The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-01-29

THE BAPTISM OF FIRE.
A soldiers first battle in war does
not always come at the appointed
looked-for hour. Many of the volun-
teers went to the front. expecting to
whip out of the fight the next morning
after arrival-either before breakfast or
after-then return home crowned with
immortal hours. But with thousands
many weary months elapsed before the
opportunity Of meeting the foe came
in real earnest. and when it did come
countless thousands were not expect
ing it. After my enlistment as a SOL
dier | had not long 10 wait the coming
of the fight.
Night had enveloped the camp, and
| was dreaming of sunny fields. of
smiling meadows. OF n happy home
of mother, and all that was near and
dear to a human heart. But the de-
stroying angel camc-and all vanished
into the realm of sweetened shadow.
For a comrade stood beside me
with his hand on my bosom. As he
leaned toward my ear | heard him say
tremul0usl ly-the mans heart in tlut-
ter of emotion:
Wake up.-thcv are advancing!'
There was the hue on his lips that
made me think instantaneously of the
line:
whispering with white lips. the foe-they
The first beams of the full morning
were pcnciling the orient sky, and the
rays fell upon group of half Il dozen
anxious faces gathered around the Adj
jutant's tent. Two horses were there
-One with dropping head and limb at
rest; another WAS painting heavily.
and reeking with smoke us the courier
still sat upon him. The commanding
officer was reading note, hastily
scratched in pencil, under starlight
alone.
The officer was en- dcshabille. Yet
| heard him speak hurriedly and anx-
iously to the bualer just called up.
Sound reveillc at once, and boots
and saddles Immediately afterwards"
Turning around he added, addressing
his servant: Saddle my horse at
once. William"
flucnce, as it were. that will pervade
mass of men in the hour of danger and
duty. Three minutes had not elapsed
after the sounds of the last bu@le blow
had thrilled the camp till the squad
rOns were forming.
"Move the column down the road,
Captain, said the commanding officer.
81 will gallop on and ascertain the
real situation"
We passed another and another
courier, and then we came to BODY
of men holding horses behind clump
of trees.
Just then there seemed TO be an aw-
ful stiffness in the morning air. sud-
denly broken by noise that sounded
strange To me-
w hat is that?> | asked
lit is the rumbling nf their artil-
lery,n said General S. Then he turned
around. looking Us all souarely i'll the
face, and added in u confident tone,
Yes. they are advancing and in
force"
There is no mistaking the sound that
next greeted the ears. there was 4
clear, ringing report that punctured
the stiffness, and then there was an
other and another and the rifle cracks
died away. They were the prelude OF
the battle soon To begin in earnest,
The Gathering of horses hoofs sig
nailed another courier who dashed up,
eXclaiming in tones OF feeling:
General, our dismounted men are
skirmishing with them" We heard
tho T., b,lf n,iln
Captain, gallop back and hurry up
the infantry. Tell Captain Hart we
need the artillery at once. He. too, is
coming
Then there was another and another
ring of the clear voiced rifle. then a
terrific yolley and double shot or
two, and then the guns hushed for a
moment. Men were seen hurrying
from the direction of the sound. They
were the dismounted skirmishers who
were being driven back By the strong
advance in front. The men rallied
with our column.
Fall in men" cried Sergeant
near M. Fall in, men! fall in
promptly. Fall in here
Oh this terrible tongue of war!
Fail in here. Fall in!
This is the most awful appeal that
greets the soldiers ears. Fall in. 1t
is tocsin that dies away only with
the funeral knell of mauy-for to them
it SAYS:
Fall in-fall into the arms of
deathi'
\ second staff officer had been sent
back to hurry up the infantry" The
noble fellows were coming. You
could hear the deep. mutfled hum of
their footsteps, Is the double quicking
hurried them onward. As they came
up heard the sharp. quick command:
Move out by the right flank into
line. Steady, men; expect every
man TO do his duty nowr
Move out and move on, my dear
comrades! Alas, many moved on into
that column which passed on, never to
return. Their first battle was their
last.
There was a lull in the firing in
front. but out to the leftward volley
after volley poured out upon the morn
ING air-the sun just rising over the
hills TO the right. had followed ut Il
gallop the General who was hurrvinT
to the front. He was more silent than
had ever known him. Suddenly he
halted and turned to see who all were
about him.
What troops are thosc?" | asked
III I'M. .3nnl.tFrll.. I lNn,v