Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-09-09
A Terrible Ordeal.

| IeTTlOlo OruedL
But there was one part OF the Con-
federate line which did not share in
the tumult and fierce resistance which
was everywhere else apparent. This
was the portion held by the division
OF Maj. Gen. Cleburne, or, as all the
southern people know him, "Pat Gle
burne." 1t has been said of Cleburns
that he was the only man in the Con-
federate army who could absolutely
control his men and make them hold
their fire until he was ready for it to
be delivered. On the day of this bat.
tie, when the Federal advance began,
it is stated that he said to his troops
that he would shoot any man who
would dare to fire gun until he gave
the word.
This was the explanation of the
ominous silence all along that portion
of the breast-works held by his force.
Probably the effect of this can best
be shown by repeating the wards of a
Federal Colonel who was captured in
this battle, and who described it the
next day:
Said he:
1T was the most severe ordeal
which my nervous system has ever
undergone. When we began the ad-
vance we naturally expected that the
artillery would open upon us as soon
as we got within range; and that,
having swept forward until we were
in reach of the fire Of musketry, that
would begin to open upon us also.
81 had been through so much of
this that had ceased to fear it, and
always relied on the excitement of
the occasion carrying me forward
but here we ran for some 200 yard.
or more, and there was not a cannon
shot. Another 100 yards and still no
explosion of bombshell or anything
of the kind l now began to feel a
little strange. Another 100 yards,
and still no sign of life, and my nerv.
business began to give place to desire
to halt. Another 100 yards, and we
were certainly within range of mus
kerry; but still there was not one sign
of life in the intrenchments in from,
of us; nothing to give cause for ap.
prehension, apparently, except the
waving of the Confederate flags above
the works, as light wind blew.
"Now. over me began to come q
mortal feeling which l never before
felt, and which / can scarcely describe
l would have turned and fed but fol-
the fear of disgrace, which was strong.
err even than the horror Of death
But l knew what was coming, and de-
termined by my example to inspire
my men to brave it, no matter how
terrible it was.
"At length we were within scarcely
more than twenty yards of the in
trenchments, when from all along tn,
line protruded forth, beneath thu
head-logs, scores and hundreds o.
muskets. / could see them as l CAV,
a quick glance down the whole front
and those Immediately before ne, par
ticularly, seemed slightly waving from
side to side. There was no mistakinf
it. l knew that every holder of 9
musket was picking out his man.
"This continued for but few mo
ments, when above all other sounds
distinct and clear, l heard the com
mand given, Now, men, fire !
INSTANTLY, from along the entire
line, there seemed, like lightning
flash, to burst forth sheet of flame
and smoke. l was struck, and fell
senseless for an instant, but when
recovered myself and turned to lool
there seemed to be scarcely sever
men in my entire regiment on theil
feet.
"Then the fury of the combat arose
above other sight or sound. The
whole forest and mountain seemed to
be on fire. There was no army in
the world that could have stood before
it,"
AS an evidence Of the correctness
of this description, it may be stated
that after the battle the Confederate
picked up in front of Cleburne's line
1902 dead and wounded Federals.-
Cincinnati Enquirer.