The Coconino sun. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1891-1891, 1891-10-15
A BATTLE IN A BATTLE.

woods and break up the formation Of
the confederate cavalry every time they
left cover
We knew where they were Jeb
Stusrt's old troopers were there. Wade
Hampton's dragons were there Fitz
Lees hard fighters were there-Imbo.
den, Rosser Mosby-every conteder-
ate cavalry command we had fought
In Virginia was making ready in the
shelter of the woods to charge on our
left flank. II
Boom! booml boomm
The gunners knew what was at stake.
The orders were to die at the guns II
the position could not be held. For
half ah hour their bursting shells kept
the front clear and We OF the cavalry
cheered them. ........ -
What's that" o.. t FL E#
Out from the cover Of the forest at
half dozen places gallop the gay
troopers by hundreds. They wheel to
the right and left form in two lines,
take their distance close up with q
trembling motion, and now there will
be grand charge. The shells burst
an tront of them. over them, among
them, but discipline is stronger than
the fear OF death.
Less than three hundred OF us--all
cavalTy-to support the battery! II
that mob OF gray riders ever reaches
the foot OF the slope We shall be picked
up and sent whirling like dry leaves
IN hurricane, The fire OF the six
guns becomes more rapid-it is truly
terrific; but in their haste the gunners
do less execution.
LEFT wheel-forward- half-right
dressm
just 27S OF us by actual count as we
dress in two ranks. What are we 60
ing to do?
Draw sabers--forward-t rot-gal-
lop-charge!" -. =
They are driving us down at that
body OF men-ten times our number
20 break and check the charge. II we
ran stop thern for ten minutes the bat
terry will DO saved by the infantry. We
ablique to the left as we go to close
up. We are living wedge driving
down to enter living mass and split
1t in twain. s. III.
Afraid? No! There is an exultation
"a sort of drunkenness-abou it
which browns all fear It's taking
awful chances-odds OF a hundred to
ona-hut there comes a species OF in
sane delight when one figures such
desperate odds. They are coming at
rallnn-NGn oh g,,n
speed. Every carbine is slung to its
owners back; the sabre is to settle
this. They are yelling as they come;
we vi! vi! yi!" in reply.
Can the wedge enter7 Is the i'm
petus strong enough to break a way
into the solid wall of living men and
horses? look along their line as the
distance decreases with fearful rapid
". and | realize that the shock will
be tremendous.
Here 1t comes! Brace for it! Shut
your teeth hard-grip with your knees
mind your stirrupsl Crash--smash
-wbirl-dust-sm
The wedge enters! The wedge drives
ahead over fallen horses and dis
mounted riders--yelling, slashing, cut
ting--keeping its pace. A trooper
slasheS at ne--a horse goes down in
front of mIne--I feel myself falling
with my horse. and then am out OF
the fight for moment.
The darkness which enshrouded
things passes away after bit, and
find my horse lying across my feet
with the saddle flap so holding them
that his dead body must be lifted up to
get ne clear
The charge OF the gray troopers
was broken. That wedge drove right
through the mass and turned to attack
them in the rear. Swirling about In
circles like the Vulture OF War, the
mass OF men edges away until the
field around me is clear Fall but dead
and wounded I've got sabre-cut on
the shoulder, and can feel the warm
blood bathing my arm. but know
could walk away IL could get my feet
clear. l am working to extricate
them when hear hoof-beats behind
me, aad next moment riderless horse
dashes up and comes TO a halt.
All! but how the glory OF battle ex-
cites horse! See how red his nos
trils---how high his head--the glare in |
his eyes-the tail held out like a
plume-the ears working and the legs
dancing! lie has not been hit, but he |
has left his rider dead back there in /
the stubblea federal captain.
The horse stands paving and snort
Ing, when out from the whirl of death,
half mile away breaks a chestnut
charger and comes galloping down up
on us. There is blood on the saddle-haps
drops Of blood on his shiny TANKS.
II is not his blood, but that Of the con-
federate major who rode him. and who
has been cut down by stroke OF the
sabre.
1t is gray VS.. chestnut--federal va
confederate. The newcomer is still
hundred feet away when the gray
horse rushes at him with ears laid
back and mouth open. and as / watch
them forget that shells are scream
ing bullets whistling and the sabre
doing bloody work within sound of my
voice. AS the two horses come to-
gether they rear up, neigh defiance at
each other, and fight begins---a bat
tie within a battle. Each seems Inn
6ued with a deadly hatred for the
other and to be determined to destroy
his antagonist.
Now they rear up and strike vicious