Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-04-05
AT GRAVELOTTE.


likes, but that there Is nothing else to
DO. His regiment was first ordered to
occupy the foot OF hill covered with
vines. Afar off was thunder of can
nonadGg; squadrons of cavalry APP
preached, making the ground trem-
BILE under the hoofs OF their
horses; standards glimmered in
the sun; the vine poles shone
in the light. Through the blue air
above the mountain shells whistled,
looking as they approached from the
distance like tiny white clouds Gradu-
ally the air filed with powder smoke.
The battle, like "a storm, seemed to lie /
coming toward theR-but this did not
last long.
New regiments appeared, followed by !
batteries Of artillery the whole valley |
filed with troops, and resounded with |
shouts of command, the aid-de camps |
flew by on horseback in all directions. |
The private soldiers began to whisper TO
another: ''Onr orders will soon come. "
Men muttered in anguish of suspense.
sis il ever going to begin" And it be-
gins in awful earnest Everybody feels
something enigmate, something un-
known, drawing nearer and nearer
Perhaps il is death, for each and
all OF them. In the fog of
smoke that hides the hill sud
den thunder burst is beard-it is
the Prussian artillery redescending the
height. Then a cracking like mighty
hail storm those are the mitraileuses
at work. Again the earth trembles; the
air is conyulsed. Something reams
above their heads. Bartek looks up. 4
resplendent rosa surrounded by thin
cloud of smoke, approache shrlek'ng,
flashing, roaring. The soldiers cry "A
she'll u shell. Ii Iushes on like
storm, arrives, falls and bursts A
frightful defamation The earth seems
about to burst asunder. Confusion in
the ranks a moment; but at the order:
CLOSE up" every man obeys and takes
his place. Bartek stands in the front
rank, shouldering his riLe, with his heal
well up, and his chin little forward,
as under drill. but his teeth chatter
impossible TO move; he must stay
there. he cannot have even the consola-
tion OF firing tay and wait. Another
bomb comes whstling--then third--a
fourth "a tenth, With one great gust
the wind sweeps away the curtain of
smoke that hides the hill. The French
have driven away the Prussian bait ry
which held Il. French battery now oc-
cupies the summit and sweeps the val
ley below with lis mitrail euses. cut of
the vines at regular intervals rises n
long, immense streak or white smoke,
e. and immediately after vast rash OF
detonations. ID is the rench infantry
who. protected lay the artillery, are
opening fire Now the red trousers and
red ,aps can he plainly seen tri-co.ored
tags are distnguishable on di er
ent parts OF the hill Riil,
shots thicken irregular, rapid, fe
yer sh firing succeeds. Cannonade
answers Fnsilade; the shells pass through
the air IN huge curves. Cries are hear1
in the vines; from time to time the ser
man hurrah resounds. Then the noise
of the fus.lade becomes SO frlghtful that
one wants TO stop his ears. Neyerthe-
less Rarteks regiment does not move a
foot IL is surrounded by the French.
Ialls buzz by like cock chafers or whistle
like thruses. Their number steadily
increases. they whistle close b., heals,
eyes, noses. shoulders. There are thoa-
sands, millions--a veritablo hail BE.
hind Bargek or close by him every mo
ment some one moans 20, Lord Jesus :
then is heard the brief commands
''Schiess tclose up Then again
ssIesoass And then again 'schliess
Fin illy moth NJ is heard behind, before
in front, but grodns, dying gasps. the
brief ommand is heard continu
ously; the dead heap up higher with
every new crash oi rifle lolleys, and tn,
smoke hides the hIll. Il is the ! ay d
The asst u gnenL
Are you afraid asks Woitek o
BaItek.
." es; how can enc be not afraid" h
answers.
They are still ON their feet and th
idea has not yet fully impressed then
that one OF those little leaden ball
might throw them TO the ground. Bar
tex lis. He is not hal so much ral'
as he wants to a pear. He is onl
rnlnsing tie awful punishment h
woul receive Tor trying TO run away
those men fear discipline more thai
Death Itself Bartek dOcs not see th
real horror OF the battle. still he be
gins TO b nk that he might possibly re
killed lie vent res 10 transmit thl
thought TO Noitek.
n he world won't perish because ther
Is one tool less ON. II, answers Vote
IN AeAed tone
These worls cain Bartek at once; yes
the great question is TO know whethe
The world is all right or not, isn't Il
20 he remains there shoulderlng hi
rifle, without thinking of anything
particular, though he feels the swe'
pouring down his forehead. still Ii
rifle nre becomes heavier. New reg
mtnts OF the line come TO the assistant
oil the French. the Poles are fallin
faster and faster. II is no longer po
stole t. move the dead and wonnde,
The tri-eolored tags raw nearer; III
fusila G ecomes still more murderer
10 Bartek comrad' $; they keep fallIn.
falling one after the other. The men d.
spair.
ut with the increase OF their deSpa
come IN rmurs of impatience and rag
III the sol .lers were only told 10 ~
vance, they would rush upon the Frenc
like wild beasts. ut they arn sti
ordered 70 wait patiently. One soldi,
thruws his helmet on the ground, cryiI
out:
This IS good enough. for dogs, nj
Tor meu--tis is dying like dogs
The oSicry calms Eurtek down
that hc has no more fear at all Wh
II so.dit r are dying like dogs, il is onl
because not iing serious has yet o
Cured Still he would like 10 ha'
seen really hard battle. His regimen