Daily Republican., 1886-04-27
A FAIR-FAoED SOLDIER.

come through Browns gap from the
valley, and the blow pre-
pared for Mcclellan had been struck at
Gaines Mill. 1t was the first fight my
regiment had participated In. We
were posted near the foot of wooden
slope, having q light breastwork of
logs and limbs in front of us, and for
half an hour we had nothing to do but
listen to the horrible din. Pretty soon
the smoke drove down until we could
see neither TO the right nor left, but
there was q pretty fair view directly in
our front.
l remember as if it were but yester-
day. Most of US were boys, and while
we tried TO be stout hearted our faces
grew white, and fear kept up con-
slant struggle with pride. Below us
ran bush -iringed creek; beyond that
was clear ground for twenty rods; then
came the heavy forest in which the
Confeddrates were massing to hurl
themselves against our particular posi-
ton. Above us, further up the hill,
our cannon were throwing shot and
shell into the wood with awful crash,
and to the right and left we could hear
the fierce cheers OF charging men. 1t
was awful to lie in place amid such ex-
element, but our turn came.
A cheer which for q moment rose
above all other sounds came from the
woods iE front. Then line of battle
with rdgimental front broke cover al
double quick. 1t was followed by
another and another, until the space
between the creek and the forest was
filed with advancing men. Now the
artillery above us redoubled its fire, and
the scream of grape and canister over
our heads was terrifying. l could not
hear any of the orders given by our
officers, but as the men on either side
of me began firing, | followed suit.
Seven out of every ten Of our bullets
must have killed or wounded, fired into
such solid mass. The first line melted
away before it reached the creek. The
second Jared but little better, but on
came third and fourth and fifth, cheer
ing and firing, and while | was load
ing for the fifth time, saw Confeder-
ates forming on our side of the creek
for dash at our works. The artillery
could not be depressed to reach them
and our musketry fire had slackenet
off somewhat. .-..
The line of gray charged up thu
hill, and right in front of me l saw {
fair fac ed lad OF II or 18. His blue
eyes were flashing;his teeth hard shut
his face as white as death. The line
halted On the other side of our breast.
work, and now men fred into eacl
others faces. levelled my muske
full at the breast of the fair boy
He was so near that his eyes looked
into mine, and his musket was I'M
loaded. There was an appeal for mercy
in his dyes as they first met mine, bu
a second later there came look o
proud defiance, and he dubbed hi
musket and struck at me across thu
logs. He stood almost alone.
1t seemed like murder to fire at him
but wa is murder. The powder fam,
Jumped into his face as ! pulled trig
ger, and then our lines rose up ant
cheered again and again. We haC
driven the gray lines back. l did no
cheer. | felt the guilt of murderer
In some Georgia home mother woul'
sob and weep, a father would ours
me, brothers and sisters would griev
and refuse to be comforted. Othe
men Looked over the breastworks ant
cheeredAg My victim was there
dared not look.
Our position was too strong to b
carried, but we were ilanked on tn
right and left and compelled to fal
back, and the first of McClellan's de
feats had been inflicted.
We had reireated mile by mile I
Malvern Hill. Here we were to max
last stand against the legions in gra
which had exultantly followed U
through the swamps and over tn
hills. The great plateau bristled wit
cannon, and was covered with lines
infantry. On the slopes were othe
lines Along the base, making riff
pits OF the banks of the meanderin
creek, were the men who were to fe'
the first shock of battle.
| For two or three hours the groun
trembled under the terrific fire of arti
lcry. Then Magruder's men brok
cover from the pine woods and swarm
ed across the cleared fields of IL
Crews farm. Every gun on the phi
teau belched shot and shell; ever
muskdt along the creek sent lis bull
into the charging ranks. We brol
them again and again, but again ar
again they reformed and dashed 70
ward 10 grapple with death.
In the last desperate charge, mat
lust as the sun was hanging on Il
tree tops, the first lines almost reach'
the creek. We had fixed our six
rounds and been served anew, al
more than once our muskets had be-
laid in the shallow riYulet to cool o
Desperate as had been the charge
reckless as the gray legions were, MOI
of them had passed the creek. Sh
and shell and bullet had met them {
the open meadow and rent and sha
tered their columns.
This would be the last charge. v
all realized it as we made ready to
pulse it. With cheers that told
brave hearts they came on, and in
moment the cloud of smoke shut t
heads of columns from view. | h
! fired four or five times, when line
} gray suddenly appeared close upon
! and gave us volley Right in fro
of md-a wrath rising out of de
sea fog-I saw the tair faced lad
Gaines Mill. His blue eyes blaz
again, his white teeth showed betwe
his lips, his breath came hard and ia
I was down on one kne my musk
covering him.
, AS he looked into my face / ST
that he recognized me. But | W
. there to MAIN and kill. What We
I | tho rAhn md fnarn nnd hnn ri chna Ii