Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-05-15
BEHIND THE EARTHWORKS.
Wars MurderOus Hate Depicted by
One Who Passed Through
Its Horrors.

|
All! it was one of the prettiest June
days even Virginia ever saw. Theirs
was such mellow sunshine that every
flower and blossom turned its face to be
kissed. and there was such happy,
peaceful look down across the fields to-
ward the James river that men forget
for moment that war existed. In the
trees overhead the robins called to each
other, and once = bluebird alighted on
the wheel Of the field piece which had its
shining brass muzzle thrust through the
embrasure ready to send its shrieking
shell when hand pulled the lock string.
There were a thousand Of US down
behind the earthworks, and we were so
quiet that the voice of the colonel
reached the last men on the Hanks as he
cautioned US: my lads. we are going to
hold this position against whole army"
Seel A thin line Of men-skirmishers.
to the number of tifty-suddsnly break
cover half a mile away, and advance
upon US. They skulk-they dodge
they drop down and suddenly rise again,
and advance as stealthily as Indians
on hamlet. Bahl Fifty men against a
thousand! No, it is not that. The octo-
pus is in the woods; those skirmishers
are the long arms he is reaching out to
feel us-to uncover our position-to as
certain our strength.
Puff Puff p
1t is the Ere of the skirE2isbers. You
know where the watch dog is by his
growl. They are trying to provoke the
beast to betray his retreat. Zip! Zipi
How the bullets sing as they fly over
our headsI There is dead silence behind
the works. We breathe faster and
harder-we clutch our guns with tight
er grip, but we are silent To
kill an octopus you must strike at the
body. Sever bis arms and they will grow
again.
Pop. pop, pop! Zip, zip, zipP'
STEADY lads, and wait for the word"
says the colonel.
There is no excitement among US. l
hear tue man on my right shut his teeth
with a gritting sound, and the one on
my left is breathing like a weary man
in profound slumber. If l should look
up and down the line might see pale
faces, but am looking down across the
fields and over the heads of the skir-
mishers. Tue grandest sight of tbs
world is to see the octopus of war leave
| his lair, and come forth thirsting for
human blood.
! All, here he comeSl His feelers have
failed to uncover us, but he can judge
for himself that such a short line of
works cannot conceal more than 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 rabbit.
Look the sight is worth ten years Of
your life! A full brigade pOurs out of
/ the woods and forms for the charge.
Regiments and companies swing into
positions as il On parade. The skirmish-
ers redoHtIe their fire, and a general
gallops along the front of the brigade,
as if to see that every foot is on line
with its neighbor.
| Now, they get the word to 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 will demand drop for
drop-apd more. Hal The shrek Of
shell has changed to the whistle of graps
and canister, and the men at the guns
are working 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 is rent
and shattered, and it lifts and floats
away in great pieces and fragments.
| New, lads-and fire low!'
| The octopus has been staggered.
wounded, halted here he comes
again. Right in front of me sac face
and form which l select as target. l
could kill him now, but l gTimly 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 ne is not over forty feet away, and
the fire of muSketry has checked the
advance. My weapon points straight at
| him. | am looking right into his eyes
l note his brown curls, his high forehead
the white teeth shut tight together in
his excitement. He is not over twenty
years old. He has a mother whose poor
old heart will almost break tomorrow.
He has sisters who will sefuSe to be
comforted for long months. And such
a fair faced boy must have a sweetheart
| m IN
at the news of his death.
am going to kill him! The excite
ment of the check has confused him.
He looks to the right and lett, and then
into my eyes. He is standing almost
alone. As our eyes meet he sees murder
in mine, and l read an appeal for mercy
in his. The result of battle does not
hinge upon the life of corporal The
war will not be over the sooner for his
death. But take deliberate aim at his
breast and press the trigger, and even
before l feel the shock of discharge l
see the red blood spray out from the
horrible wound, and he falls back with
"a shrek upOh 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 us white as Snow-the ground
soaked with blood 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 bend
over him it seems as if his voice came
back for an instant to whisper the eNA
clamation: MuTdererl
And that was warl That was one OF
the acts which helped to make victory
| for thousands to shout over-tor hagS
to ripple-for rockets to ascend-tor
children to cheer. and women to bless
high heaven!-M. Quad.
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