The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-08-21
THE. ENTERPRISE, WEDNESDAY. AUGUST III 1889.

direction Luke saw three batteries coming
up andunlIn ba1ngs @A Myfi
General Prentiss galloped AWAY 70 give
personal directions TO the gunners, leaving
Luke alone with his regiment. AMi
"Be brave; tho day depends on you. Re
member your homes, your country, and let
every soldier do his duty" shouted Colonel
Mason, galloplng along his line.
The mass Of fleeing soldiers proved TO be
part Of Colonel Dave Moore's regiment
which General Prentlss had sent out early
in the morning TO reconnoiter. They had
gone until they struck the main line OF the
enemy, and were hurled backward like
chat 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 stin driven back,
until they struck the main line Of battle and
threw It into momentary confusion. OH
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.
"Steadyl steady steadyl boys Re-
member the old flag" 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
dlers. One poor fellow who was standing
IN his ranks suddenly clasped his hand over
Aa- t.I aud1aulU ~
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
skulkers from others fastening 10 the riv-
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 II effective,
but when the bullets fell like hail among
them most Of them began 10 return II. 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
anu Column Ol bnOko. OOme Ono DTOuBuL
him another horse, which he mounted and
took up mis- position at the rear Of his regi-
mcnt few rods away TO watch their
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 Colonel's 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 1t OF close 10 the hilt. Crash upon crash
Of cannon was added 70 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 10 carry the dead and wounded
TO the rear, but so closely were they
pressed that they were forced 10 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 q
stand II possible. A shell exploded but a
few PAGES away and five or six OF his men
fell from II. His Lieutenant Colonel lay
mortally wounded on the field and the
Major was hilled, 80 their duties devolved
upon himself and stan
lro Hr coErIHUED.1