Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1884-05-29

wars Murlerous Hate Depicted by One
WHO Passed Through Its Horrors.

y
wars Murlerous Hats Depicted by n
who Passed Through rts horrors
Ali il was n OF the prettiest Jnns
DAYS Virginia ever saw. There was
such a mellow sunshine that every How
err and blossom turned its face 70 be
kissed, and there was such o happy,
peaceful look down across the FIELDS TO-
ward the James River that MEN forgot
for a moment that wal existed In the
trees overhead the robins called TO each
other, and once a blue bird alighted on
the wheel OF a field piece which had its
shining brass muscle thrust through the
embrasure, ready TO send its shrieEing
she'll whenever hand pulled the lock
string.
There were a thousand Of us down
behind the earthworks, and we we're SO
quiet that the voice of the colonel
reached the last men on the TANKS as
he cautioned us: my lads, we are
going to hold this position against q
whole army"
Seel A thin line OF men -skirmish-
ers, to the number OF fifty suddenly
break covor from the woods hall a mile
ayay. and advance upon us. They
skuik-they dodge they drop down
suddenly rise again, and advance as
stealthiiy as Indians intent upon sur
prising a hamlet. BAH Fifty men
against one thousandl No, it is not
that. The octopus is in the woods;
those skirmishers are the long arms he
is reaching out TO feel us-to uncover
our position-to ascertain u strength.
Puff Puff"
1t Is the fire OF the skirmishersi You
know where the watch dog Is by his
growl. They are trying to provoke the
beast to betray his retreat. Zipl Zip
How the bullets sing as they fly over
our heads! There is dead silence be-
hind the works. We breathe faster and
harder-we clutch our guns with tighter
glip, but we are silent, To kill an
octopus Won must strike at the body.
Sever his arms and they will grow
again.
Pop! popl pop! Zip! zip. zipl"
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 q g~ritting sound, and the n ON
my left is breathing like a weary man
in profound slumber. Ii I should look
up and down the line / might see pale
faces, but | am looking down across the
fields and over the heads Of the Skin
mishers. The grandest sight of the
world is to see the octopus Of war leave
his lair and come forth thirsting for hu-
man blood.
Ali here he comes! Hisfeelers have
failed to uncover us, but he a judge
for himself that such q short line of
works cannot conceal more than a full
regiment. He does not know that our
right flank rests on a swamp, and our
left on an impossible ravine. while our
front offers no shelter even for a rabbit.
Look the fight is worth ten years of
your lifel A full brigade pours out of
the woods and forms for the charge.
Regiments and companies swing into
positions as If ON parade. The Skin
mishers redouble their fire, and a gem
eral gaIIops along the front of the
brigade, as if to see that every foot is On
line with its neighbor.
Now they get the word 10 advance,
and at the 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 wants drop for
drop-snd more! Hal The shrek of
shell has changed Il the whistle OF grape
and canister, and the men at the guns
are working as il the fate of nations de-
pended upon them. The smoke drops
down in a great cloud. and one cannot
see beyond his bayonet. Now it is rent
and shattered, and it lifts and floats
away in great pieces and fragments.
"Now, lads-and fire lowl"
The octopus has besn staggered,
again. Right in front Of me see a face
and form which | select as a target. l
could kill him row., but / grimly wait
for him TO come nearer. He is pale
with excitement and as the man at his
left is struck down my target loses the
steady step of the line. But only for
an instant. Now he is not over forty
feet away, and the fire OF musketry has
checked the advance. My weapon points
straight at him. / am looking right m
to his eyes. / note his brown curls, his
high forehead--the white teeth shut
tight together in his excitement. He il
not over twenty years old. He has 8
mother whose poor old heart will al
most break tomorrow. He has a sis
ter who will refuse to be comfort
ed for long months. And such
a fair-faced boy must have a
sweetheart whose very soul will cry ont
in anguish at the news of his death.
i am going TO kill himl The excite
ment of the check has confused him.
He looks to the right and then into my
eyes. He is standing almost alone. As
u eyes meet he sees murder in mine,
and ! read al appeal for mercy in his.
The result OF a battle does not hinge
upon the life of a corporal. The war
will not be over the sooner for his death.
But l a deliberate aim at his breast
and press the trigger, and even before
l feel the shock OF dicharge / see the red
blood spray out from the horrible wound
and he falls back with a shrek upon
his lips.
The octopus is beaten back. / go
over the works and find my target.
Those brown curls are damp with
death-the fair face as white as snow
the ground soaked with blood so precious
that every drop viii cali for n hundred
tears from womon's eyes. The blue
eyes are wide open, the lips are parted,
and as | bend over him it seems as il
his voice came back for an instant 10
whisper the exclamation: Murderer
And that was war! That was one of
the acts which helpedt to make a victory
for thousands TO shout over-for flags
TO ripple-for rockets to ascend-for
children TO cheer, and women to bless
high heayenl