Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-12-09
ginia forests in the first flush Of snmmer

ginia forests in the first flush OF summer
At last the regiment halted under the CRATE
full shadows of the broad topped oaks and
chestnuts.
The men threw themselves down for mo-
ment's rest on the springing moss that COW
cred the whole mountain side A hum of
comment and conversation arose. Joe
Pancake began to think that there was not
likely to be any fight after all, and his spirits
rose proportionately. Abe Bolton growled
that the cowardiy officers had no doubt de-
hberately misled the regiment, that a fight
might be avoided Kent Edwards saw a
nodding Mayapple flower--as fair as a Gala
and as odorous as pink-at little distance
and fastened to pick it, He came back with
it in the muzzle of his gum and his hands full
of violets
A thick bodied rattesnake crawled slowly
and clumsily out from the shelter of a little
ledge, his fearful eyes cleaning with deadly
intentions against a ground squirrel frisking
upon the end of a messy log, near where
Capt Bob Bennett was seated, porting over a
troublesome detail in the Tactics The
snake saw the man, and his awkward
movement changed at once into one of cleo
trio alertness. He sounded his terrible rattle
and his duh diamonds and stripes lighted up
with the glare that shines through an enraged
mans face The thic, body seemed to
lengthen out and gain a world of sinuors
suppleness. With the quicxness OF q flash he
was coiied, with head erect forked tongue
protruding and eyes flaming like satanis
jewels
shout apprised Capt. Bennett of his dam
ger He dropped the book, sprang to his feet
with quiel1ness that matched the snakes,
and instinctively drew his sword Stepping
little to one side as the reptile launched it
self at him, he deytrously cut it in two with
a sweeping stroke. A shout of applause rose
from the excited Toys, who gathered around
to inspect the slain serpent and congratulate
the captain upon his skillful disposition of his
assailant
20, that's only my old bat stroke that used
to worry the boys in town ball so much" said
the captain carelessly. "It's queer what
things turn out useful TO man, and when he
least expects them.'
long, ringing yell from a thousand
Threats cleft the air, and with its last notes
came the rattle of musketry from the brow
of the hill across the little ravine The bull
lets sang viciously overhead. They cut the
leaves and branches with sharp little crashes,
and struck mems bodies with peculiar slap.
back dead or dying upon the green moss
"Of course, we might've knowed them
muddle-headed oificers'd run us right slap into
hornets nest of rebels before they llnowed
thing about it," grumbled Abe Bolton, hastily
tearing a cartridge with his teeth and forcing
it into his gun.
"Hold on, my weakened patriot said
Kent Edwards, catching Joe Pancake by
the collar and turning him around so that he
faced the enemy again. "lt's awful bad man.
ners to rush out Of a patinee just rs the per-
Torrance begins You disturb the peopl,
who've come to enjoy the show. Keep your
seat till the curtain goes down. You'll find
enough to interest you"
The same sudden inspiration of common
sense that had flashed upon Capt. Bennett in
encountering the snake now raised him to the
level Of this emergency. He comprehended
that the volley they had received had emptied
every Confederate gun. The distance was so
short that the enemy could be reached before
they had time to reload. But no time must
be lost in attempting to form, or in having
the order regularly given by the colonel lie
sprang toward the enemy waving his sword,
and shouted in tones that echoed back from
the cliffs:
attention, Battalion Charge bayonetsi
Forcard, DoUBLE-oUIcK, MARCHr"
swelling cheer answered him. His own
company ran forward to follow his impetu-
GUS lead. The others joined in rapidly.
Away they dashed down tho side of the
declivity and in an instant more were swarm
ing up the opposite side toward tho astonished
Confederates. Among these divided councils
reigned. Some were excitedly swapping UNI
loaded guns at the onconing foe, others were
fixing bayonets and stuidily urging their
comrades to do likewise and meet the rush.
ing wave of cold steel with counter wave.
The weaker hearted ones were already clam
bering up the mountain side out of reach of
harm
There was no time for debate. The blue
line led by Bennett flung itself upon the dark
brown mass of Confederates like an angry
wave dashing over fimsy bank of sand, and
in an instant there was nothing to be done
but pursue the disrupted and flying frag-
ments 1t was all over