The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-04-05
THE CAMP FIRE.
Apecdotes and "Reminiscences Z or an Even
ing's Chat Around the Preside.
a Cavalry Charge.

we nau been held IN reserve on the
second day at Gettysburg SO long that
men and horses became nervous and
afraid. My horse was an old veteran
who would drop his head and pick at
the green grass with a battery firing on
either side OF US, but as the moments
dragged away on this occasion he
evinced woman's nervousness. looked
down the lines and saw tile alignment
was constantly being broken by the
horses backing up or forging ahead.
They could see the lighting 10 the right
and in front, and the smoke from the
Union battery TO left.and in front OF us
drove back and over us and the horses
breathed II IN and blew il out OF their
nostrils in gasps.
A tremor OF excitement--a sort OF
shiver-ran down the line.
The wind had shifted bit TO blow the
smoke TO our left, and down across the
meadows We saw the Confederate cav
airy forming with the green woods for
background. Jeb Stuari's men were
there, Ashby's men, from Hampton's Le-
gon, Imboden's Virginians' Rosser's
Rangers, guerrillas from Mosby's com
mand. There were frag ments from every
cavalry command we had met on the
turnpikes OF old Virginia. aud there
wasn't squadron that wouldn't stand
for charge. The battery began firing
more rapidly, and there wasn't man
OF us that did not realize what was com
ing long enough before we got theword
Some of the horses knew il, too. You
could feel them filling their lungs and
stringing up their nerves for hard work.
The trooper IN gray wheeled into line
under a fire which must have tried the
nerves OF the bravest, aud then the
compact mass got the word 10 advance.
They were coming for our battery,
which was without infantry supports.
There we stood, two thin. short lines,
representing thousand dragons, but
not numbering one half Of that figure,
and body OF five TO one was moving
down upon us. l saw several OF the
gunners look back. They saw the odds
and wondered, perhaps, why we did not
run away.
Attention.
We had obeyed the order before il was
given.
Right dress!'
We were n minute ahead OF the com
mand.
"Forward-draw sabers-guide right
-trotw
north and the blue moves south. We
are going TO meet in the meadow below.
We must hold them back until infantry
supports can be brought up. Every man
knows that he is moving down into a
maelstrom of death, but no one lags. A
strange exultation creeps into the
heart. IL is as il yon had heard some
grand, good news, and wanted to shout
over IL and tell every body Of your good
luck.
"Gallop--charger
Deathl Why, IL one could die a score
OF times instead OF only once, there
would be no fear. i sit SO lightly in the
saddle that my horse seems to have no
weight TO carry. He skins over the
ground as IL he had wings, and l began
cheering and yelling In chorus with my
comrades. 1t is "a living missile of 500
men thrown at the front OF 5000.
What crash there will be. How horses
will go down aud men pitch from their
saddesl Afraid! Mo- Why, man,
would not miss this scene for n year
lfel NV hand clutches the saber with
strength / did not know possessed.
l feel hunger for blood such as |
never felt before.
"Yi! vi! Whoup--rah" and we strike
them fair in the center. The 800 have
the greatest momentum, and we drive
through the 5000 as wedge is pounded
into soft wood. Men strike at me.
There Is flash, flash. and pop! pop.
OF pistols. strike back. feel the de-
sire OF the tiger TO Stay.
"Rallyw
We have driven through the mass, and
the bugles sound the call TO gather for
the return. The horses obey IL without
"A touch OF the rein. IL seems that the
whole living mass is riding In n circle.
and that there IS blood on every man
and horse.
All OF sudden we shoot out from
under the smoke cloud into the sunshine
mot the 900, but the 300-and the bat
terry opens again. We are 10 the right
of IL, and IL sends grapeshot into a wild
mob 10 drive 10 hack into the cover of
the woods. IL Is n sight Co look down
over that field. Five hundred dead and
wounded men and horses are lying
there. II is only as | sit on my horse
and look over the field that | begin 10
feel weak and grow frightened. My
head begins 10 swim, things grow dark,
and some one helps me 90 the ground.
/ have pistol ball in my shoulder, and
the blood Us running down my back
from sabre cut on the head.
saved Prem Death.
In 1864 yonug soldier OF Pennsyl.
vanla regiment was convicted by n
court martial for sleeping on post and
- - Il. A