National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-28
BEHIND THE EARrHwoRKs.
Wars Burderous Hate Depicted by One
Who Passed Through It's Horrors.

Wars Murderous Hate Depicted by One
Who Passed Through It's Horrors.
NJ Quad.
All 10 was one of tho prettiest June days
even Virginia over saw. There was such n
mellow sunshine that every fowor and blos-
som turned its face to be kissed, and there
was such happy, peaceful look down across
the fields toward tho James river that mon
forgot for a moment that war existed In the
trees overhead the robins called TO each
other, and once bluebird nlighted on tho
wheel of field piece which had its shining
brass muzzle thrust through the embrssure,
ready to send its shroking she'll whenever
hand pulled the lock string.
There were n thousand of us down behind
tho. earthworks. and we were so quiet that
| the voice Of tho colonel reached tho last men
on tho TANKS as he cautioned us: My lads
We are going to hold this position against
whole army"
See! A thin limo of men-skirmiihers, to
the number of ffty-suddonly break cover
from the woods half mile away and advance
upon us. They skulk-they dodge-they drop
down and suddenly rise again, and advance
as stealthily as Indians intent upon surpris-
ing hamlet. Bah Fifty men against
| 1,OO0l No. IL is not that. The octopus Is in
the woods; those skirmishors are the long
arms no is reaching out to feol us-to uncover
our position-to ascertain our strength.
Puff Puff"
1t is tho fire Of the skirmishers. You know
where tho watch dog is by his growl They
are trying to provoke the beast to betray his
retreat. Zip Zip How the bullets sing
as they fly over our heads There is dead
silence behind tho works. We breathe faster
and hardcr-we clutch our guns with tighter
grip, but we are silent To kill an octopus
you must strike ut the body. Sever his arms
and they will grow again.
| tfNI tnf 81 In
STEADY, lads, and wait for the word !" says
the colonel.
There is no excitement among us. hear
the man on my right shut his teeth with
gritting sound, and tho one on my left Is
breathing like q weary man in profound
slumber. If l should look up and down the
line might see pale faces, but l am looking
down across the fields and over the heads of
tho skirmishors. The grandest sight of the
world is to see tho octopus of war leave his
lair and como forth thirating for human blood.
All! here he comes His feeers have
failed to uncover us, but he can judge for
himself that such a short line of works cannot
conceal more than full regiment Ho does
not know that our right flank rests on a
swamp, and our left on au impossible ravine,
while our front offers no shelter even for a
rabbit. Look! the sight is worth ten years
of your life! A full brigade pours out of the
woods and forms for the charge. Regime nts
, and companies swing into position as II on
parade. The skirmishers redouble their fire,
and o general gallops along the front OF tho
' brigade as If to see that every foot is on line
with its neighbor
Now, they get the word to advance, and at
: tho same instant our field pieces open fire.
The cruel shell are striking plump into the
front rank, and tearing men to pieces by the
half dozen; but as the smoke lifts we find the
octopus marching on with steady movement
He wants blood. He will demand drop for
} drop-and moro! Ha! The Shrek Of shell
has changed to the whistle of grape and
canister, and the men at tho guns are work
ing as if the fate of nations depended upon
. them. The smoke drops down in great
cloud. and one cannot see beyond his bayonet
Now it il rent and shattered, and it lifts and
floats away in great pieces and fragments.
: "Now, lads-and FIRE loww
: : The octopus has been staggered, wounded,
halted-but here he comes again. Right in
front of me see face and form which
, select as target. could kill him now, but
grimly wait for him to come nearer. He is
: pale with excitement, and as the man ut his
left ia struck down my target loses tho steady
step of the line. But only for an instant
, Now he is not over forty feet away, and thu
fire of musketry has checked the advance
My weapon points straight at him. l an
: looking right into his eyes. | note his brown
curls, his high forehead-the white teetf
= shut tight together in his excitement. He Is
/. uOU oNcE ~ ycdio Oiu. tto hao "oshoi
whose poor old heart will almost break to-
, morrow. He has sisters who will refuse to be
, comforted for long months. And such n fair
! faced boy must have sweetheart whose very
soul will cry out in anguish at the news OF
his death.
am going to kill him! The excitement o
! the check has confused him. He looks to thu
right and left and then into my eyes. He
: is standing almost alone. AS our eyes meet
, , he sees murder in mine, and read an appea
l for mercy in his. The result of battle doe
!, not hinge upon the life of II corporal. Tht
war will not be over the sooner for his death
: But take deliberate aim at his breast ant
: press tho trigger, and even before l feel thu
= shock of discharge | see the red blood spray
out from the horrible wound, aud he falls
back with a shrek upon his lips.
The octopus is beaten back. 60 over thu
, works and find my target. Those brown
curls are damp with death--the fair face q
: white as snow-the ground soaked with blooC
= so precious that every drop will call for
= hundred tears from women's eyes. The blue
eyes are wide open, the lips are parted, and
as l bend over him it seems as If his voice
came back for an instant to whisper the ex
clamation Murderer!
And that was war That was one Of tn
acts which helped to mako victory TO
! thousands to shout over-for flags to ripple
for rockets to ascend-for children to chez
and women to bless high heaven!