The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-06-14
IN THE DARKNESS.
IN. Quad, in De,roi, Free pre.s.l


 then the brigade came to front and advanced in line. Here and there we came upon our dead or wounded skirm- ishers, and before we were quite clear of the woods we opened the lines to let a dozen or twenty men pass to the rear, driven foot by foot by an advancing line. There was smoke hanging lo~ over woods and fields, but now and then caught sight of flags and men and horses in our front. Cannon were booming, muskess popping and officers shouting orders, and amidst this terrible racket ve suddenly quickened our pace and drove straight forward at the baftery. The distance was perhaps hundred rods. IL was like dashing into fog. stepped over two wounded and three dead men, stumbled against a horse ly- ing on his side, and looked up to notice t. at our line was out of dress. What had become of my cemrade on the right where was the one on the left! We had touched elbows as we moved for ward. Now the nearest man was ten feet away.
 Now we halt-now we close up-now 1 hear men cheering. and we breast for ward into fog which is cut and streAked with long, red tongues of flame. In a minute more can see the cannon wheels and the legs of the gunners under the smoke. Fear? No! It is a wild ex- ultation-a feeling that may truly be called oevilish. want to shoot and stab and kill some one. l yell al the top of my voice. grip the arm of the man on my left to hurry him forward, and l chucklc as notice how fierce his lock how the hungry tiger can be read in his
 The sun had gone down. There vas spiieful roaring of artillery-a vengeful sputtering of muskeiry-a trembling of the earth which hurt me. Ali this came to me as l opened my eyes, but it came slowly. Dead! wondered for a mo- ment whether was or was not. No! had been hit-wounded. Where? There was no pain-not sLe slightest twinRe. An! come to remember, had stumbled against corpse just as the picture ofthe battle 6eld faded before my eyes. Curious that should have lost consciousness in the fall. would get up and hurry on and reloin my company.
 l rose to sitting position, and then Well, my right leg stuck fast to the grass The blood had poured out and dried to paste, and all of a sudden a twinge of pain racked my very so.i All around me saw the bodies of my comrades. called aloud, but not a soul answered. Not a man of us reached the battery Grape and canister had saved the guns To move was to feel the stabs of dozen knives, but drew myself along, inch by inch, to stump. Then had prop at my back and could wait. The roar of the battle was dying away and grim night was mercifully hiding the horrible sights of battle field.
 "Help.''
 4 shadow passed me, never needing the call, and knelt beside . dead body. 1t was that of a young lieutenant in the Twelfth New York. l remembered his crying. Forward '" just as fell. looked again, and the shadow covered its face with its hand, and rocked to and fro over the dead and moaned:
 My husband-mv darling! They have robbed me ot my treasure-taey have turned my joy into deepest sor- row! !"
 A shadow on my right It moved slowly, with hands tightly pressed over the heart. It was that of an aged wo- man. The hair was snow white, the limbs were weak and trembling, and the voice was choked and broken as it called Where is my boy-where is he lying dead!" pointed to the body of a youth, scarce I8, which was lying beside bush whose every leaf and twig was spaftered with blood, and she sank beside it and sobbed:
 And this is the glory of warl They rob a poor old mother of her last-born and then ring the bells for victory! Oh God. am heart-broken! Let me die here beside him :"
 Shadows On my lef. There were four of them. The first was that of wife and mother-the others her children. They looked at me in mute appeal. and 1 beck oned to them. At my feet, with his broad breast shattered and torn, vas stalvart sergeant of tho Second Massachusetts. It was he who had dashed into the front rank and encouraged us when we waver- cd under the storm of grape. They sank down beside him, and while the children m0aned and sobbed the mother raised her hands to heaven and cried:
 "Widoved-desolated ed! What Is victory to me when here ies the corpse of husband and htherr
 And yet another shadow came. It vas that of fair young girl. Her beautiful face was deadly pale, her brown eyes were 6lled with horror, her white teeth were shut tightly, as if she feared she would scream out and awaken the dead. Ahi ] knsv for whom she searched Whea oar night hank was doubled hack on the centre and tho regiments coafsssd and mingled, found him at my side. He bslsngsd to tAs Sixth Rhode Island. l poinssd to the spoe where he lay, half his handsome face shot away by the teuihle grspe, aad with shriek she knelt beside hin. nv her vhits 6neszs toy ing with his bsown euris. sas hx hold his hand and kiss it again and again. By asd by shs rose up aad with hand outstrsecAed towards the EagKed clouds