Thomas County cat., 1889-08-15

0rectioa Luke saw three batteries coming
up and unhnber1ng.
General Prentiss galloped away to give
personal directions to the gunners, leaving
Luke alone with his regiment.
BE brave; the day depends on you. Re-
member your homes, your country, and let
every soldier do his duty" shouted Colonel
Mason, galloping along his line.
Ihe mass Of fleeing soldiers proved to b
part OF Colonel Dave Noore,s regiment,
winch General Prentlss had sent out early
IN the morning to reconnoiter. They he'd
gone until they struck the main line of the
enemy, and were hurled backward like
cnan before whirlwind, bringing their
wounded Colonel with them. Several thou
sand skirmishers had been hastily deployed
70 cover their retreat. These were forced
oack, reinforced, and still driven back,
until they struck the man line of battle and
threw it into momentary confusion. On
GERS were now seen galloping up and down
tneir lines encouraging their men by words
and acts.
But down upon them like an avalanche,
or some tremendous oncoming thunder
storm, the resistless horde of rebels
poured.
STEADY! steady! steady! boys! Re-
member the old flagr' cried Colonel Mason.
Whlz, whiz, zip, zip! come the bullets all
ABOUT MIN, and now and then the branches
and young foliage from the trees, cut by the
speeding shots, fell on the heads of the sol
diers. One poor fellow who was standing
IN his ranks suddenly clasped his hand over
MS heart and wilted down like q suddenly
clipped flower. Another seized his leg in
his hands and hoped away to the rear
1t was one Of the most trying times Of the
entire day; but the line still presented an
almost unbroken front Two regiments had
fed entirely, and there were thousands Of
skulkers from others fastening to the nv
er, but still the rebels found q solid front
when they came.
Colonel Mason urged upon his men the
necessity Of holding their fire until the enc
my were near enough to make it effective,
but when the bullets fell like hail among
them most of them began to return it. The
Colonel's horse reared, plunged into the air
and fell dead. The rider was in a moment
on his feet.
The whole line was now a sheet Of fame
and column Of smoke. Some one brought
him another horse (which ne mounted and
took up his position at the rear Of his rogi-
ment q few rods away to watch theil
maneuvers. Men were falling, and the en-
tire line was now enwrapped in flame and
smoke, while the rebel horde was pressing
on with resistless fury. A shell exploded
at the feet Of the Coloners horse, and the
poor beast sank dying to the earth. He
sprang from the saddle, and one of his staff
brought him another steed.
While galloping down the line sword in
hand q grape shot struck the blade, break
ing it of close to the hilt. Crash upon crash
of cannon was added to the continuous roar
of small arms, and the air became thick
with smoke. The ground was literally COW
cred with dead and dying. For awhile
they tried to carry the dead and wounded
to the rear, but so closely were they
pressed that they were forced to give up
the plan. Again was Luke's lorse killed
under him.
The rebels charged. His men were fall
ing back, and he dashed forward to make q
stand if possible. A shell exploded but q
few PAGES away and five or six of his men
fell from it. His Lieutenant-C Colonel lay
mortally wounded on the field and the
Major was killed, so their duties devolved
upon himself and stai
ito BE Continued.