The Northwestern standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-06
The Last Rally.

So said the doctor to the nurse as he
passed out Of the room and down the
stairs perhaps having bit of sadness
in his heart, perhaps dismissing the
matter from his mind as if the death Of
q human being was of no consequence
to him or the world at large. Perhaps
it was not. Why should one be startled
when an old soldiera man Of toilsome
marches and many battles-is about to
pass away? He must die, like the rest
of us.
The nurse was an old comrade. While
the dying man beat the rally on his
drum as Casey was hurled back at Fair
Oaks, the nurse swung his hat and
shouted to the men hurrying to the
rear:
''Come back, comrades come back!
Let us form line here and beat them
backlo
When The drummer beat tlle advance
on the right ava ietam, and Joe Hook
er's front pushed boldly in to meet
stonewall Jackson's men, the nurse was
in the foremost rank, his teeth hard
shut aud his ayes blazing fire.
'sR-r-r-r-a--tatb tatln sounded the
drum in the streets Of quaint old Fred
ericksburg, and the nurse was there to
face the terrible StoneWall and to be
driven back by the murderous fire.
'sTatl tail Tatl tat! R-r-rtatl tat!''
sounded the drum at Gettysburg, as
Pickett's Virginians massed on Han
cocks front, and the nurse was there to
help stem that mad torrent Of war
and hurl the shattered legions back to
the cover Of ridge and wood
Shell and shot and bullet had passed
them by, but now there was to be bat
tie with grim and silent enemy. His
forces were hidden in the darkness
There was no rattle of small arms, no
roar of artillery, no shouts from lines of
infantry or cheers from charging
cavalry.
The drummer aWoke from his stupor
and gazed around him. Something had
warned him that a battle was imminent.
He looked into the eyes of his comrade,
and there was the same fire he had seen
Oh dozen hattle-fie He felt the old
excitement in his soul--the wild enthu-
siasm that comes from waving flags,
tramping columns and crash Of arms.
He made sign which was understood.
The nurse took down from the shelf the
same old drum, SCARED by half dozen
bullets, and from the hooks the uniform
which had not been worn for twenty
long years.
s.Ah, connrade, /" whispered the drum
ner, as strength came back to his limbs
1--WE may have been driven, but we
never surrendered. We will not nowl
Let US form the lines as Of old. Y
Aye! We will battle again!1 ried
the nurse, and he placed faded blue
cap on his head, brought out the old
musket from the corner, and con-
tinued:
$ Attention! RICH. dressl Steady nov.
menl There's the battery before you'll
We viii take it or leave our bodies in
The meadow. Forward doable-quick-
hurrah!.
R-r-r-rat. tat tail went the drum, and
The old gray headed drummer straight
sned himself up and made the sucks
dy.
Forward, men, forWardln shouted |
,he nurse as be waved his cap on high. |
Tail tail R-r-r-r-tat. tail tail |
sounded the drum, and the veteran who
handled the sticks breathed as if the old |
enthusiasm Of battle was upon him
lgain.
Here we arsat them, menth the /
yuns are ours.n shouted the nurse.
Harrahl Hip, hipr-r-r-tatl TAFT
R-r-r-rl'
The drum fell to the floor, and the
myers l0oseHed their clutch on the
IticfS. Then the old mau's hand crspt
Up TO remove his cap, 8 cheer died away
2 his throat, and he sank 70 the door a
,orpse.
We have been defcatedi,, whispered
he nurse as he looked down upon the
lead. .tbut il WAS By the army OF I
Death AZ Quad II Detroit Free
'ress.