National Republican., 1883-05-31

poured the powder into the muzzle Of his
musket, and shook his head. His lips moved,
but what he said was inaudible in the tor
rent of sound which swept by, and passed
on.
The bushes were being rapidly cut away by
the projeotiles which tore through them.
Mems faces were sweaty-black from biting
cartridges, and a sort of grim ferocity seemed
to be creeping into the actions and appear
ance of every one within the limited range of
vision. Under tho bank of cloud which rose
from the opposite slope occasional glimpses
were had of gray, phantom-like forms crouch
ing in the underground and dealing out to us
allopathic doses of ammunition.
About this time my attention was attracted
to the strange antics of one of the numer-
Gus regimental dogs, who had fallen in wit
us on the march to the Rapidan. Like false
friends, all the others who had subsisted on
our bounty, fell out on the first intimation Of
danger, but this ungainly beast had evidently
enlisted for all there was TO be seen or done,
in the fight as we'll as on the march.
The ordinary camp dog certainly never had
any cause to complain of q lack of variety in
his life among the soldiers In addition to
the healthfu excitement and exercise of
promenading about camp with kettle tied
to his tail, his experience included a liberal
allotment of kicks, bayonet punches, and the
other disrespectful treatment which is sup
posed to be the brthright of the free lance
dog.
When we went in this one refused to pull
his tail in between his legs and join the
bowling phalanx of his peers, which started
for the rear at tho first shot, but marched
along with head and tail up, u perfect Julius
Cesar of dogdom. / lost sight of him for
few moments when the first crash of firing
swept over us, and l don't know but his
martial soul temporarily quailed under the
fierce blast, but he was soon on hand again
helping to save the union by his example, If
not by his acts.
Whenever u bullet made its mark on
branch or tree within his range of sight, he
sprang to the spot, and paved and bit the
fractured part, as If he thought this energetic
course of procedure would in some way
benefit his adopted battalion. After having
wreaked his unrcasoning vengeance oil one
confederate signature, he galloped around
through the brush looking for another place
upon which to vent his surplus patriotism.
During this performance he held his tail
defiantly erect like flag flung forth to the
air of freedom. Unfortunately, however for
his bodily comfort, before the fight at this
point closed ball came along and carried
away link of the proudly waving member
This catastrophy would not have occurred
had he been modestly brave and kept his
tail down
The whistle of bullets had had no effe3t on
his heroism, but as soon Us he had practical
reminder of their power to lacerate he became
very meek patriot indeed.
Notwithstanding the severity of the injury
he Tough shy of the hospitals probably hav-
ing u well-founded aversion TO the reckless
surgical practice which obtained in those
tents of suffering. At any rate, he rejoined
us after tho battle, and dOctored the wound
according to his own methods. Whenever
no found q mud puddle or moist place in
the road he deposited the mangled member
in il with q tender pathos which did much to-
ward working repentance in those who had
made him tho butt of their rude practical
jokes.
He recovered his martial ardor in few
days, but l noticed that ever afterwsrd he
went into battle with his tail discreetly
curled into the smallest possible space under
his body. He followed us faithfully until
the close of the first days fight on the We'll
don railway, in tho following August, when
saw him lying beside the roadway with his
paws in tho air and great hole torn through
his body by piece of shell.
How long we remained at the point where
we found tho confederate line have never
been able TO ascertain. So far as my own
impression is concerned, it may have been
twenty minutes or it may have been five
hours. No orders were given. None were
needed. There was the enemy, and it was
our duty TO reduce them to chaos If possible.
Suddenly without any preliminary indica-
tions, there was u great rush forward. never
knew whence came the impulse which drove
the line ahead, but with tremendous yell
and mighty surge the blue-Clad mass
plunged forward, bearing the confederate
| line before it as pebbles are borne on the
| ragged front of an avalanche. 1t was one of
those unaccountable things which create
| themselves for particular emergencies. 1t
seemed to be spontaneous conviction, flashed
with electric speed through the minds Of the
Al. s,,,r, haA thnra
long enough and that fate had decreed them
as the instruments of its removal.
Up to this time they had exhibited simply
| stubborn endurance; now they were i'm
PEELED forward by a fiery vigor, and like
hounds on the trail Of a wounded deer, in full
cry they dashed on.
Who that has ever participated in success
full charge can forget the wild thrill which
shoots along the nerves and drives the blood
| in hot surges through ones arteries? The
meek become savage, the coward grows into
reckless courage, and the bravo become heroes.
Men become giants, and with this berserkcr
rage upon them the impossible becomes fact.
A few hurried steps and we were at the
| position which had been occupied by the OPP
posing line, who were rapidly disappearing in
the immediate foreground. Here and there
a slouched hat might be seen dodging about
among the trees, but this was all that could
be seen of the force which had given us such
a warm reception when we appeared in their
| front. Yet even now, while moving dill
gently to the rear, they maintained a fire
which was anything but agreeable to the pur-
suerJ.
We were among their dead and wounded
and as we swept along / noticed that most OF
them wore new uniforms, and that their soft
felt hats had been but short time out of the
box. In their dying agony some were
clutching the ground and the branches of the
bushes which dropped over them; some were
trying TO stand, and staggered about with
blood gathering like q red sweat on theiI
torn faces and falling drop by drop on the
green leaves. Istepped inadvertently on one
who, as his soft, yielding body rolled over
glared at me with his glazing eyes; and threw
up his hand as if to defend himself from Q
blow.
1t was n wild whirl. Out Of the confused
picture "a few details came with startling
clearness, as the dark rocks throw their sharI
outlines above a turbid, tumbling stream
Our own fire had mainly ceased, and over th'
crash of musketry which rolled up from
other parts of the line, above the cheers anC
yells which peopled the gloomy environment
as with shrieking fiends let loose from hell
rose the rustling tread Of thousands of cage
feet. j, X.
Mr.. John Richie, of Chicago, the author o
the above and other letters descriptive Of th
battles in the Wilderness, which have ap
peared in THE REPUBLICAN,, has been 30
riOusly ill., but is recovering, and his letter
will hereafter appear regularly. Since tn
publication of the last letter the following
has been received at this Office, and is pub
| lrnnxu la1Qa.