The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1891-02-07

white, rolling cloud formed in mid
heaven, and loud, clear, ringing eX-
plosion followed and sent its sharp in
donations, like thunderclap, along the
vibrating waves of atmosphere.
1t was the signal for battle.
The next moment there came such Il
crash of sound as had never been heard
in the western world before. The very
heavens were rent; the everlasting hills
shook and trcmbled as if rocked by
earthquakes Houses Jared and rat
tied as if shaken by the mighty force of
tornado. The waters of the great
river caught up the sound and sent its
reverberating thunders roaring up and
down its emerald shores like the voice
of mighty torrent
As rapidly as trained and skillful'
gunners could serve their pieces, they
were loaded and fired, reloaded and
fired again. The world seemed a-wreck.
The continuous booming of nearly five
hundred cannon and mOrtars, field
pieces, siege guns, columbiads and how
itzers, ranging in calibre from g.
FOUNDER rifle to a 16-inch Armstrong,
the cOncussiOn of the shells as they eX-
ploded overhead or skinned along the
surface of the hill with the screech of u
demon, created ciamOr and din that
was grand, ,awe-ins piring and indescrib-
able. .. ......-. ...
For five long hours this battery was
kept up. The confederate fortiiications
were swept by storm of iron, that
leveled the raised work to the ground,
tore great breaches through the stock
AIDES and exposed every point of weak
ness. But for the trenches cut into the
solid ground, every vestige of tenable
defense would have been 'obliterated,
and the gallant defenders been de-
stroyed with it.
AS the fire of the artillery slaokencd,
long lines of federal infantry advanced
| to the assault, one following another,
until in some places five lines were
massed in one compact, Overwhelming
front. -5aray..c.. .Ts rso} .o& 81.
At first they, moved with firm, steady
tramp, keeping perfect time to the in
spring strains of martial music score
of bands placed at intervals along the
line were pouring forth, "Hail Column
bia" was the, soul-stirring mir they
played, and how sweet were the cheer
L ing sounds in comparison with the
dread clamor Of the artillery that a few
minutes before had prevailed. As tho
music ceased, q loud huzza swelled ur
from the advancing ranks and every
heart beat responsive.tO the proud, ex'
ultant challenge to combat. -.~.g t..
| Then % confederate band up. there
whore the dauntless Missouri regiment:
were marshaled seized their instruments
and the ever-thrilling notes of .'DiXie'
were poured fourth in brave defiance o
the long blue columns advancing to th'
attack. AS the first notes sent thej
thrill along the vibrant air, a loud chec
was raised that swellcd along the line
extending on and on, to right and left
until the very air rung with the won
drous, soulful greeting. All, what al
irresistible inspiration in that wild ant
iIreprcssible cheeri How many heart
; damted by the fearful work Of dealt
have been converted into heroism by it
subtle influence! How many spirit
dropping from the encouragement q
disaster and defeat have been thrille
to redoubled effort by its indesoribabl
power! .t sdsg- ,t1 ."--a"-...- sd
If Grant and his lieutcnants' had fo
Il moment thought those'men crouchin
in their shallow pits along those hi
crests were crushed IN spirit and daunte
by the unprecedented storm they ha
, just been subjected to, that loud, impul
sive cheer, swelling along the line
, spreading from wing to wing, then roll
ing back to the center, again destroyc'
: the hope, and too late told them of tn
desperate resistance to be overcom
G before those lines could be swept b
assault. r....... .........
Few men have eyer witnessed
grander sight than the federal advanc
to the assault that beautiful morning i
May. The lines extended in unbroke
= front for the distance of nearly tw
. miles. The men marched in perfec
o order, carrying their arms at a fright
shoulder" In the center of each regi
; ment tluttered the regimental battle fla
5 and a standard of national colors.
e the rear rode the mounted officers, ,thei
n spirited horses proudly stepping tn
b ground, as if conscious of the gor
honors of war and regardless of il
1 tragedies.
e Once or twice n regiment here Q
!. there was halted to dress its iut
t thrown into temporary disorder by II
: obstruction or an inequality of tn
4 ground. AS they drew near the cor
d fenerate position, they could see tn
crests of the ridges swarming with mer
d Then they quickened their pace, an
d soon, with loud huzzas, firing as the
g advanced, changing from double-quic
s to run, they burst like a thunderbo
}. upon the ramparts Of the confederate!
# But no valor could overcome I'll
:, storm of leaden hail that crashed int
II their very faces and moved down the
? ranks in the harvest of death. II
# first line melted away like the mists {
e morning before the rising sun. III
+ next, pouring itself forward to, fill I'll
of G;,r, met the same terrible resistance
lie for behind the dismantled, earthworl
rs and the shattered stockade, the poi
lie against which the suprcmest efforts
le the assailants were made, stood Il
10 chivalry of Missouri and Louisiana, Il
flower of Pemberton's army-thes
Mt rather than yield, would build II RAJ
n part with their dead and mangl,
1t bodies. ..... r.,
ID The first and second lines of the II
ut saulting columns being repulsed, Il
he third followed to suffer II like fate. III
s. fourth line fairly hurled itself agai
m the seemingly impregnable rille-pit
ID closely supported by the fifth. Final
a color-bearcr mounted the works, al
n scizing Il confederate battlc-fag proud
r waving there, dragged it down from
4 position and planted in its stead ii
D starry banner Of the union. A lol
At huzza from the federal column II
II plaudcd the deed, and the gala
unionists pressed forward with renew.
Df eagerness to hold the position game
4 This was the critical moment of Il
d battle. A minute more, and the pos
ton would have been carried and Il
20 confederate forces routed.
e But that defiant cheer that came lol
id and fierce from the other side was II
A. well-known s.rcbel yell, the rally il
A, cry of the NlissourianS. 1t was Il
id sixth infantry made up of men fro
l. Lafayette and Jackson counties; fro
p Platte and Ray and Howard, Boon
IS st. Clair, Cass and Salinc-thesr das
it ing from their reserve and SweepiI
1t forward to the rescue. The daring colo
IS bearer was crushed with n shower mi