Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-12-12
THOUGHTFUL JIM.

THOUGHTFUL JIM.
That's all right laughed Jim again;
81 didn't lose my precious carcass and I
didn't mean to. When the line broke we
were within 100 yards of EN-; the guns
were firing at point blank range, and |
was in that little cut there had no idea
where you were until | saw you galloping
like mailman to their lines knew it
meant. something, but by the time got
around the line had melted away and was
1000 yards to the rear. | knew that the
cannoneers would elevate their pieces, so
started for the battery and got there just
in time. There was no trouble about it."
"Well, upon my word, Jiml you look at
this affair as if it was the most common
place incident in the world can tell you
that the captain is going to report you at
headquarters.
"No, he won't" remarked Jim decidedly
II asked him not to.
The two friends sat "A few minutes in ST.
lence; then Bob spoke,
Jim, you are the most bull headed man
| ever saw"
Look a-here, Bob" said jim Il only
want to say this: Suppose it had been
mentioned at headquarters, and suppose it
had come out in general orders, and sup
p'SG iilt lblhS 1T nome WOUlt nave ncufu
of it-as they undoubtedly would--how
would mother and the girls feel2 They'd
have gone craZyp
The affair seemed to strike Bob in IL new
light. "By thunder" he said slowly
that's so. If the women folk were to
know every fool trick we played thered be
no comfort in the life at all, would there?"
As he spoke Boots and saddles" sounded
Soon a long line of cavalry was crawling
along the road in the direction of Mud
spring.
Who of all the soldiers who were on that
memorable field now remember the scenes
of carnage and death, the charges and
| counter charges the hairbreadth escapes of
a bloody but fruitless fight; Who remem
bers the gallant charge of the TIL Ohio
on the Fourth Virginia, when it was nip
and tuck which of the splendid regiments
should reach the ford first2 Those days
are long since passed
AT MUD CREEK
On swept the gallant -th, the men
shouting, the horses dashing in wild dis,
order, trampling those who fell beneath
their iron feet. Sabers CLEANED in the
sunlight, carbines in hand, the men in bare
heads, with hair flying in wild disorder,
each struggling to gain the first place
among the tangled mass as they flew to-
ward the goal. The Virginia regiment
cheered by some little encouragement
makes half wheel and envelops the op
posing force in their mad career. Then. as
if by some hidden power, the Yankee reg
ment rises in its might, the Virginians are
flung back, the cheer dies away from theii
lips and is taken up by the victors, and tho
lines of each form and form again, only te
be again broken. Now it is victory fol
friend; now for foe, now the two lines be
come so thoroughly mixed that it is i'm
possible to tell which has the advantage
but they diverge once more.
See the httle cluster of men who hav,
become separated from their companion,
they are of both sides-how they run
their horses and fight with the saberl Thei
carbines are empty 1t is hand to hanC
combat, and the sides are equal in number
Bob Sykes is among them, so is Jim Dodd
and now they have singled out their men
1t is fight to the death. Bob has had ON,
man nearly endorsed, while Jim is flying
after another. They become separated
and are hid from view by copse of tree
only to appear again. But where is Jim
Bob has endorsed his man and brings hin
in. But the enemy have gained the ford
and the recall is sounded from our lines
Gradually and reluctantly the pursuer
Withdraw and the foe is left to himself
The affair of Mud Creek was over 1t wa
a victory We had won the ground, bu
alas at what price The dead and dyinI
lie on every side. and Bob looks in vain TO
his friend.
In a shady little nook down by the creel
lies body in the blue uniform of caval
ryman. A bullet wound marks his forehead
and the body of poor Jim Dodd lies wher
no friendly hand shall mark his grave