The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-29

of battle mount but to be cut to earth as by a
sword swoop of fire. We had that costly honor
which sometimes falls to the 'reserve'-to go
in when all is havoc and confusion, through
storm and slaughter, to cover the broken and
depleted ranks of comrades and take the oattle
from their hands. Thus we had replaced the
gallant few still struggling on the crest and
received that whitening fire, which nothing
could withstand, by throwing ourselves fiat In
a slight hollow Of the ground, within pistol
shot of the enemy's works. and, mingled with
the dead and dying that strewed the field, we
returned the fire till it Redeemed into night.
and at last fell away through darkness and
Sileace.
But out of that silence from the battles crash
and roar arose new sounds more appalling still;
rose or fell, you knew not which, or whether
from the earth or air-a strange ventriloqulsm,
of which you could not locate the source-a
smothered moan that seemed to come from dis
| tances beyond reach of the natural sense-a wall
so far, and Deep and wide, as if a thousand dis
| cords were flowing together into note,
weird. unearthly, terrible to hear and bear. yet
| startling with its nearness-the writhing con
cord broken by cries for help pierced by shrieks
| of paroxysm-some begging for drop Of water
some calling on God for pity, and some on
friendly hands to finish what the enemy had so
| horribly begun-some with delirlous, dreamy
voices murmuring loved names, as Il the dearest
were bending over them-s0me gathering their
last strength to fire muskeb to call attention to
| them where they lay, helpless and deserted
| and underneath, all the time that deep bass
note from closed lips too hopeless or too heroic
| to artieulate their agony
| Who could sleep, or who wouldl Our position
was isolated and exposed. Officers must be on
the alert with their command But the human
took the mastery Of the Official; sympathy OIL
soldiership. Command could be devoved, but
pity not. So with staff officer, sailed forth
| to see what we could do where the helpers
seemed so few Taking some observations In
order not to lose the bearing of our own posi-
ton, we guided our steps by the most piteous of
the cries Our part was but little-to relieve a,
painful posture; to give cooling draught to
fevered lips; to compress a severed artery as we
had learned to do, though in bungling fashion;
to apply a rude bandage, which yet might pro-
long the life to saving; to take token or fare
well message for some stricken home 1t was
but little vet it was an endless task. We had
moved toward the right and rear OF our own po-
sition-the part of the field Immediately above
the need deepened and the calls multi
Piled Numbers, half wakening from the
iethargy of death of despair by sounds
of succor begged us to take them quickly
to surgeon, and when we could not do that
imploring us to do the next most merciful serv-
ice and give them quick dispatch out of their
misery Right glad were we when, after mid
| night, the shadowy ambulances came gliding
along, and the kindly hospital stewards, with
stretchers and soothing appliances, let US feel
that we might return to our proper duty
And now were aware OF other figures wan
dering, ghost-like, over the field. Some on err
|
peals; some seeking a lost comrade with uncer-
tain steps amid the unknown, andIever and anon
bending down to scan the pale vlsage closer or,
| it may be, by the light Of s. brief match. whose
blue Pickering flame could scarcely give the feat
ures more recognizable or more human look;
some man, desperately wounded. yet seeking.
with faltering step, before his fast ebbing blood
shall have left him too weak TO move, some quiet
or sheltered spot cut of sound of the terrible
appeals he could neither answer nor endure, or
out of reach of the raging battle coming with
the morning; one creeping. yet scarcely moving
from one lifeless form to another II, perchance.
he might find a swallow of water in the canteer
still swung from the dead soldiers side; or an
other, as with just returning or just remaining
consciousness vainly striving 10 rise from a man
! eled heap that he may not be buried with then
; while vet alive, some man, yet sound OF body
but pacing feverishy his ground because in sucl
| a bivouac his spirit could not sleep And so WI
i plcked our way back amid the stark, upturneC
e faces TO our little living line
, ! The night chill mad now woven a misty vel
| over the field. Fortunately picket fence w
had encountered in our charge from the tow
J. | had compelled us to abandon our horses, and s.
n had saved our lives on the crest; but our over
coats had been strapped to the saddles. and w
missed them now. Most of the men, however
s lad their oyercoats or blankets. We were glal
} of that Except the few sentres along the front
d the men had fallen asleep-the living with IN
q dead At last, outwearied and depressed VII
. | the deSolate scene, my own strength sank ana
# moved two dead men little and lay down be
/ tween them, making a pillow of the breast of
o | third The skirt of his overcoat drawn over m,
\ face helped also to shield me from the blea
/ winds There was some comfort even in thi
/ companionship. But it was broken sleep. Tn
!. deepening chill drove many forth TO take tn
J. garments of those who could no longer nee
them, that they might keep themselves alive
More than once | was startled from my unres
by some one turning back the coat skirt fror
l. my face peering, half vampire like. to my fancy
through the darkness, to discover If it. too, weE
= of the silent and unressting. turning away MOI
N disconnected at my living word than if voit
\, had spoken from the dead.
,r Having held our places all the night, we ha
H. to keep to them all the more closely the next da,
for it would be certain death to attempt to moN
away. AS it was it was only by making oreas
works and barricades Of the dead men that co
90 cred the field that we saved any alive. We d
" what we could TO take record of these men
40 Testament that had fallen from the breast-pocS
in | of the soldier who had been my pillow sci
n soon after to his home-he was not Of my cor
ia mainland it proved to be the only clew
H. parents ever had to his fate.
w. The next midnight, after thirty-sx hours
no this narrowing work, we were hidden to wit
no draw into the town for refreshment and res
nd But neither rest nor motion was to be thong
I'm of till we had paid fitting honor TO our dead.