Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-06-05
behind the Earthworks.

flower and blossom turned its face to
be kisssd, and there was such happy,
peaceful look down across the fields to-
wards the James river that men forgot
for moment that war existed. In the
trees overhead the robins called to each
other, and once q blue-bird alighted on
the wheel of n field-piece which had
its shining brass muzzle thrust through
the embrasure, ready TO send its Shrek
ing shell whenever hand pulled the
lock-string.
There were o thousand of US down
behind the earthworks, and we were
so quiet that the voice of the colonel
reached the last man en- the flanks as
he cautioned us: My lads, we are go
ing 10 hold this position against a whole
army"
See! A thin line Of men-skirmish-
ers to the number Of fifty-suddenly
break cover from the woods half mile
away and advance upon us. They
skulk-they dodge-they drop down
and suddenly rise again and advance
as stealthily as Indians intent upon
surprising q hamlet BAH Fifty men
against 1000! No, it is not that. The
octopus is in the woods-these skir-
mishers are the long arms he is reach
ing out to feel us-to uncover our posi-
tion-to ascertain our strength.
Puff! Puffr'
1t is the fire of the skirmishers. You
know where the watch dog is by his
growl. They are trying to provoke the
beast to betray his retreat Zip! Zip!
How the bullets sing as they fly over
our heads! There is dead silence be-
hind 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 his arms and they will grow
again.
Pop! pop! pop! Zip! zip! zip!
STEADY, lads. and wait for the
wordn says the Colonel.
There is no excitement among us. l
hear the man on my right shut his
teeth with gritting sound, and the
one on my left is breathing like a
weary man in profound slumber. Ii
should look up and down the line /
might see pale faces, but / am looking
down across the fields and over the
heads of the skirmishers. The grand
est sight of the war is to see the
Octopus of War leave his lair and
come forth thirsting for human blood.
AM here he comes! His feelers have
failed to uncover us, but he can Judge
for himself that such short line of
works cannot conceal more than
full regiment. He does not know
that our right flank rests on swamp,
and our left on an impossible ravine,
while our front offers no shelter even
for a rabbit. Look! the sight is worth
ten years of your lifel \ full brigade
pours out of the woods and forms for
the charge Regiments and companies
swing into position rs if on parade.
The skirmishers redouble their fire, and
general gallops along the front of the
brigade, rs ii to see that every foot is
on line with its neighbor.
Now they get the word to advance,
and at the same instant our tield-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 viii demand drop
for drop-and more! Hal The shrek
of shell has changed to the whistle of
grape and canister and the men at the
guns are working as if the fate of ma
tions depended upon them. The
smoke drops down in great cloud,
and one cannot see beyond his .bayonct.
Now it is rent and shattered, and it
lifts and floats away in great pieces and
fragments.
Now lads-and fire low!n
The Octopus has been staggered
wounded-halted-- here he comes
again. Right in front of me see 4
face and form when | select rs q tar
get. | could kill him now, but | GRIM
ly wait for him TO come nearer He is
pale with excitement, aud rs the man
at his left is struck down, my target
loses the steady step of the line. But
only for an instant Now he is not ov-
er forty feet away, and the fire of the
musketry has checked the advance.
My weapon points straight ut him.
am looking right into his eyes. note
ais brown curls, his high forehead-the
white teeth shut tight together in his
excitement. He is not over 90 years
old. He has a mother whose poor old
AS@i VIII LlluDob bIGdh tO-mOlIbMs liz
has sisters who will refuse to be COM
forted for long months. Aud such a
fair-faced boy must have q sweetheart
whose very soul will cry out in anguish
at the news Of his death.
am going TO kin him! The excite
ment of the check has confused him.
tie looks to the right and left, and then
INTO my eyes. He is standing almost
alone As our eyes meet he sees muir
der in mine. and | read an appeal for
mercy in his. The result of q battle
docs not hinge upon the life of cor
poraL The war viii not be over the
sooner for his death. But | take de-
h5crate aim at his breast and press the
trigger, and even before ! feel the
shock Of discharge | see the red
blood spray out from the horrible
wound, and he falls back with a shrek
upon his lips.
The Octopus is beaten back ! 60
over the works and find my target.
Nose brown curls are damp with
4eath-the fair face rs white as snow