The National tribune., 1890-10-02

passed over us in very good order. The officers
having up TO this time continued their admon.
tory STEADY, men" camo out with O hearty
Now we're all right; be careful; do not step
} ON those men," As the line passed over us
they were asked by many Of our boys. What's
the matter, boys2" and were answered with.
"Out of ammunition" "Give 'cm II" and
other like expressions This line had hardly
passed to our rear when their pursuers una
ware OF our presence surged up almost TO our
very lines. Instantly that they discovered us
they took cover behind standing and fallen
timber, and opened most CALLING and destruc-
tive fire on tho Both and tho rest of the limo.
The air at once was rife with million whis-
pering hornets swiftly searching for life"
had lain down in the bed of the dry water
course among some rocks, and when the John
nles opened on US their "battle fame of hell" !"
] drew as foelingly and touchingy near TO old
Mother Earth's bosom rs possible--would have
crcpt in If l could. While in this position
felt footstep Mt my head Looking up saw
a Captain apparently making his way to the
rear; further observing what l then took to be
some confusion in my company. j sprang to
my feet, and as j did so, comrades, verify be-
ileve that every individual number-for even
| they are numbered-of the capillary substance
that yegetates upon my Uranium stood ofits own
| accord on end like tho quilts on fretful porcu-
| pine,-at least that was the way it felt TO me
then,-and while I'll not deny now but admit
sub rosa, that | was Just the least bit fright
ened some time during that day, do remem-
| Der very distinctly now Just how | felt then,
while the way the big chills chased the little
chills all up and down my back aud the hot
streaks played "hide-aud -go-seek" F." with tho
| cold stroaks all over my cOrporocity was a eau
tIon. had not been altogether deceived tho
attack had been so sudden. so impetuous, and
! by numbers SO overwhelming that it looked as
| II 1t was Deaths harvest, and that Death and
his cohorts were there in full force to gather it
in. l felt as though if ones hand wore held
| aloft 1t must Of very necessity bo shot of so
! thickly flew the balls searching for n life. As
/ gained my feet i quickly threw my Enfield
rifle horizontally before mo, confronting some
who seemed in a measure dazcd and were fac
ing to the rear. l cried to them in an agony
OF fear of stampede to " Go back Go backl"
threatening TO shoot or bayonet the first man
who attempted to pass to the rear. looked
about for some help, If necessary, to check
possible break. My eye instantly fell on Serg't
M. Z. True, of my company. lie was resting
upon one knee and foot, taking % moro delib-
crate aim upon the enemy in his front than he
did upon bunny / wot of upon an occasion
when we were hunting along the classic banks
of Dnck Creek in Ohio. We camo upon her
ladyship sitting quietly at the side of the path
not 10 feet distant from US when discovered
fired, sure of the game, and overshot True
followed, more confident If possible than was
l. and undershot. While her redoubtabe MINI
rods were reloading preparatory TO her final
dissolution ~, wise for once Mollie Cottontail
laid back her cars, winked her nose, and skip
ped further risk t7) of perforated hide The
sight of the Sergeant restored my mental
equilibrium. Tho dazed were but few, and
they only for tho moment. Turning again to
the front they beheld their comrades, as one
man, from flank to flank receiving
THE EEEMY's ONSET WITH SOLID FRONT.
Reader, If you were TO place in the hands Of
strong man two sharp corn cutters and send
him into field Of thickly standing corn, and
have him pass along tho length Of the rows.
cutting and slashing indiscriminatoly, as you
would see tho stricken stocks tOtter aud sink
or pitch and fall, your observation would be
ikened unto mine at that moment, save that
was looking upon the "ghastly harvest of tho
fray, tho cOrpses of the slain," as my comrades
fell there on that Saturday afternoon on the |
plains OF that River Of Death" How long |
we engaged the enemy there / know not |
took no note Of time. With being so greatly |
outnumbered, and most exposed, the 3Gth Ohio |
necessarily suffered most for the time Lieut. |
Col. Ii. L. Deyol. Of the Seth, realizing how un- |
equal was the contest, sought his Colonel win |
u. jones'. Not finding him, he hastoned back |
TO his place on the right of the regiment only |
10 sec the he loved SO well falling killed, |
and the wounded going 10 the roar, many OF |
the latter from Co. ID, Capt. James Stanley |
the regiment; again was be unsuccessful in |
hnding Col. Jones or any superior officer to |
whom 20 report, Gen. Turchin for the instant |
not being In sight. Time was preeous varily /
time was life To the many, the situation appal. |
ing, being indeed desperate aud no assumed /
command. At this moment IL IVES whispered |
along the limo that Col. Jones was killed and /
the question asked, Where's Devol?" followed |
quickly by the cry, "Tbis will never do: let's /
charge, let's charge" Just then / heard tho |
dnllish gIuek of ball, and my friend, Lieut.. |
w. a. Rhodes, Of Urbana o.. went down with |
ashattered hip, his head striking my right foot |
as he sank prone upon tho earth. Amidst thia |
commotion and Btrife, In that cyclone of war,
On that bAttle-swopt ridge he fell. All, how |
we'll l remember IT, as from the very depth of |
my soul breathed the mental apostrophe, |
Oh, God, will this never cease !"
Yea. even this will pass away" came an
swer soon, for Ia an instant Lieut. Col Deyol. /
having assumed direction of the lIth 38th |
and 92d Ohio and tho 18th KY, his voice.
as it rang above the roar and din of strife, was
heard commanding q bayonet charge which /
was at once repeated by the officers all along
the line. Like lightniDg's flash was the CLINT |
ing and tho cleaning OF the bayonets glitter
a. they flashed in that afternoon sunlight and
were with omiuous click adjusted. While these
rapid commands and movements were occurring
Lieut.. Rhodes, 20 my surprise, for thought |
him dead, raised his head and asked me 10 take
him from the field. STOPPING, took his hand
In mine, rejoicing with him that he was yet
alive. told Of the orders 10 charge, and that |
could not then, but IL spared and could. / would
return and take him of tho field. While these
few seconds talk was being held tho brigade,
with "a grim resolve that mockod at hostile
force, had made ready, starting like mountain
torrent full and strong, with yell
AZ IL men fought upon the earth
And hendH Ia upper mir.
Life and death were in that shout and
triumph, charge and rOut; then with cheer,
itself the presage Of victory, these men of Tur.
chin's with arms 10 strike and souls that dared
dashed at them the cold vengenco of their
steel, hustling the foe out of their position In
less time than II takes me to write Of il. Tho
enemy did not wait the application of the
pointed STEEL but fed inc0ntinentIv. Gen
Turchin, mounted upon his galy-caparisoned
milk-whlte Arabian horse looked absolutely
happy, while he cheered us, as in one torrent
Of blue. broad and strong, Ia advancing onset
we swept along, driving tho enemy on our front
some three-quarters OF Is milo, TO and beyond
one OF their batteries, two pieces Of which they
had been compelled 10 abandon; these Sylbnrn
Davis, Ed. McElroy (nOw Of Sydney, ILL., of Co.
Il, and others wero anxious TO take off the field
but the tangled brushwood and trees preclnded
the possibility OF success. An Aid rode up and
informed US
OUR FLAHKs WERE III AIR,
greatly exposed to attack, and instructed us To
retire. have always understood that In tbis