The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-11
Moighty gladly" echoed Quin.


after the coming engagement" said the Colo
mel, In his usual curt, cold manner, and rode
on down the line.
! The endless bllows ofiwar, of which we were
pnrt, rolled on through Middlotown and up to
the base of South Mountain. We had left tho
great National road, along which we had been
moving. ut the bridge across Catoctin Creek,
which the rebels had burned had forded the
shallow stream and gone off to tho left, along
the "od Sharpsburg road" We halted at last,
and came to place rest" in the lower edge Of
a long meadow that sloped gently upward TO
the woods.
Momeutarily the prelude to tho awful storm
of battle became more intense and angry.
Since early morning Pleasontou's cavalrymen
had been keeping up pickering fire III the
woods and on the hiIltops noTtbward Of the
pike, and regiment after regiment of infantry
and batteries of artillery had gono to their as
sistaucc. Later Cox's Kanawha Division had
disappeared in the woods To the left, and crashes
of musketry, the Deeper bass of the artillery,
and cheers and yells floating down to US told
that fierce battle was being waged there, with
varying fortunes constantly growing pro-
cossion OF wounded men drifted back down the
mountain-side. They were all hopeful, though
some were frightfully mangod.
We're driving the whelps! They're OH tho
run! Hurrah for the Union!" they would
shout as they were carried by us.
Regiments and brigades, marching in quick
time-froquently at doublo-quick hast
ening hither and yon to give aid where it was
needed or take threatening position. Rebel
cannon thundored out shot and shell from un-
expected parts of the mountain side to dis
organize, disperso or delay them. Our own
| batteries, coming down the pike in whirl of
dust, dashed across fields and through quickly
| dismantled fences to emincncos whence they
could roach the enemy's guns with their riled
! bolts Six-mule wagons laden with ammuni-
tt1
| up the steep, t0ruous roads to whore their
! precious freight could conveniently replenish
! the ompted cartridgeboxos of the 6Shting
! regiments.
All this time thero was flowing over the crest
| OF the CatOctn, bohind us an incessant stream
OF men-Gonerals, with their Haunting head
| quarter flags and dashiug stats, regiments
marching in solid, woll-closed ranks, bands of
music playing patriotic airs. batteries manuver-
| ing TO the signals of silver voiced buglCs and
all the might and majesty OF war
1t was as If the country was flowing with
! Potomacs Of armed men instead of water, and
| this beautiful valley the sea which received
| them all.
For awhile had been dcprest with dread Of
The awful ordeal upon which we mnst soon
! enter. Now this succeeded by fierce
! cagvrucss 70 get nj tho enemy aud hurt him
| terribly. The marshaling of the rebel rcgi
! mcntS seemed to mo an insulting parade; !
~
ranks. The batteries had annoyed and fright
ened us for hours, their shots had repeatedly
come near sweeping away whole patoons of
| our regiment. ] was burning TO rush on them
aud bayouct their gunners by the side of their
| hateful, death dealing cannon.
! looked ut job. lie was chafng vsibly at
| our ideness in the midst of SO much motion
! aud excitement.
| Great Bnny Visty," no you'd say "why
arc we kept dawdling here? There is certainly
somewhere that 900 Of US strong willing men
can be made useful. We amt earnin' our salt
standin here lookin' on. Let en- set us at
someth!u'. ii it's only caTryin' ammunition to
the iuliors that are iigiitin'!
Ian said nothing, but sat quietly on tho
ground reading his Testament when not watch
ing the mauuyog5 or developments around us.
Quin had produced pack oil cards from his
p0ck Ct, aud wls playing an endless game of
solitaire with himself on the back OF his KNAPP
sark.
Herman and were too much excited by the
grand scene around us to DO anything bat lean
on our muskets aud watch. Every moment
brought some now feature OF intense interest
into the wonderful panorama.
The sun stood directly over our headg IL
was noon. The Colonel ordered tho rcEi-
meut 10 break ranks build frcs with the rails
lsosn noighboring ieace, cook coffee and eat
dinner.
Eat hearty. men," said he "You will need
1t. We will hav0 plenty Of work between now
and shutdown
] could not eat was so absorbed in the
sreua that was going oa within view, bur the
I appelitcs Of the rest III not seem TO bo affected
by their surroundings
As they were finishing an Aid dashed up 10
the Colonel.
"CDionci, tho General presents his cOmpIi-
mcnts, and begs leave 10 Inform you that the
! enemy arc posted behind that stone wall"
said he, indicating wall at the upper end of
the Geld. "Thny will take our column in
faux when we advance. Iiu requests that you
move your regiment forward at once and carry
tho wall"
Very well, answered tho Colorol. returning
thc o8icor'B salute. Give my regards 10 the
General, and hay TO him that It shall bo done
, Immediately
Then, in u clear, sonorous voice. that was
echoed back by the ellis above:
Attention, batlaiioni Unsing knapsacksl
Captain OF Co. b will detail two mon TO guard
knap,AckH. Shoulder armsl Right dress!
Order arms Load at will Fix bayonets!
| Shoulder arms! Right shoulder shift arms
Now, men, pay strict attention to orders. No
man must fire until hc gets tho order and must
stop hiinR at the order. Forward Guide ecu
ter Quick time !-MAKCul"
We swept forward over tho yielding sod ia
perfect alignment.
We had not seen sign Of the rebels behind
the wall before va started.
Suddenly It's Top deYelOpt what seemed an
extraordinary growth OF large, odd-shaped,
queer colorcd toadstoolB. These were tho
weather beaten sloucb hats Of the men crouch
ing behind IL. ProtrudiDg from beneath tho
bats WAS "a level row Of glistening guu. barrels
but not Il shot came from them They were
Whiting 10 deliver their fire in our faces The
thought WAS appalling. Above the briers aud
brush behind tho wall flashed tho swords Of
thJ officers in command of tho rebels.
We were half way up the slope, aud still not
a shot came from tho foe.
Tho suspense WAS terrible. Would not tho
Vollcy, when 1t came, simply aDnihiate us?
" Hels tires!" muttered job. Them fell
| lers mean murder"
In another minute we We're within 100 yards
OF the wall, and the long line Of barrels blazed
at once with an awful burst of fame that
| seemed TO blind u.s. Men dTopt TO the right
! and left, tho cOors went down, with their
| bearers and the entire guard killed or wounded
! Tie flags were Immediately suatehed up by
! other hands and waved in the face of the enc
! my. felt sting along my left side aud saw
! Ian staggcr aud place his hand 10 his temple
| from which tho blood WAS streaming. lie ro
| covered himself at Onco and moved OH Greet
! Herman, job and Quin seemed unhurt.
" Battalion han F" shonted tho Colonel
Right dress! Eeady, AIM, FIRE."
As pulled the trigger | saw through tho
smoke the toadsloo hats fly of, showing that
onr shots were we'll Aimed and II savage Joy
! filled my heart. At tho same instant our vol
10y was delivered another binding ono came