The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-10-20

| NtIle. Inc neC hfc DecofnIng terribly
few, but nevertheless their guns, with
rapidity that seems unaba'ed, belch forth
great cl uds Of smoke and send the shelis
shIieking over the plain.
Meanwhile events occur which give us
something more to think Of than mere Skin
nnishing and shalling Our beloved brig
adler general. stepping out a moment to
reconnoiter the enemv's position and move
ments, is seen by sOr"A sharp shooters eff
| in tree, and is carried serc.-lv wounded
into the barn Our colonel assumes ~on,-
'nand Of the brigade. Our regiment facing
westward. .hiis the line on our right faces
to the north. is Observed to be exposed to
| an entiiaainS fire from tbs eremy'r guns, as
well rs from the long line or giaa f'"~ sp-
pearinR in full sight on our right. So or
regiment must form in line and change
s-~~t forward, In order to come in line with
the other .;g'aerts.. Accomplished swiftly
this new movement brings c,'r line at once
face to face with the eDemys, Th"h Nd
vances to within fifty yards, and exchanges
a few volleys. but is soon checked End stag.
gered by our fire.
Yet now, sect Away TO our left, and con-
sequently on our finh, new liae appears.
RAPIDLY advanUir q out Of the woods half
mile away, and tnero must he some sharp
| work done now, boys. or between the olo
| foes in front and the new ones Oh our fink
VIC shall be annihildted. To clear US Of
these old asslilants in front before the new
/ line can sweep down on our II NIX. our
btate colonel in Raging command, orders
a charge along the whole line. Then, be.
fore the cleaning and gIistenlng bayonets
Of our "Bucktail" brigade, Is il yells and
cheers, eweeping resistlessly over the field,
the enem7 gives way and flies in confusion.
= But there is little ti4ns to watch them fly,
| for that new line on our left is .Sssncing at
a rapid pace; and, with shells falling tE:ss
and fast into our ranks. and men dropping
everywhere, our regiment must reverse the
! former movement by changing front TO
J rear, and TO resume its original position
! facing westward, for the enemy's new line
is approaching from that direction. and II il
takes MS In flank we are done for.
Tc 'ehange front to rear" Is difficult
movement to e1ecrte even on drill, execute
more 90 under severe fire: bnt Il Is hum.
ed now steadilu and without coti:ucion, yet
not minute too soon! For the new hne
Of gray is upon us in mad tempest OF lead,
| supported by cruel artillery fire, almost
! before our line can steady itself to receive
| the shock. However, partially protected
| by post and rail fence, We arewer fierce
| ly, and with effect NO terrific that the enc
my's lines wavers, and at length moves Oh
by the right fl Ink, giving VI breathing
| space for time.
| During hi. struggle there had been many
| M, exciting scene all along the line as 1t
6wa, cd backward and forward over the field
- scenes which we have had No time to
mention yet.
See yonder, where the colors OF the reg
iment on our right-our sister regiment, the
149th--have been advanced little 70 draw
the enemy's fire. while our line sweeps on
to the charge. There ensues about the
flag Wild melee and close hand-to- hand
encounter. Sons Of the enemy nave seized
the colors ard are making off with them in
Triumph. shouting victory. But squad or
cur own regiment easbes ont, and nmid
yells and cheers and smoke. yo1 see the
battle aags r-o and fall, and sway bither
and thither upon tho surging mass, as II
tossed on the pillows Of q tempest, until,
vrenched away by strong arms, they are
borne back in triumph to the line OF the
| 149lh.
See yonder. againl Our colonelis clapping
bis hand to his check, from which red
stream is pouring; our lieutenant colonel
is kneeling on the ground, and is having
his handkerchief tied tightly around his
arm at the shoulder; the major and adju.
tant both lie low, pierced with balls through
the chest; one lieutenant is waving his
sword to his men, although his leg IL
crushed at the knee three other officers OF
the line are lying over there. motlonles'
now forever. All over the field are strewn
men wounded or dead, and comrades pause
a moment in the mad rush 10 catch the last
words Of the dying Incidents such as these
the reader must imagine for himself, to fill
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, being now
TO sing in from our left and right, which
means that We are being fanked. Soma
how, away of to our right, half mile OF
SO, our line has given way and Is already
on retreat through the town, while our left
is being driven in, and we ourselves inay
shortly be surrendered and crushed--and
SO the retreat is sounded.
Back now along the railroad cut We Dor
through tho orchard and the narrog strip Of
woods behind ii, with our dead scattered
around on all sides, and the wounded cry
ing piteously for help.
"Hary! Harrv!' 1t is faint cry of q
dying man yonder in the grass, and must
see who it is:
"Wby. Willie! Tell me where you are
hurtY ] ask, kneeling down beside him,
and see the words come hard, for he is
fast dying.
Here in my side. Harry. Tell mother
mother"
Poor fellow, he can say no more. His
head falls back, and Willie Black is at rest
foreverl
On, now. through that strip of woods. at
the other edge OF which, with my back
against stout oak, stop and look at a
beautiful and thrilling sight. Some reserves
are being brought np; infantry in the GEN.
tre; the colors flying and ofli ;ers shouting;
cavalry on the right with sabres flashing
and horses on the trot; artillery on the left
with guns at full gallop sweeping into po-
sition TO check Tia. headlong pursuitIt is
grand sight and Il the rally, but vain one,
for in an hour We are swept II the field and
are in full retreat through the town.
Up through tho streets hurries the rem
nant OF our shattered corps, while the enc.
my is pouring into the town, only few
squares away from us. Thele il q tempest
ofshrieking shSlis and wnis,ling balls about
our ears. The guns of that battery by the
woods We have dragged along, all the horses
being disabled. the artillerymen load as
we 60, double charging with grippe and can
lister.
MAKE way tlere, men! ls the CRY, ald
the surging mass crowds close up on the
sidewalks to right and left, leaving a long
lane down the centre OF the street. through
which the grape and mister go nttling in
to the ranks OF the enemys advance guard.
And SO. amid scenes which have neither
space nor power to describe, we gain Gene
tery Ridge toward sunset. and throw our
selves down by the road in tumult OF ex.
citement and grief. having lost the dag
through the overwhelming force OF numbers
and vet somehow having gained 1t. too
(although as yet We knew II noD, for the
sacrifice Of our corps has saved the oosi,iop
for the rest OF the army, which had been
marching all day. and which comes pouring
In over Cemetery Ridge all night long.
Aye, the position is saved--tut where is
our corps. Well may our div sion General.
; who early in the day succeeded 10 the CON-
mand when oar brave Reynolds had fallen,
she'd tears Of grief as be sits there on his
horse and looks over the shattered remains
Of that first army corps. for there 10 but q
handful OF 1t left. or the $50 men that
IN ,rched under our regimental colors in