The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-05-11
BEHIND THE EARTH-W0RKS.
II. Quad Graphically Pictures the
Horrors Of War.

Adj it was one of the pret.iest
June days even Virginia ever saw.
There was such a mellow sunshine
that every flower and blossom turned
its face to be kissed, and there was
such happy, peaceful look down
cross the felds towards the James
River tina: men forgot for q moment
| that war existed. In the trees over
head the robins called to each other.
and once blue-bird aighted ON the
| wheel of feld>piece which had its
shining brass muzzle through the en-
brasure, ready to send its shriekine
shell whenever hand pulled the lock-
string.
There were a thousand OF us down
behind the earthworks, and we were 80
quiet that the voice OF the colonel
reached the las! men on the hanks as
he cautioned us: "My lads. we are
going to hold this position against a
whole armyw
Seel A thin line OF men-skirmish-
ers to number OF ffty-suddenly
break cover from the woods halt 8
mile away and advance upon us.
They skuik-they dod9e--they drop
down and suddenly rise again and
advance as stesithily az Indians in
tent upon surprising hamlet. Bah!
Fifty men against 1000! No, it is
not that. The octopus is in the
woods-these skirmishers are the
long aims he is reaching out to feel
us-to uncover our position-to
ascertain odr strength.
''Pufl PnffP'
Il is the fire OF the skirmishers.
You know where the watch dog is by
bis growl. They are trying to pro-
woke the beast to betray his retreat.
Zip! Zipl How the bullets sing az
they over our heade! There ia dead
silence behind the works. We breathe
faster and harder-we clutch orr guns
with tighter grip. but ne are silent.
To kill an octopus you must strike
| at the body. Sever his arms and they
will grow again.
"Pod! pop! popl Zipl zipi zip!"
STEADY. lads, and wait for the
| world" says the Colonel.
There is no excitement among us.I
! 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 lock-
ing do IN across the fields and over
the heads Of the skirmiehers. The
grandest sight of the world is to see
the DC opus of War leave his lair and
come forth thirsting for human
blood.
Alb! here be comesI 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 impassa-
bic ravine, while our front offers DO
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 position
as il on parade. The skirmishersl
redouble their fire, and a general gal
lops 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
strigking 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 more! Ha! The shrek of
shell has changed to the whistle OF
grape aud 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 zee beyond his bayo-
net. Now it is rent and shattered,
and it lifts and floats away in great
pieces and fragments.
''Now lads-and fire lowl'
The Octopus has been staggered
wounded-halted-but here he comes
again. Right in front of me I see a
face and form which select as a tar.
get. could kill him now, but II
grimly wait for him to come nearer. ,
he is pale with excitement and as
he man at his left is struck down,
NY target loses the steady step of the
inc. But only for an instant. Now
,e is not more than forty feet away,
md the fire OF musketry has checked 9
he advance. My weapon points
traight at him. am looking right
nto bis eyes. note his brown curls,
lis high forehead-the white teeth
light together in his excitement. He
3 not over twenty years old he has Z
mother whose poor heart will al
aost break to morrow. He has sig
ers who will refuse to be comforted
Or long months. And such fair
aced boy must nave q sweetheart
those very soul will cry out in an"
nish at toe news of his death.
I am going to kill him! The ex-
;<opoont of ft,o obonL has c0nfnQod A.