Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-23

0OOut SS well SatlS0e0 0S some Of ms Su perior officers that there was no danger of m immediate attack.
 1t was Saturday evening, and he laid down to peaceful slumbers hoping for a quiet Sabbath. He retired late, and, being weary, slept soundly.
 When he swoke it was broad daylight, and the tremendous roar of storm of some kind came to his ears. He soon discovered that it was the shouts of men, the rattle of musketry and boom of cannon, mingled with the long roll of the drummer.
 "Wake up, Colonel, for God sakew cried ono of his stan. "We are surprised. Johnston's " hole army is upon us."
 CHAPTER XVI
 DAY or DEATH AND CARNAGE.
 "Fau inl fall imp officers were cryink all along the line, and in response men were everywhere springing into ranks.
 "Is it an attack or a skirmish9" Luke, who was still somewhat bewildered at his sudden awakening, asked of some of his stan.
 "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 ob- 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 1 spring. A fourth of mile in their front was what had once been 8 field, though every remnant of fence had disappeared. A few white denuded snaRs and trees reared their pale forms into the air and extended ghost-lke arm to the sky. The first thing Luke saw after coming out of his tent was 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 retreatinR 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 dled, and mounting, had started along his line to give his regiment 8 hasty inspec- tion, when he met General Prentiss.
 "1s every man in line Colonelp' the Gen. | eral cried.
 "1 think so."
 l 'We'u need them"
 ''It's general attack, thenr' "Yes."
 A shell thrown by the enemy came | whizxin9 and shrieking through the air, clipping of great branches of trees as If they had been tender twigs. It exploded in the air 8 few rods to the rear of General Prentiss and his staff.
 "It's no sham," said the General, coolly. | ''If it was intended as ruse they wouldn't be sending such metal ss 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 1 up and unlmbering.
 General Prentiss galloped away to give | personal directions to the gunners, leaving Luke alone with his regiment. "Be brave; tho day depends on you. Re- member your homes, your country, and let every soldier do his duty" shouted Colonel 1 Mason, gslloping along his line. 1 Tho mass of fleeing soldiers proved to be | . part of Colonel Dave Moore's regiment, which General Prentiss had sent out early In the morning to reconnoiter. They had l gone until they struck the main line of the l enemy. and were hurled backward like chan before e 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 1t into momentary confusion. Off, l cerS 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.
 "Eteadyi steadyl steady boys! Re- member the old hagr' cried Colonel Mason.
 Whix, whiz, zip, xipl 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 clipped flower. Another seized his leg in his hands and hoped away to the rear.
 It was one of the most trying times of the entire day; but the line still presented an almost unbroken front. Two regiments had fled entirely, and there were thousands ot skulkers from others hastening to the riv- or, but still the rebels found 8 solid front when they came.
 Colonel Mason urged upon his men the necessity ot holding their fire until the enc my were near enough to make it effective but when tho bullets fell like hail among them most of them began to return it. The Colonevs horse reared, plunged into the ail and fell dead. The rider was in 8 moment on his feet.
 The whole line was now sheet of flame and column of smoke. Some one brought him another horse, which he mounted and took up his position at the rear of his regi ment few rods away to watch thei1 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 Coloneps horse, and the poor beast sank dying to the earth. Ht sprang from the saddle, and one of his stafl brought him another steed.
 While galloping down the line sword ir hand . grape shot struck the blade, break. ing 1t eR close to the hilt. Crash upon crash of cannon was added to the continuous roal of small arms, and the air became thicl } with smoke. The ground was literally GOV To be continued. | ASA FISH & CO.,, House and Sign Painters
 DEALERS IN | nSna -kSc%c