The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-10

| ana the missing anu pursuing OF SlellS were In
| cessant, while high above the din rang out the
| yell or cheer of charging columns.
Dense clumps of shrub oaks and acres oil
stunted cedars were cut down between the lines
by bullets as If they had been felled by hurri
cane
Through the white smoke-this was abou,
noon-I could see the long gray lines in our front
advancing to the charge with the regularity oI
troops on parade.
Our men grimly reserved their FIRE till the
yells of the confederates rang out and the in
scriptions could be seen on their battle flags.
Watching through my glass saw tall officer,
sword in hand. in the advance, and recognized
in the confederate leader my old friend Paul
Watts.
Never was so gallant charge moro resolutely
lines wavered. staggered and broke, but not till
the Kentuckians had come face to face not till
Paul and Harry Watts had seen the battle light
in each others eyes.
our men sprang away like tigers, to engage in a
hand to hand struggle with the foe in the jungle
and-to be driven back in turn.
As the Fourth Kentucky Rifles fell hack, ]
could see that the Major was not with them.
They were so thinned that could have counted
the survivors in a minute.
The ground was covered with dry leaves and
fallen timber, and now between the lines where
the wounded of both armies lay piteousy ap
pealing for heip-the ragged woods took fire,
battle
THE Major fell down there where the fire is,
said one of the men in reply to my question.
I'VE wanted to carry him back but he said we
must save ourselves, for his time had come
The'black smoke from the forest blended and
assembled with the white smoke from the guns.
In our front the battle luled for the time and
humanity asserted itself From each side brave
men rushed into the flames to save the wounded
mo matter now the color Of the coat.
A a I NV faca
saw Major Watts rise to his feet in the middle OF
the fire, and look about him ia dazed way, only
to fall back again.
Our men loved him, and we're about to attempt
his rescue; but before movement could be
made tall soldier sprang from the opposing
line. and flung away his sword as he ran.
Quicker than can describe the act, he was be-
side the Major, and had lifted him up in his
arms.
At that instant the firing to the right and left
opened with renewed fury and swept the field.
Paul Watts fell with his burden but whether
he was hit by the bullet of friend or foe could
not tell. He rose again, and through the flames
ne made his way into our lines AS he tottered
within reach hundred hands were extended to
help him.
We carried the brothers ont of reach of the bull
lets, and placed them side by side under an oak
tree with their faces turned towards the old
home back by the Ohio
Both were mortally wounded but claSpng
each others hands they talked with lessening
breath till the shadows of another night fell on
the battlefield. 1t was midnight when from
over the dark river they heard the mystic
angels bugle call They answered together and
becoming again little children they went down
hand in hand to the valley where cleaned in
eternal repose the white tents of the silent.
1t was my sad duty to carry these dead
brothers, the one in blue and the other in gray,
back to their home, and the mother and the
maiden both had loved so WE'LL in the border land.
1t was on my arm that the grey haired mother
leaned as her sons were laid to rest near their
father on the hill. was surprised at her calm
ness, and at the control shown by the marble
faced Ada Bowman, whose heart was buried in
one of those graves.
The broken-h hearted widow did not long sur
vive her loss, but Ada never left the old place,
and never again laid aside her sable weeds. The
neighbors say that on the day set aside by the
people of the South for the decoration of their
graves, Ada places a mound of flowers above
Pauls grave, her sympathies had been with
him. But love is ever the stronger feeling, and
she goes to Harry's grave every day to place
there a chaplet and to dream of what might
have been.