, forgetting that every step gave
him the more into the power of the enemy, and
that smarting as they We're from defeat he
could expect no mercy at their hands. Rash
fool that have been" he muttered TO himself
at last; 81 am liable at any moment to be shot
down or rush blndly into an ambush and be
cut to pieces" and patting the proudly arched
neck of his horse, he continued: Come, good
horse, We viii climb the mountain once more
and seek safety under the stars and stripes"
The whistling of bullet past his check has
tened his movements. He urged his steed TO
greater speed and sought the nearest cover.
That he had been seen he knew; that his uni
form made him a conspicuous mark he was
painfully aware, as the peculiar kissing of a
mimic again and again startled him, and, with
the unpleasant notes of the sharpshooter's
music ringing in his ears, he dashed forward.
The way was steep and uncertain hedged
about by fallen timber and rude ehspal de triSe,