Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-06-27
CHAPTER XVI.


"Fall in fall inl' officers were CRYING
all along the line and IN response men were
everywhere springing into ranks.
us it an attack or q sl1irmishYn Luke
who was still somewhat 5ewiliered at his
sudden awakening, asked of some of his
staff
"It's Beauregard and Johnston's whole
armies" replied the Major, who at this
moment was hurrying by.
The forest where Luke was quartered
was almost devoid of underbrush The
spring was little backward and the leaves
were not much larger than squirrels ears
while on many of the trees the
buds were either only swollen or
just bursted, so that there was little TO OBJ
struct their view. The trees were turned a
faint green by the young leaves and tender
buds, and the earth had also received a
light coat OF ermine from the paint brush OF
spring. A fourth of mile in their front
was what had once been Il field, though
every remnant of fence had disappeared.
few white denuded snags and trees reared
their pale forms into the air and extended
ghost-like arm TO the sky.
The first thing Luke saw after coming out
Of his tent was a body of Union soldiers
running toward them across the old field
He also noted that the sun was just rising,
for the bare arms of the old snags were
here and there tipped with fire. Beyond
the retreating soldiers was the roar of fire.
arms and the yell of the enemy, which every
moment drew nearer.
Colonel Mason found his horse ready sad
died, and mounting. had started along his
line to give his regiment hasty inspec-
ton, when he met General Prentlss.
as every man in line, Colonelf' the Gen
eral cried.
II think so.n
"We'll need them"
"It's general attack. thenf'
"Yes"
A shell thrown by the enemy came
whizzing and shrieking through the air,
clipping off great branches of trees as If
they had been tender twigs. 1t exploded in
the air few rods to the rear of General
Prentiss and his staff
"It's no sham" said the General, coolly.
of it was intended as a ruse they wouldn't
be sending such metal az that among US"
Loud shouts were heard on the left, fol-
lowed by the galloping Of horses and thun-
der of wheels, and turning his eyes in that
direction Luke saw three batteries coming
up and Numbering.
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.
The mass of fleeing soldiers proved TO be
a part of Colonel Dave Moore's regiment,
which General Prentlss had sent out early
in the morning to rcconnoiter. They had
gone until they struck the main line of the
enemy, and were hurled backward like
chaff before whirlwind, bringing their
wounded Colonel with them. Several thou
sand skirmishers had been hastily deployed
to cover their retreat. These were forced
back, reinforced, and still driven back,
until they struck the main line Of battle and
threw it into momentary confusion. on
GERS were now seen galloping up and down
their 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 steadyi boys Re
member the old flag I" cried Colonel Mason.
Whiz, whiz, zip, zipl come the bullets all
about him, 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
| his heart and wilted down like suddenly
clipped flower. Another seized his leg in
his hands and hoped away TO the rear.
Ii 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
skuIlzers from others Fastening to the riv
I - -
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
Colonels horse reared, plunged into the air
and fell dead The rider was in moment
on his feet.
The whole line was now sheet OF fame
| and column of smoke. Some one brought
him another horse, which he mounted and
| took up his position at the rear Of his regi-
mcnt a few rods away TO watch their
maneuvers Men were falling, and the en-
tire 4ine was now enwrapped in fame and
smoke, while the rebel horde was pressing
on with resistless fury. A shell exploded
at the feet of the Colonefs horse, and the
poor beast sank dying to the earth. He
| sprang from the saddle, aud one OF ms stan
I brought him another steed.
/ While galloping down the line sword in
hand a 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 GOV.
cred with dead and dying For awhile
they tried to carry the dead and wounded
al alxF hos
/ pressed that they were forced to give up
! the plan. Again was Luke's horse killed
under him.
The rebels charged. His men were fall
ing back, and he dashed forward 70 make .
stand If possible. a shell exploded but q
few PAGES away and ave or ak ST la men