The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-05-06
BEHIND TisH "ExnTuwoRKs,

BEuiND Tisn ESRTMwORKS.
war. Murdcr"Gs ,satG Depicted by On
who pWssci Through Iis horrors.
N. Quad.
An! 1t WAS ono OF the prettiest June day
even Virginia ever SAW. There was such
mellow aunshino that every flower ant
blossom turned i;s lace to be kissed, IN
there wss such n happy, peaceful look dowl
acroas the fields toward the James Rive,
that men forgot for q moment that war ex
listed. In the trees overhead the robin,
called to each other, and once a blue birt
alighted on the wheel of o field piece which
had Ito shining brass muzzlo thrust through
the embrasure, ready to send Its shriekins
shell whenever hand pulled tho lock string
There were a thousand OF us down be,
hind the earthworss, ind wo were 30 uuisI
that the voice OF the colonel reached the
last men on the Hanks as he cautioned us
MY lads, VIC arc going 10 hold this post
ton against a whole army"
Gee! a thin Inc Of men-skirmishers
to the number OF ALPHABETICALLY break
cover from the woods half a mile away
and advance upon us. They skulk-they
dodge-they drop down and suddenly rise
again, and advance as atealthily as Indians
intent upon surprising a hamlet. Bah
Fifty mon against ono thouaandl No, 1t il
not that. The octopus is in the woods
those skirmishcrs are tho long arms be is
reaching out to feel us-to uncover our no.
sition-to ascertain u strength,
"Pulr! Puff"
1t is the fire Of tho skirmishers, You
know where the watch dog Is by his growl.
They are trying 10 provoke the beast 10 be-
tray his retreat, Zip! Zip! How the bull.
lets sing as they fly over our heads There
is dead silence behind tho works, Wa
breathe faster and tarder-we clutch our
guns with tighter grip, but we arc silent.
10 XII! an octupus you must strike at tho
body. Sever his arms and they will grow
again.
"Pop! pop! pop! Zip! zip! zip!"
STEADY, lads, ana wait for the word ~
says the Colonel.
There is no excitement among us. l hear
the man on my right ehut his teeth with a
gritting sound, and the ono on INV left is
breathing like 4 weary mar in profound
alumber. II lshcu!d look up and down the
line | might SOC pale faces, but I am look.
Ing down across the fields and over the
heads OF the skirmishcrs. The yrspdest
sight OF the world is 10 see the octopus Of
war leave his lair and come forth thirstiny
for human blood.
All! here he comes! His feelers have
Jailed TO uncover US, but he can Judge for
himeeli that such y short line Of works
cannot conceal moro than u full regiment.
be docs not know that our right flank
rests on q swamp, and our left on an i'm.
passable ravine, while our front offers no
shelter ever for a rabbit. Look! the sight
is worth ten years Of your lie! A full
brigade pouIs cut Of the woods and forms
for the charge. Regiments and companies
swing into positions us il on parade. The
skirmiahers redouble their fire and a gen.
eral gallops along The front Of the brigade,
as ii 10 SEE that every foot is on line with
it's neighbor.
Now, they get Tile word to advance, and
at the same Instant our field pieces open
fire. The cruel shell arc 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-and morel
Hs! the shrek Of shell has changed to the
whistle Of grape and canister, and the men
at the guns are working as il the fate OF ma.
tons depended upon them. The smoke
drops down in a great cloud, and one can.
not SEQ beyond his bayonet. Now it is
rent and shattered, and it lifts and floats
away in grea! piecsa aud fragments.
snow, lads--and Ere low!"
The octopus has been staggered, wound.
ed -halted-but here he comes again.
Right in front Of mel zee a face and form
which | select as q target. / could kill
him now, but | grimly wait for him to
come nearer. lie is pale with excitement,
anu as the man at his left is struck down
my target loses the steady step OF the line,
But only Tor an instant. Now he is not
over forty feet away, and the fire OF
mueketry has checked the advance. Nv
weapon points straight at him, 1 am
looking straight into his eyes. l note his
brown curls, his high fo%rehead-the white
teeth shut tighttoge;her in his excitement,
Ho is not over twenty years old. He has a
mother whose poor old heart will almost
break tomorrow. lie has sisters who will
refuse to be com'or,ed for lon, months.
And such a fair faced boy must have a
sweetheart whose very soul will cry out in
anguish at the news Of his death.
am going to kill him? The excitement
Of the check has confused him. He looks
to the right and left, and then into NV
eyes. He is standing almos! alone. As
our eyes meet he sees murder in mine, and
| read an appeal for mercy in his. The re-
suit Of Il battle does not hinge upon the
lie Of Il corporal. The war will not be
over the sooner for his death. But | take
deliberate aim at his breast and pull the
trigger, and even before l feel the shock Of
discharge I SEQ the red blood spray out
from the horrible wound, and'h o falls back
with u shrek upon his lirs.
The octopus 10 beaten back, l 20 over
the works and find my target. Those
brown curls arc damp with death-the fair
face as white as snow, the ground soaked
with blood so precious that every drop will
call Tor q hundred teurs from womeu's
eyes. The blue oyes are wide open, the
lips are parted, and as l bend over him it
seems as il his voice came back for an in
slant to whisper the exclamation: "AIur.
derer
And that was wal! That was one Of the
acts which helped to make q victory for
Thousands 10 shout oyer-for flags to rip
ple-lor rockets 10 ascend-for children 10