The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-01-08

the man as anyone else, held fast to my
liking for the corporal. If he wouldn't
stick to me in a fight, | sa id, there was
not man in the company who would
Time showed whether | was right or
wrong
1t was at Fair Oaks. We had been
hurryng forward to the support of Cas-
ey's shattered division, and was too
busy to keep much of an eye on any par
ticular man. had glanced at Dayton
several times, but had noticed nothing
beyond the paleness Of his face; and, as
pale faces are not unusual at such times
on the bravest of mea, paid no heed to
it.
Our regiment and one other, both un-
der command Of Colonel Stradela, had
been selected to proceed through White
Oak Swamp, along an old abandoned
road which Kearney had discovered that
morning, and take up position so as to
fall upon the flank of the rebel advance,
which, it seemed likely, would drive
Coucn's and Keys divisions far back to
the river.
We had marched a good part of the
way at a doublequick, and the men were
too busy picking their way along the
rough path then to devote more than
half their thoughts to the rattle of small
arms and sharp artillery fire. which
showed us but too plainly how our men
were being borne back. And the eian of
the hurried march gave no time to the
dead beats and poltroons tc skulk out of
the ranks.
But finally we reached the edge of the
swamp and deployed into line behind
snake fence on the skirts Of the woods,
whose underbrush screened us almost en-
tirey from view. Before Us lay an open
clearing about quarter mile in breadth,
across which wounded men lmped or
were carried to the rear, and "demoral-
lied" men were falling back out Of range,
singly and in squads; and in which, as
If the rebel artillerists well knew the To-
cation Of the clearing, shells We're eX-
| ploding and scattering their fragments
with that peculiar musical "ting. ting !"
so familiar to men who have once heard
1t ; and ever and anon one OF these un-
comfortable missiles would whiz past us
and be followed by an instantaneous
| duckl.g of the head by every one Of the
| green recruits.
But though this was the first time our
ltSilltIlt lldti Dttll Iii lIt llltll Dt-
haved splendidly. Casting my eye down
the line OF my company, could see de
| cided majority OF pale faces. but com
pressed lips, and not sign of Wavering
While one or two OF the veterans or the
devil-may- y-cares would indulge in a Joke
at their nelghbor's pallor, or sneer at
some cowardly fugitive. No one had
been hit as yet. but the prospect looked
uncCmtortably hot.
All this time the infantry fire came
nearer and nearer our retreating line,
| and the advancing rebels, with ever and
anon a taunting yell Of defiance, seemed
TO be approaching 50 as to present their
flank as they passed our position.
This Was just what was expected and
desired, as, unless they discovered us in
tine We could take them i'll reverse, and
create a diversion in favor Of our own
forces, whose commanders had been al
ready notified of our intended attack,
and would cooperate with it.
But all this is far from the purpose,
and we will return to Corporal Dayton
| AS soon as our line was formed, | began
pacing up and down in the rear of my
! company was in ommand-speaking
words OF encouragement TO my men, and
| impressng upon them the necessity Of
waiting fer and obeying all orders
promptly and efficiently above all things
cautioniDg them to reserve their fire
till the right moment, when they should
| receive the word.
| While thus engaged. turned toward
the corporal, and noticed that he looked
as if he was having chill He was shak-
| mo a if with lut aaph m a n
was intently watching the panorama be-
fore Us, and only his close neghbors
seemed aware of his condition. But all
at once there was a loud explosion above
our heads, and in the company on our
right yawning gap was rent.
"Steady, men, steady IT'S nothing
but shell Close up your ranks - came
from the officers of the adjoining COM
panies in as loud tone as was prudent.
And one poor fellow lay doubled up on
the ground while a second was carried
to the rear. But, after the first startled
exclamation, never groan
This was the climax of Jerry's forti-
tude, The Goliah turned, and, leaving
the ranks, he staggered up to me. His
face was ashy pale, while huge drops OF
cold sweat stood all over it and plough
ed their way downward through the dust
| and dirt His treckles stood out upon
his pallid skin almost like spots Of blood.
| His eyes were staring and purposeless, as
| have seen them in the insane. He
| trembled like an aspen, and the huge
frame absolutely looked small, 50 unmls-
| taxable were the signs of the craven
heart within.
"Why, Corporal. what is the matter
You frightened Move back into the
| ranks, sir"
"Oh, Lieutenant " He could scarcely
whisper the words, his mouth seemed
parched with thirst.
"'Ths is awful, Lieutenant can't
stand it; know can't. DO send me to
| the rear somewhere before | disgrace
| myself" he mumbed out by starts, and
| between the words he made great sWal
lows as if to choke down something in
his throat; while at every exploding shell
or discharged field piece, he shuddered
| like a guilty man.
"Nonsense, Corporal, Move back into
the ranks. Everybody feels 50 at first.
You'll be over it in few minutes | add
ed as kindly as knew how, for could
just then appreciate a part of the poor
fellows trepidation.
"Oh, Lieutenant, | can'l. know |
can't" pleaded Jerry. "Do let me go
back. DO let me 90 help that ere
wounded man. can't, indeed can't y
reiterated he "Oh, my"
This last was .jerked out 10y another
shell, and my petit corporal fell out OF the
ranks step or two, with his arm shat
tered and bleeding; and holding up his
broken gun in the other, with a smile on
| his face which all the time was twinging
with pain, he said
"My musket's gone, Lieutenant, and
SOS my arm; but guess III stay here
with the tle-cosers."
Find your way back to the rear, my
boy. Surgeon Colt is not far back You
can't go on or be of use with that arm"
Then, turning to Dayton, who looked
| hopelessly on, "For shame" said |.
"Move back into the ranks, you coward,
or your life won't be worth pins pur-
chase !" with an ominous movement to-
ward my revolver.
All this time the fighting came closer
and closer, and the straggers grew in
number till the groups numbered twen-
ties and tifties. Regiments and brigades