, 1884-12-12

to that
Our regiment and one other both under
command Of Col. Stradella, had been selected
to proceed through White Oak swamp. along
an OLD abandoned road which Kearney had
discovered that morning, and take up a
position so as to fall upon tho fank of the
rebel advance. which. it seemed likely,
would drive COUGHS and Keys divisions far
back 10 the river. We had marched a good
part Of the way at a double-quick, and the
men wero too busy picking their way nlong
the rough path to devote more than half
their thoughts TO the rattle OF small arms
and sharp artillery fire, which showed us
but too plainly how our men were being
borne back And the elan OF the hurried
march gave no time 10 the dead-beats and
poltroons to skulk out OF the ranks
But finally we reached the edge Of the
swamp and deployed into line behind n snake
fence on the skirts OF u wood whose under
brush screened us almost entirely from view.
Before us lay an open clearing about
quarter-mile in breadth, across which
wounded men limpod or were carried 10 the
rear. and "demoralizedr men were falling
back out Of range, singly and in squads; and
in which, as il the rebel artillerists wellknew
the location OF the clearing, shell were ex-
ploding and scattering their fragments with
that peculiar musical "tingi tingfp so fnmil-
NA - AA8AA Nat hAN 1AAk2 al w. AAAA GNGl
and anon one Of these uncomfortable mis-
stles would whiz past us, and be followed by
an instantaneous ducking Of the head by
every one of the green recruits But, though
the first time our regiment had
been under fire, the men behaved
splendidly. Casting my eye down the
line Of my company / could see a decided
majority OF pale faces. but compressed lips,
and not a sign Of wavering; while ono or two
Of the veterans or the devil-may-cares would
indulge In a joke at their neighbor's pallor
or a sneor at some cowardly fugitive. Nc
one had been hit as yet, but the prospect
looked uncomfortably hot.
All this time the infantry fire CAM nearer
and nearer our retreating line, and the adj
vancing rebels, with ever and anon q taunt-
ing yell OF defiance, seemed to DO approach
ing 80 as to present their flank as they passed
our position.
This was just what was expected and de
sired, as, unless they discovered US in time,
we could take them In reverse, and create a
diversion in favor Of our own forces, whose
commanders had been already notified Of
our intended attack, and would cooperate
with II.
But all this Is far from the purpose, and
we will now return to Corporal Dayton. As
soon as our line was formed, l began pacing
up and down in rear OF my company-I was
In command-speaking words of encourage
ment to the men and impressing upon them
the necessity Of waiting for and obeyinR
all orders promptly and efficiently; above all
things c%autioning them to reserve their fire
till the right moment, when they should re-
ceive the word.
While thus engaged l turned toward the
corporal, and noticed that he looked as II he
were having II chill He was shaking as
with an ague ft, but each man was intently
watching the panorama before us, and only
his close n~eighborz seemed aware Of his con-
dition. But all at once there was n loud ex-
plosion above our heads, and In the company
on our right a y~awning gap was rent.
STEADY, men, steady Its nothing but a
she'll Close up your ranksi" came from thu
officers Of the adjoining companies in as loud
a tons ms was prudent. And one poor fellow
lay doubled up on the ground, while a second
was carried to the rear. But, after the first
startled exclamation, never a groan.
This was the climax Of Jerry's fortitude.
The Goliath turned, and, leaving the ranks,
he staggered up TO me. His face was ashy
pale, whilo huge drops of cold sweat stood
all over 1t. and plowed thsir way downward
through the dust and dirt His freckles
stood out upon his pallid skin almost like
spots Of blood His eyes were staring and
purposeless, as 1 have seen them in the In
sane. He was trembling like an aspen. and
the huge frame actually looked small, 40
unmistakable were tho signs of the craven
heart within.
@Why, corporal, what Is the matterl You
frightenedi Nonsense. Move back into the
ranks, sir
"Oh, lieutenantin He could scarcely whis.
per the words, for his mouth seemed parched
with thirst. This is awful, Lieutenant =
can't stand IL; l know / can't Do sond L1e
to tho rear somewhere before 1 disgrace N.Y.
self" he BUNDLED out by starts, and between
the words he made great swallows as II IL
choke down something In his throat; while,
at every exploding shell or discharged field
pi &C, he shuddered like a guilty man.
Nonsense, corpornli Move back into the
ranks. Everybody feels so at first. You'll
be over IL in a few minutes" 1 added, as
kindly as 1 knew how; for ! could just APP
preciate a part Of the poor fellows trepida
ton
aOh, lieutenant, l can'ti I know 1 can'tTN
pleaded Jerry. do let me 60 back. Dc lot
me go help that Gro wounded man. 1 can't,
indeed l can't" reiterated he. sOh myIn.
This last was jerked out by another shell,
and my potit caporal fell out of tine ranks a
step or two with hi, arm shattered and bleed
ing; n holding up his broken gun in tho
other, with a smile on his face, which all the
time was twinging with pain, he said;
"My musket's gone, lieutenant, and SOS my
arm. But l guess I'll stay hero with the file
closeRp
aFind your way back to the rear, my boy.
Surgeon Colt is not far back You can't 20
on. or DO Of use with that arm." Then, turn
ing 70 Dayton who looked helplessly on, aFor
shamel' said L "Move back into the ranks,
you coward, or your life won't be worth a
pins purchasel" with an ominous movement
toward my revolver.
At this time the firing came closer and
closer, and the stragglers grow In number
till the groups numbered twenties and hfties.
Regiments and brigades seemed all mixed up
In one heterogeneous mass. Our troops
SEEMED 70 be lighting with much less regu-
larity than the enemy, the rattle of whose
musketry was continuous. But fresh Union
regiments were coming on the field, and a
line was being established facizg the clear
ing, and almost connecting with our own,
which promised to make a stand.
But our surprise was not successful The
regiments Of the rebel flank became aware
Of ~ before they had fallen into our trap;
and. changing front forward they opened
IRE. This was our first experience In an in
fantry fight; but the men stood IL evidently
better than the shelling. No close explosions,
no noise except a "chicki chick" as the
balls cut through the leaves beside US: and
these were soon drowned in thu rattle
OF our own muskstry when the order was
given to fire. The men were so busy loading
and firing that they had little leisure to
notice the occasional falling together or
dropping out OF a killed or wound COM
panion; and not an unwilling or skulking
man had / that day in Company @ but one
and be was Corporal Jerry Dayton.
No sooner was the rebel nre opened upou
us than It was all up with Jerry. He was
right; be could not stand It He bad moved
Try Ellis walnut accommodating like
them.