Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-07-31

III tAe SnelJef OF the woods to charge
on our left flank.
Boom! boom! boom!"
The gunners knew what was at stake.
The orders were to die at the guns if
the position could not be held. For
half an hour their bursting shells kept
the front clear, and we Of the cavalry
caeered them.
whats that!"
Out from the cover of the forest at
half dozen places gallop the gray
troopers by hundreds. They wheel to
the right and left, form in two lines.
take their distance, close up with
trembling motion, and now there will
be grand charge. The shells burst
in front of them, over them, among
them, but discipline is stronger than
the fear of death.
Less than three hundred of us-all
cavalry-to support the battery! If
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 ter
rifle; but in their haste the gunners do
less execution.
"Left wheel-forward - half-right
dress"
Just 27S of us by actual count as we
dress in two ranks. What are we 60
ing to do?
"Draw sabers -forward-trot-g
lop-charge!
They are driving US down at that
BODY of men-ten times our number
to break and check the charge. If we
can stop them for ten minutes the bat
terry will be saved by the infantry.
We oblique to the left as we go to close
up. We are living wedge, driving
down to enter living mass and split
it in twain.
Afraid? No! There is an exulta-
tion-a sort of drunkenness-abou it
which browns all fear. It's taking
awful chances-odds of hundred to
one--but there comes species of in
sane delight when one figures such
desperate odds. They are coming at a
gallop-we are charging at full speed.
Every carbine is slung to its owners
back; the saber is to settle this. They
are yelling as they come; we "yi! vi!
vii" in reply.
Can the wedge enter? Is the i'm
petus strong enough to break way
into the solid wall OF living men and
horses? I look along their line as the
distance decreases with fearful rapid
tremendous.
Here it comes! Brace for it! Shut
your teeth hard-grip with your knees
mind your stirrups! Crash-smash
-whirl-dust-sm
The wedge enters! The wedge drives
ahead over fallen horses and dismount-
ed riders-yelling, slashing, cutting
keeping it's pace. A trooper slashes at
me-a horse goes down in front of
mine--I feel myself falling with my
horse. and then I am out Of the fight
for moment.
The darkness which enshrouded
things passes away after bit, and l
find my horse lying across my feet,
with the saddle-hap SO holding them
that his body must be lifted up to get
me clear.
The charge of the gray troopers was
broken. That wedge drove right
through the mass and turned to attack
them in rear. Swirling about in cir
cles like the vulture of war. the mass
of men edges away until the field
around me is clear of all but dead and
wounded. I've got saber-cut on the
shoulder, and can feel the warm blood
bathing my arm. but | know could
walk away if could get my feet clear.
am working to extricate them, when
I hear foot-beats behind me, and next
moment riderless horse dashes up
and comes to halt.
All! but how the glory of battle ex-
cites horse! See how red his nostrils
how high his head-the glare in his
eyes-the tail held up like a plume
the ears working and the legs dancing
He has not been hit, but he has left his
rider dead back there in the stubble-
Federal captain.
The horse stands paving and snort
! ing. when out from the whirl OF death,
half mile away, breaks chestnut
charger and comes galloping down
mon us. There is blood on the sad
die. fiaps-drops OF blood on his shiny
tanks. It is not his blood, but that of
the Confederate major who rode him,
ond who has been cut down by stroke
of the saber.
It is gray VS.. chestnut. -Federal vs..
Confederate. The newcomer IS still
hundred feet away, when the gray
horse rushes ut him with ears laid back
and mouth open, and as 1 watch them
I forget that shells are screaming, Dull
1ats whistling and the. saber doing
bloody work within sound OF my voice.
1 As the two horses come together they
rear up, neigh defiance at each other,
and a fight begins-a battle within
battle. Each seems imbued with
pIhe'AS H., o.!,ar and tO Inc