The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-05-30

ard battle torn, standing in ragged
sseadiness in a tangle Of timber, firing
rapidly al an ipdistinct mass, also IN
timber, a few hundred yards away.
Between and enveloping both
wreaths Of feecy smoke, at times so
opaque as to shut out the view, at 9th
ers lifted and carried off Ky the light
south wind until the set faces aud
blazing eyes glancing along the gun
barrels could be almost distinguished.
A cheer came out of the smoke
from the ine.istinct mass. Il lift in the
cloud show d the mass resolved into
component parts, each of which came
charging forward with the ferocity OF
a tiger. The fellows in the dirty blue
in the first line began firing faster to
meet the onslaught, tearing cartridge
until they looked like coal beavers.
There was too much momentum in
the oncoming line. 1t had the weight
of numbers.
Slowly, step by step, yard by yard,
the thin, ragged blue line fell back,
fighting stubbornly for each inch OF
ground Could it hold on until rein
forcements arrived? Taking advan-
tage of every tree or cover, the indi-
vidual members fought on, hanging to
the ground like bulldogs. Ammuni-
tion ran short The feeling that they
were whipped began to settle like a
pail on their lines, when there came a
cheer and several brigades dashed up.
The line thus fed by fresh troops took
new life and charged in turn. The
rattle increased to roar ard Long
streets veterans were forced back to
their original position.
1t was the second battle of the Will
derness.
AS the battle wave moved Oh, the
bits of wreckage here and there
struggled to get clear of the shifting
tide.
Near the foot of huge oak lay two
men. One in the uniform of Union
private; the other with the distin
gushing marks of a captain of Con.
tederate infantry. The man in blue
slowly dragged himself to sitting
posture with his back against the
tree, which protected him from the
flying bullets that were singing a
shrill requiem over the dead. He was
shot through the legs and lower part
of the face. While stopping the flow
of blood a sigh came from the figure
in gray. Then the black eyes opened
and met the dark blue gazing down.
"Hello Johnny
"Well, Yank p
"Hurt much ?"
Fatally. Its only question Of
minutes"
"Never say die. Here, Johnny, let
me give you a lift" Reaching down
the big Yankee pulled the slim, gray
figure up nearer the tree, where the
heavy moss made comfortable pill
low.
"How's that ?"
every nice, thank you; but it has
started your wounds afresh.'
ooh, that's nothing. I'll stop them
in a minute Some of you fellows
thought l hadn't enough holes in
my face, SO they put in another,
pointing to a ragged aperture where a
ball had plowed its way through.
"Where you hit, Johnny p
"In the side" The attempt to in
dicate the place was too great an ex-
ertion, and the slender hand fell Eelp
less.
Here, Johnny, take a drink OF
this" cried the other holding a can
teen Of water to the pale lips. "Don'l
be afraid fit" as the Confederate
hesitated 81 gathered up two from
some fellows who didn't want them
whelpI went back to FL my cartridge
box"
The grateful stream gave new life
to the dying man.
"May l know your name? p
"Ben Hoyt, --th New York"
"Mine is William Wilder, til
Virginia"
s'What is that" continued the Con
federate as cheers and heavy firing
were heard to the right of where they
were lying.
'Looks dis if you fellows were tired
out in nrand were trying to flank
us. And they'll come very near do
ing it, muttered the giant under his
breath, as the noise of battle seemed
| To move To the rear Then Came am
! other cheer The retrograde move
ment stopped. The roa1 increaset
and swept hack To the a,oint from
which IL started.
'-Hurrah ivr the old flag! The bis
Yankee tried to t.,ss up his cap, bu
the attempt only ended in griniac'
of pain.
.sHou will not win.
swell, well keep you fellows from
winning. anyway. But what's the Us
of us talking about the fight !? 1t Won
matter to either which side wins
these woods take fire as they did tn
other time. We must arrange to ge
OUT
"Save yourself, don't mind me"
"But I'm going to mind you."
mo, Tm dying, I feel it. l woul
not mind SO much ii mother aud siste
were not left III the midst Of this be
of warfare"
Where are they :"
| "On the old planta ion, just ie'
miles i'rom here. iioyt, l like you
face You are gentleman. III
Increasing weakness tells me mu