Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-01-27
FIRST TIME UNDER FIRE.

tle viii never be forgotten by him. Ths
impressions were burned 40 deeply into
tine brain and spirit that century O!
peace would not effacc or eycn dim them
Twoniy-ninc years havo passed siiics
went through the frat baptism Of frs.
and yet tho scenes and events ore %.
fresh and as vivid IN the soul visIon a.
Ia the storm II yesterday eve,
! want 10 tell you something about 70.
j shall not name the time NOT The place
tho living who were with me win re-
member the facts-for the record give
II historic. Ia real, not ideal or anciml,
and wish TO have the recital 20 wordol
that any man In the world can read 1t
without a feeling OF bitterness IN any
known direction. Tho picture | give is
not for the man who wore this or that
uniform. want o cameo that viii out
Irst the passion that produced the bloody
struggle.
do not pretend 10 give n history Of
m entire baltic no one man can do this
unless no draws upon the experience and
observation Of others. for each actor In
any great baltic recs the struggle differ.
emily from what II appoars 10 others. |
shall relate my own individual expert
snce and observation-wh what personally
cav and heard Of ono icrccly fought bat.
tle--ono memorable In tho history u tho
Warmly first passing into aud through
It's fame Of fire.
A soldiers first battle In war does not
always come at the appointed looked for
hour. Many Of the volunteers wen, 10
The front, expecting TO whip out tho
fight the noTt morning after arrival-
clihor before or after brcakfast--, 10
return home crowned with immortal
honora But with thousands many
weary months elapsed before the oppor.
tunity Of meeting tho foo came In real
earnest. and whom IT did come countless
thousands were not expecting H. After
my enlistment M soldier had not long
10 wait the coming Of the fight.
Night had cnvolopcd tho camp. and
was dreaming OF sunny fields, u smiling
meadowB, Of happy homo-of mother
and all that was noar and dear TO hu
man heart. But tho destroying angel
came, and all vanished into tho realm Of
sweo'oned shadow.
For n comrado stood beside mo with
bis hand on my bosom. A he leaned
over toward my ear heard him say
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS mans heart In Hut
ter Of cmotioni
''WRko mp, They arc advsncing'-
Was thorc tho hue on his lips that mad
me think instantaneoualy Of the line.
whi.yssiaE with White ilp., ''rhe fos-,hsy come
they COME"
The firzt beamn Of the full Inorninl
were poncibng tho orient sly. and hi
rays fell upon group Of half don,i
anxious faces gathered around the al
juiant's tent. Two horses wero there
ono with dropping head and limb y
" rest. another WA painting heavily ani
iceking with snoko ~ thu courier still
iat on him. Tho commanding Office
was reading n note, hastily scratched Il
pencil. under starlight alone.
Tho officer was ON di.habillo. Yet
heard him speak hurrictly aud nnxiousl
10 the bnglcr just called up:
Sound reyeillc ut once. aud boots an
saddles Immediately afterward." Turn
ing around he added. addressing his sory
ant. Saddle my honc at once, William.
Strange II Ia what magnetic iniiu
cncc. as u were, that will peryade ma.
Of men In the hour Of danger and duty
Thrcc minutes hal not ELAPSED after IN
sounds Of tho last bugle blow hnd thrille
the camp till tho squadruns were forming
"Movc the column down tho road
captain" said tho commanding officer
81 viii gallop on and ascertain tho rea
situation"
Wepasaod another and another courier
and then we came 10 n body Of men holt
Ing horses behind n clump Of trccs.
Just then thoro seemed 10 be- nm awft
stiffness In the morning AIR. snddcnl
broken by noise that sounded strang
10 me.
"What Is thnty' I asked.
at IA tho rumbling Of their artillery,
said Gen. 5. Thon he turned AROUND
looking US all squnrely In the face. an
added in confident tone, "Yes, they M
advancing, and In force
There was no installing the sound tha
next greeted the ears, thciu was cleai
ringing report that punctuntcd tho still
mess, then there was another and Al
other and the rifle cracks died AVA,
They were tho prelude OF tho battle 300
TO bogin IN earnest.
Tho gathering of horses hoofa signale
another courier who dashed up, oxclain
ing Ia tones Of feeling,
General, our dismouniod men NJ
diminishing with them" We had hear
the nile shots half mile away.
captain, gnllop back, aud hurry II
the infantry. Tell Capt, Hart we ncc
tho artillery at once. lilo, too, is con
ing
Thou there was ano'hHr aud nnotho
ring Of the clear voiced rifle, then lei
rife yulley and q double shot or NV,
and then the guns were hushci for
moment Men were seen hurrying lroi
tho direction Of tho sound. They wef
the dlsmountcl sklrmishnrs who wer
boing driven back by the strong Uiyan,
in front Tho mon rallied with our col
ulnn.
"Fall in men, cledu .rnsut ID
me, "ttl IN, mont tail va prompH
Fan 600 horcr'
Oh, tAis tPuihl,taa Dpof war;
Fail m E'rol F.l no. TlRiBt
mos. awful appeal that p,rs tls i.
her's oArs, Fail In. itisU toc.'n tl
olrs away ouly wtl emo funeral iueli ,
many-ior 10 them 30 ays,
Eau in-lail into tho arlus
acnthn
A second stat officer had boon for
hack 10 hurry mp tho inim,ry" m
uuble ielluws woro coming Yuu coal