The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1883-11-17

Ah Il kCE OAIh DCGAA2A SHN
around, an old man is seen approaching
our line through the orchard in the rear.
He is dressed in a long, blue, swallow
tailed coat and high silk hat, and coming
up to the colonel, he asks:
Would you let an old chap like me have
a chance to fight in your ranks, %colonel!
Can you shoot?" inquiries the colonel.
"Oh, yes, ] can shoot, I reckon" said
he.
"But where are your c~artridges2"
1--WE gotten here" says the old man,
slapping his hand on his pantaloons
And so, cold John Burns, of whom
every school-boy has heard takes his place
in the line and loads and fires with the best
of them, and is left wounded and insensible
on the field when the day is done.
Reclining there under a tree while the
skirmishing is going on in front ard the
shells are tearing up the sod arouna us, l
observe how evidently hard oppressed is that
battery yonder in the edge OF the wood,
about so yards to our right. The enemy's
batteries have excellent range on the poor
fellows serving it. And when the smoke
lifts or rolls away in great clouds for a mo-
ment, we can see the men running and
ramming and sighting and firing and swab-
bling and changing position every few min
utes to throw the enemy's guns out of range
a little. The men are becoming terribly
few, but nevertheless their guns, with a
rapidity that seems undated, belch forth
great clouds of smoke and send the shells
shrieking over the plain.
Meanwhile, events occur which give us
something more to think of than mere Skin
mishing and Smelling. Our beloved brig
adler general, stepping out a moment to
reconnoiter the enemY's position and move
ments, is seen by some rp-shooters Oft
in q tree, and is carried severely wounded
| into the barn. Our colonel assumes COM
mand of the brigade. Our regiment facing
westward, while the line on our right faces
to the north, is observed to be exposed to
q %enflading fire from the enemys guns, as
well as from the long line of gray now ap-
pearing in full sight on our right. SO our
regiment must form in line and change
front forward, in order to come in line with
the other regiments. Accomplished swiftly,
this new movement brings Jul line at nee
face to face with the enemy's, which ad-
vances to within fifty yards, and exchanges
a few volleys, but is soon checked n stag
gered by our fire.
Yet now, see! Away to our left, and con-
sequently on our flank, a new line appears,
rapidly advancing out of the woods a half
mile away, and there must be some sharp
work done now, boys, or between the old
foes in front and the new ones on our flank,
We shall be annihilated.- To clear us of
these old assailants in front before the new
line can sweep down on our flank, our
brave colonel in a ringing command, orders
a charge along the whole line. Then, be-
fore the cleaning and gistening bayonets
of our "Bucktail" brigade, as it yells and
cheers, sweeping resistlessly over the field,
the enemy gives way and flies in confusion.
But there is little time to watch them fly,
for that new line on our left is advancing at
q rapid pace; and, with shells falling thick
and fast into our ranks, and men dropping
everywhere, our regiment must reverse the
former movement by changing front to
rear, " and to resume its original position
facing westward, for the enemy's new line
is approaching from that direction, and if il
takes us in flank We are done for.
To "change front to rear" is a difficult
! movement to execute even on drill, execute
more SO under severe fire: but il is hum
ed now steadily and without confusion, yet
not a minuts too soon! For the new line
of gray il upon us in q mad tempest of lead,
supported by a cruel artillery fire, almost
before our line can steady itself to receive
the shock. However, partially protected
by q post-and-ra fence, we answer fierce
", and with effect so terrific that the enc
my's lines waivers, and at length moves of
by the right flank, giving us q breathing
space Cor q time.
During this struggle there had been many
an exciting scene all along the line as it
swayed 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
1~49th-have been advanced a little to draw
the enemy's fire, while our line sweeps on
to the charge. There ensues about the
flag a wild melee and close hand-to- hand
encount II. Some Of the enemy nave seized
the colors and are making off with them In
triumph, shouting victory. But a squad or
our own regiment clashes out, and amid
yells and cheers and smoke. you see the
battle flags rise and fall, and sway hithel
and thither upon the surging mass, as Il
tossed on the pillows Of a tempest, until,
wrenched away by strong arms, they are
borne back in triumph to the line or thu
149lh.
See yonder, again. Our colonelis olapping
Ills hand to his cheek, from which Q 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'
liant both lie low, pierced with balls through
the chest; one lieutenant is waving his
sword to his men, although his leg is
cMshed at the knee; three other officers OF
the line are lying over there. motionless
now forever. All over the field are strewn
men wounded or dead, and comrades pause
q moment in the mad rush to catch the last
words OF the dying. Incidents such as these
the reader must imagine for himself. to I'LL
in these swift sketches Of how the day was
won-and lost!
Aye, lostl For the balls which have sc
far come mainly from our front, being nov
TO sing in from our left and right, which
means that we are being fanked, Some