The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-11

| to his feet aud limpiDg forward, supported by
Quin. "Close up on the colors! Rally on the
coorsl"
| A bank of smoke had settled down in the
| hot, still air between us and the rebels behind
| the stone wall, so that neither could see what
the other was doing. They had kept up a
sharp fire all the time, however, but had fortu-
nately Overshot us. We learned afterward
that they were in confusion from the loss of 50
many officers. Still their fire was heavier than
we could return from our reduced ranks. 1t
| was becoming mOmentarily moro searching,
and WAS telling fearlully upon us, standing ont
| there on the smooth sWard without particle
of protection. My God, We must do some
| thing at Ouce!" cried Job, in anguish, as ne
saw one after another drop around us. "We
must either go ahead or 90 back. Colonel
| give an order Either send us into them with
| tho bayenet or back to shelter
Silence, sir" commanded the Colonel, with
! his usual stcrnness. Take your place in tho
ranks, sir, and do not presume to give direc-
| tions to me. Battalion, cease firing. Right
dress! 'FRONT.' About face! Forward, right
oblique-Marchl |"
As we faced about and started diagonally
| across tho field to tho nearest place of shelter,
| ! saw Herman's eyes look up appoalingly. job,
| Quin Lam and left the ranks to lift him up
and carry him with us.
| Tho Colonel, hobbling along behind saw us,
and shouted:
go back to your ranks, there What do
you mean by leaving your placesH Go back at
| once"
You'll haf to leaf mo here, poys," said Her-
man, resigned look filling his great blue eyes
Go nit do retchment, und ket oud of here if
you gan. Gott safe you ALL"
We laid him down and ran back to our
pnces.
We heard someone among the rebels behind
the stone wall shout out
frin2i Fix bayOnets! Now over the wall and
after thom! Charge bayonctsp ~
Attention, battalion" commanded our
Colonel. LOAD at will. Steady"
The loud, long, wolfsh "Ki-yi-yi" of the
rebels filed the air as they swarmed over tho
wall in fierce pursuit.
My heart beat tumultuously, but we did not
quicken our pace from the calm, deliberate
step of commoa time.
"steady, men steady" called ont the Col
onel. Slower there on the left The guide is
right"
The yells wero so near that expected at the
next 10 feel the thrust of bayonet
Battalion commanded the Colonel, in as
slow. even tones as if on parade, Halt
About, face Right dress. Front"
f!e passed through tho ranks to the rear of
tho c0lors.
The fierce swarm Of ki-yi-yi-ing rebels was
swinging forward within so PAGES of u.s. The
XII yi-yi died away instantly AS we faced about.
steady, men, repeated the Colonel. Ready,
aim. Aim at their waist belts. men. FIREw
Heavens, how the whole scene changed as
our rifles crashed out together The green sod
became dirty brown, from the killed and
wounded stretched upon it.
Forward. Charge bayonets." ;" shouted Col.
Satterloe.
Their colorsl Their colors! Let's take
their damned rag yelled job, aud we four
ts.s4f e. 4
anily hoatinR. The rebels saw our aim, and
clustered around 10 defend It.
Quin burst through the group between IL and
him, and drove his bayonet into the rebel
Color. Sergeant's side. At the same instant a
musket- barrel welded by n stalwart rebel
crashed on his head and sent him sensoless 20
the sod. lunCed st the rebel and nv bayo-
not entered his shoulder Job snatched the
flag from the dead Sergeants hand. flung il to
ne, and slept between me and gigantic rebel
who spraug forward to reclaim it, Job short
encd Oh the right" for thrust at his enemys
stomach, and the rebel drew back his musket
for an overland blow with the barrel The
movements OF both were like flashes Of light
niug jobs was the quickest, and his bayonet
sank into the rebels body 10 the shank as the
lat;er's blow. grazing Jobs head, descended
upon his shoulder with sufficient force to break
t5e shOuldcr-bade. Ian had lnterposed him
self before two men who bad rushed up from
MY right aud had caught tho blow from one of
their gnu.barrels on his own but the other
rebel had sent n bullet through his lungs and
the fight for the flag WAS over, with the coY-
etcd banner in my hands.
While this was going on tho rest Of the reb-
els were being driven back 30 the SHELTER Of the
wall, but men We're constantly struck down on
both sides. The heetest- footed OF tho rebels
had already gained its protection, aud had be-
gun firing back at Us, as opportunity afforded
4 tsf,. h. ......
friends.
Forward to the wall I" shouted Col satter
lee, limpiug after US. Take the wall and bold
i'll"
A shot from the wall struck him above the
sword belt, and he fell 20 earth. job. who
had recovered sufficiently from the stun of his
blow to follow the line, and l ran to help him
with his unhurt arm.
- No, no, leave me alone" said he in his
old imperative way. Take your places in the
ranks; I'm done for. Do not mind me- Tell
Capt. QG'gsley TO take command of the regi-
ment. He is the ranking officer now. Tell
him to carry the wall at once, and dispose tho
men to hold it, for the rebels are sending rein
forcements down the mouutain-sde. Make
haste. SIR"
l started of, but no recalled mo.
" Also, toll Capt Quigsley that ii is my or
ders that the charges against Privates Cart
wright and Bohannon be withdrawn, aud that
they be restored TO duty"
l ran forward to find Capt Quigsley. found
he had already assumed command gained
possession of the wall, and was directing tho
men TO fire al the rebels flying through the
woods.
Other regiments were marching up the
slope TO our assistance, and u brigade swinging
In from the right had caught in flank tho rein
forcements the rebels were hurrying forward
aud scattered them with u few yolleys ut close
range.
AT the sound Of this l climbed up on the wall
10 peer into the woods aud ascertain what il
meant. | had scarcely Strengthened up when
u Farthian shot firod by some sullenly- retreat
Ing rebel struck me on my left leg midway
between the knee and foo;, breaking, but for
tunateiy not shaitering, tho small bone.
As twilight was falling | with the rest of
the wounded were removed To the field hospital
at hiddletown, where our hurts were soaced
By the reception of the news that we had
forced tho passage Of the Gan, gained II glOri-
Gus victory, captured many prisoners, cannon
and coors, aud driven the enemy in confusion
toward the Potomac whittier they would be
pursued In tho morning and their destruction
completed.
The other part of the army, under Gen.
Franklin, had beOn equally successful at
Crampton's Gap. six miles to the south. SO that
the day was glorious one and retrieved our
disasters Ia ffont of Washington
A few days later the Surgeons made a careful
examination of our wounds. and prouounced