The Delaware farmer., 1883-11-16

panles the depth was thirty lines of mel
in open order. It was in fact gian
wedge of flesh and blood and stee
which was to drive itself through the
Confederate lines.
As the men stood in line their officers
explained to them in low and earnest
tones what was planned and what was
hoped for. 1t was a forlorn hope indeed.
Every man must have realized that there
would be terrible loss of life even be.
fore the salient was reached, but each
one seemed to nerve himself for what
was to come. During the twenty min
utes' interval between forming and the
order to advance there was almost dead
silence in the ranks. The men leaned
upon their muskets and peered through
the forest in their front which hid the
Confederate position. and the supports
on the hanks moved up and into position
as if fearing that their footsteps would
disturb the dead of the day before.
1t was not positively known to the
Federals that the salient was defended
by cannon. The hope that it was not
gave the men more spirit, as the lay on
the ground-forest, thicket and ridge
furnished fair shelter from musketrv
fire.
Soon after s o'clock a single low
spoken order brought every man to a
front face. The moment had come.
As the column had formed under cover
it was hoped to take the defenders of
the salient by surprise. The lines were
dressed, and in a moment more were
moving through the woods. From the
valleys at the base of the Kennesaw.
Lost or Pine Mountains to their crests
there is scarcely a level spot. The
sides are covered with forests and
thicket, and the ground is almost sue
cession Of rocky terraces. Over this
difficult ground the great blue wedge !
forced its way at a rapid pace, but no |
cheer was heard-no shouts were given.
"Crack crack crack I!
It is the alarm from the Confederate
skirmishers, who have crept down al
most to the base of the mountain. They
ire posted behind great rocks and hid
len behind lodges. They cannot retreat;
hey must surrender or fight it out.
They choose the latter course. Nine
'ut of every ten hold their positions un-
il the point of the blue wedge reaches
hem and brings a savage death with it,
All along the sides of the grim noun
ain the skirmishers bar the way, seek
lg to detain the wedge and alarm the
blenders Of the salient. Here and
here a Federal throws up his hands and ,
Ills back, but the column makes no :
alt. Up, up, up, and now an officer in
ont waves his sword as the slopes of l
le parapet come into sight. Here the
over suddenly ends. From the bushes !
} the salient, distance of 200 feet, the !
round has been swept bare of tree and t
ush, and rocks have been rolled aside. G
At the foot OF the parapeJ is a palisade v
outside of that an abattis. Behind the l
orks are a thousand muskets-a thou ;,
nd Confederates with fingers on trig- S
rs. AT regular intervals along thi p
le-25O feet front-are six field pieces, G
ch one loaded with grape and canister. I
le men within are waiting, Not an =
der is given nor a head appears in re
yht until the first line of blue is out of is
yer. 81
Now, as if one finger had pressed the cf
ousand triggers, a great sheet of flame u i
Ups forth and scorches and blisters =,
d shrivels the advance. The second in
e crowds up over the dead and dying, pl
. third and fourth cheer as they come. e1
wv, with crash as if volcano was - .;
saking through the crest of the noun 90 90
n, the six guns belch their contents of
o that mass OF men sixty deep. fl,
The effect was horrible. What were
n a moment ago are now bloody IN SIl
eds blown against the rocks and scat No No
ed far over the ground. Some of the ex
y fragments fall upon the lines yet ex
f-way up the slope. DO
2he advance halts in confusion-the no
T lines crowd up. There is another 00
ody feast ready as soon as the cannon ga
be charged. Then comes the order DO
break lines and divide to the right and ter
to get out of range of the artillery. 90 90
, men rush forward to the abattis- M ~,
le lie fiat down-others take cover We,
ind rocks. sun
or fifteen minutes heroic carnage div
Is them before the salient. The Con tal
crates have them at their mercy. Men
, dolilnnrnAn nir,, n,,I rn,,I . L.-11L