The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-05

wing IN full force. However, he didn't
do so, and when darkness closed in we
were ordered to stack arms and 20 to
sleep. Save now and then rafting
volley at various points of the line, the
musketry had at this time ceased, al.
though the batteries shelled the woods
and each other until 8 or 10 O'clock,
when they too were hushed.
We passed into sleep that night with
the unpleasant consciousness that our
arms had sustained bloody repulse, and
that in all probability We should have
another sanguinsry battle on the morrow
with the issue thereof very doubtful. II
will not be doubted that this feeling was
somewhat dsmper upon our martial
enthusiasm.
The next morning at sun up we received
the welcome intelligence that the federal
army had retreated from its strong
position in the night. As our brigade
was in reserve the day before, il was or
dered into what might be termed tech
nical pursuit-very technical, indeed, il
proved to be, as no very energetic At
tempt was made 30 far as I could see to
tackle the rear guard of the retreating
army. In order to gain the line of re-
treat the brigade, followed by the other
brigsdes of the division, made detour,
passed over the road through the
pines leading into the plain. Here
the effect of the concentrated fire
of the federal batteries was sw-
full to contemplate. On either side Of
the road for q hundred yards the trees
were moved down and splintered up as
If tornado had passed. Overturned
guns, exploded caissons and ammuni-
ton wagons. dead horses and dead ar.
tillerists, were heaped in promiscuous
confusion, and it was with great diff
Guilty that the infantry could force q
pathway to the open space beyond.
Here again on either side was verita-
bic wreck Of dismounted guns, broken
wheels, timber chests, horses mashed
up, and men crushed out Of all SEM
blsnce to humanity. The morning was
bright and beautiful, with afresli breeze
from the river blowing, but it's downy
wings were laden with the odors of q
slaughter house, seized upon in passing
over the fatal plain below. I have seen
many battlefelds, but never one so hor-
rible and repulsive to the sight ss
this same one of Malvern Hill. II
never had q nightmare for months
afterward when all its features we're
not recalled, and the semblsnce in the
dreams could not intensity the horror
Of the waking reality. From the thick
cts to the foot of the heights where
McClellan's batteries we're planted il is
no exaggeration TO say that for mile
and . half one might have walked on
dead men without putting foot to earth.
And such dead men! Heads cut of,
limbs Topped, bowels torn out, legs torn
from the trunks, trunks crushed into
an undistinguishable mass-a heaped
up mass of pounded flesh, that had been
strong: breathing men twelve hours be.
fore. Oh! it was horrible! and this es.
pecially where the huge shells of the
gunboats had exploded among the as
saultihg ranks. We crossed the plain,
avoiding stepping on the dead Is we'll
Is we could, and came to the road
where Jackson had fought. Save that
the dead were not lying 10 thickly as
on the plain the same feature was OBJ
servabls, the skill with winch the fed.
ersl batteries bad been maased, for
nearly all were tho victims Of cannon
shot OF slaall. The federal infantry
ibofe. comparatively speaking, but 81
snail shaxes IN this baktls, While The
1900 e1e iu1anfxy, owing 10 IT, ~