Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-03-13

THE REBELS IN THE WOODS.
o. course the air was filed with
smoke The rear Of the regiment had
moved very leisurely. The Johnnies
had come Through TIVE gap. and we were
all m xed up. As we began To drag the
cannon off, the Johnnes grabbed the
piece by the mnzzle and tried 10 hold it.
Then muskeis were dubbed and bayoneis
used. II all those engaged in the fight
had been personal euem es for years the
cursing and rcviling could not have been
more bitter. Tue wounded fell TO the
ground with oaths and imprecations
upon their lips. and without n groau.
Enough of our men rallied to enable us
to hold on TO the gun. The Vermont
regiment in the woods on the left had
stood lrm. and the JOhnnies who had
swept through the gap were enfiladed.
After the fight TO secure the gun WAS
over, We discovered that she was loaded,
Tint the LANYARD was hanging from her
breach. and no one had thought TO pull
it during the fight.
The regiment rallied behind q brush
feuce. George Drake of the color. guard
tprang over il aud planted the colOrs at
the side of the gun. He swore that Lees
men should have them if the regiment
did not protect them.
Probably 800 men lined themselves on
the colors In three minutes. each man in
his compauy. and each COMPANY in Its
order. they moved forward at the com.
mand OF the colonel, and restored the
main line. occupying the sans ground
which they had left. BY this time the
sun had gone down. and darkness was
sweeping over the PLAIN. 1t became in
tensely dark. The regiment was lying
down in expectation of another assault.
1t wns a terribly trying time. The
means OF the wounded filed the air. In
the distance the shells had set the woods
on fire. In the lurid light the lieutenant.
colonel came down the line. He saw me
standing in front OF two companies.
What companies are these" he said,
'behind your"
told him.
Where are the commissioned Off.
cersY'
Il don't know" was nv reply.
Where are the orderly sergeantsr
They're not here"
Hem" he muttered. "Well, SER
Geant major, take command Of the
division aud don't resign il until you are
relieved
One of the captains appeared not long
afierward. told him | was in com.
mnnd, with orders not TO yield the
authority till the lieutenant colonel re.
lieved me. Not long afterward the
lieutenant colonel did relieve me and
directed the captain to thank me for
keeping his company intnct A moment
afterward the orderly of the second com.
pnny appeared and took command in
like manner.
Five minutes af;erward the lieutenant.
colonel ordered me to look after the
pickets. In the darkness l moved the
pickets toward the enemy. Each man
took his intervals. STOPPING close to
the ground and looking up l could see
their forms outlined against the sky.
l could name each comrade by his out.
line. Tue ground was covered with the
killed and wounded. Occasionally a
wounded man tried to crawl toward our
line. Everything. even the stumps.
seemed to he moving. The wounded
were packed around dead horses. They
crawled there TO escape the bullets, using
each carcass as n shelter. While stoop.
ing 10 the earth aud glancing skyward
saw n form moving past our line. Be-
yOnd i could see the outline Of Corporal
Mason, n member of our regiment
called him TO me. We accosled the
stranger. He was a confederate picket.
The lines were passing euch other IN uie
darkness. When asked what regiment
he belonged to he renlied:
The Thirteenth Mississippi"
We'll. oil with your traps" / said.
Were Jrrseymen.
Good Godr' he exclaimed, not in
terror. but establishment.
Away went his cowskin kuapsack.
He threw down his gun and shook of
his Announcements.
You'd better keep your haversack,"
l said; you'll need that"
1t was made OF undressed cowskin. A
pair Of new shoes were tied TO II. He
expressed great anxiety concerning tho
shoes. he was afraid THAI some Yank
would coniscate them.
At this moment we were called In.
He was my prisoner. l told him to stick
close to me and l would protect him.
He said that he lived In Pontiac. Miss,
and that he was printer. Being a
printer myself this warmed mo toward
him. When reached the line the regi.
ment was moving OF In the darkness.
II moved back mile or more till IL
reached the earihworks near Banks
ford. He had fought with the Army OF
Virginia In every battle since It's forma-
ton. He was anxious!y seeking promo
ton.
IL nm the unluckiest varmint m the
world - he aaid tn me f'I navar Couid