The National tribune., 1886-04-29

hind that tree tryin' to tie up his leg. I'd
like ter 60 N help him, but we've got ter lick
them Johnnies first, aud we're gon' ter do it,
Shorty, sures yer born" And another ball
from Sis gun sped upon it's mission.
The tremor and unsteadiness that ST showed
in the morning had entirely disappeared. AS
he told Shorty, he was now getting used to
it." His tongue was once more loosened and
be found relief from the strain upon him in
talking to Shorty in his accustomed way, still
loading and firing with unabated zeal.
81 was afraid we'd be too late gittin' here
and ST interrupted himself to bite a cartridge
"'n' tell ye we was jest in the nick O time,
for them boys was mighty near out o am'nition.
One of 'em told me he hadn't a cartridge left"
Take that, n see how ye like it t!"-and 81
pulled the trigger again.
I've emptied my box ready" he Went on,
"'n' Pm usin' the cartridges l brought along in
my pocket. Mighty glad Pve got em, too. I've
been amin low, jest s the Cap'n told us, m
I'd orter We hit forty or fifty of the rascals by
this time. / shd thiSk what's left of 'em
ID begin To think bout lghtin' out O there.
Mebbe we'h git chance purity soon to give
'em the bay'net. l feel S though I'd jest like
ter charge 'em once"
"Praps the rebs III do the chargin'," said
Shorty, who had taken scarcely part enough in
the talk to make it a conversation.
The officers had ordered the men to lie down,
CDaG tHcy might De less tAPOocu 10 VIC cHGIly 5
fire. But 81 wouldn't lie down.
Pm -goin' to STAN up to it," he said to
Shorty, Il kin shoot jest twicet IS fast that way
IS kin lynn down; amt goin' ter git hind
no tree, nuther I'll let the ossfers have the
trees. They pear ter want 'em more N do
1t looks IS if a man was afeard, n l know l
amt"
This feeling was common to new troops in
their first fight. In their minds there was an
odium connected with the idea of seeking
cover. 1t was too much like showing the white
feather. But in the fullncss of time they all
got over this foolish notion. Experience taught
them that it was the part of wisdom, and not
inconsistent with the highest courage, to pro-
tect themselves when opportunity was afforded
They found that it was good thing to inter-
pose trees and stumps and stone walls between
their bodies and the enemy, while loading their
pieces.
"Ouch!" exclaims ST, as he feels smart
rap on his head, that staggers him for a mo-
ment and twinge Of pain. "Did ye bump
me with yer gun, Shortly"
"No, didn't touch ye, Si."
"Then l reck'n twas bullet. Jest look at
my knob, IN see f I'm hurt any!"
They drop upon their knees and 81 whisks
off his hat. There are the holes where bull
let has passed through it, Blood begins to
trickle down over his face.
"Plowed neat little furrow on yer scalp,
81, but faint deep. Dye want ter go back?"
Not s long s kin stan up and shoot"
says 81. "Guess # l. was killed I'd ha' found
it out fore this. Take my han'k'chief m tie
'er up. That's bout IS cluss s keer to have
'em come, but Johnny Reb ii have to do better
n that if he wants ter make me quit. l tell
ye, Pve come to stay, Shorty"
Bully fer you, 81 Pm proud O. yer pluck!"
says Shorty. as with gentle fingers he wipes
the blood from Sis face, and ties the crimsOned
handkerchief around his head.
Now Pm all right" says 81. as he springs
to his feet and rams in another cartridge.
Shouldn't wonder f it would do me good to
let out q little blood I'd like to get even with
that cAap!" And he sights his gun in the d-
reetIon from which he thought the hostile bullet
had come. al hope thatil fetch hint"
Spat! ball strikes the stock of his musket,
and knocks it into spinters.
There goes my gun, Shorty. Seems s if
them fellers was all tryin' ter hit me. But this
only strikes Uncle Sam IN the pocket, m guess
he kin stan it. There's poor Tommy Smith t
was killed few minutes ago. He's lyin' thar
with his gun N his hand. I'll git that N try
N make it do good sarvis ferIhim N me, tool"
ST filings away his disabled piece. Bending
over he tenderly disengages the musket from
the clutch Of the yet warm but stiilening fingers
of as dead comrade. a tear gathers in his
eye, but he brushes it away, and again he is by
the side of Shorty loading and firing with re-
doubled energy, as if to make up for the time he
has lost. +s
A bullet skins very close to Shortys body,
cutting the strap of his haversack, and the latter
falls to the ground. + 5s
They've cut off my supplies, S" he exclams,
as a faint smile creeps over his grim face g But
| can't stop ter fix that nowl"
Never mind! says 81. t"pest keep blazin'
away ut 'em, N we'll manage bout the grub.
Pll go havers with ye on what Pve got"
Scarcely 20 minutes have passed since we
found 81 and Shorty so bravcly fighting the foe.
Events crowd rapidly upon each other at such
times.
We glance along the line Of the 200th Indiana.
Nearly half its men and officers have been
killed or wounded. The body of the Lieuten-
ant-Coionel lies stiff and stark. The Adjutant
has been borne to the rear with bullet through
his breast. The Major is still at his post, with
bleeding arm carried in sling. The brave
Colonel is yet untouched. Proud of his gal
liant men, he passes fearlessy through the ranks,
with words OF commendatiOn and cheer. Now
lie stops for a moment TO stanch q wound and
again to place his flask to the lips of fainting
sufferer.
Captains and Lieutenants have fallen on
every hand Some of the companies have lost
all their officers and are commanded by Ser
geants. But the men who have been spared