The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-02-11
Behind the Rarthworks.


days even Virginia ever saw. There
was such mellow sunshine that every
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 blue-bird alighted on
the wheel of a 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 thousand of Us down
behind the earthworks, and we were
30 quiet that the voice of the colonel
reached the last man on the TANKS SIS
be cautioned us: ''My lads, we are GO
ing to hold this position against whole
armyr
See! A thin line of men-skirInish-
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
& stealthily as Indians intent upon
surprising hamlet Bah! Fifty men
against 1,00Ol 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! Puff
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. Zipl 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
or grip, but we are silent. To kill
an octopus you must strike at the body.
Sever his arms ana 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.
hear the man on my right shut his
teeth with a gritting sound, and the
one ON my left is breathing like
weary man in profound slumber. If
l should look up and down the line I
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.
All! here he Games! His feelers have
failed to uncover us, but he can Judge
f., h ALaR ~
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 position as if on parade.
The skirmishers redouble 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
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 and canister, and the men at the
guns are working as if the fate of na-
tions depended upon them. The
smoke drops down in great cloud,
and one cannot see beyond his bayonet
Now it is rent and shattered, and 1t
lifts and. floats away in great pieces and
fragments.
/ 'tNow lads--and fire low!'
The Octopus has been staggered
/ gounded-halted-b here he comes
again. Right in front of me l see q
face and form which l select as tar
ret. / could kill him now, but grim
| " wait for him to come nearer. He ID
/ 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 he is not ov-
er forty feet away, and the fire of the
musketry has checked the advance.
NV weapon points straight at him.
am looking right into his eyes | note
his brown curls, his high forehead-the
white teeth shut tight together IN his
excitement. He is not over 20 years
old. He has a mother whose poor old
heart will almost break tomorrow. de
has sisters who will refuse to be COM
forted for long months. And such
fair.faced boy must have a sweetheart
whose very soul will cry out in anguish
at the news of his death.
I am going to kill him! The excite
ment of the check has confused him
He looks tu the right and left, and ther
into nv eyes. He is standing almost
alone. AS our eyes meet he sees muir
der in rhine, and l read an appeal fol
mercy in his. The result of a battle
does not hinge upon the life OF q cor
poral. The war will not be over thu
sooner for his death. But / take de
liberate aim at his breast and press th'
trigger, and even before / feel th'
shock OF q discharge | see the rec
blood spray out from the horrible
wound, and be falls back with shrieS
upon his lips.
The Octopus is beaten back. | g
over the works and find my target
Those brown carls are damp witt
death-the fair face as white as snow
the ground soaked with blood so pre-
cious that every drop will call To-
q hundred tears from women's eyes
The blue eyes are wide open, the lip
are parted, and as bend over him
seems as if his voice came back for Al
instant to whisper the exclamation
Murderer!
And chat was war! That was one 0
the acts which helped to make vic
tory for thousands to shout over-fo
flags to ripple-for rockets to ascend
for children to cheer and women t
bless high Heavenl--M Quad is DetTo'
Free Press.
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