Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-06-13
VINO COMES HERE.
A Pathetic story OF the battle Of the
wilderness. Tho Experience OF
e1,a auard nm p0at Nh. 4

the guard on Post No. Z.
"Halt Who comes here?"
"Friends, with the countersign."
Advance one and give me the coun'
tersign"
It was the relief going the rounds to
change the pickets, and was dropped
nut at Post No. I. We had fought LIE
all day long on the strangest battle
ield OF the whole war-in the wilder.
ness. From right to left tlank-from
front to rear-we were hemmed in by
forest and thicket. There were swamps
in which lizards and serpents lurked,
thickets in which the coy whippoorwill
built its nest, dense spots OF forest
which seemed never to have Schoed the
ring OF the woodman's axe.
We had fought from tree to tree,
from thicket to thicket, from glade Ia
glade, pushing back the gray lines
here, baffied and compelled to give
ground at other points. Lees lines
barred the way. Never man In this
whole army whose musket-barrel was
not hot that day. Never a man who
did NOT feel that be was fighting for the
life OF the confederacy.
How the forest shook and trembled
as the great guns sent their deadly mis-.
siles crashing through the foliage!
How the thickets blazed up in flames
the severed limbs crashed down-the
sunny glades turned dark as night with
the powder smoke settling down! The
dead outnuinbered the bushes; the
wounded walled and cried as l never
heard them before or after There was
something so somber-so gruesome-
30 unearthly in fighting q foe unseen in
the semi-dRrkness, that the shouting
and eursing usually heard in the lines
gave place TO silence and pale faces.
Darkness had come at last and the
roar of battle had died away to low
growl. Grant had failed to drive Lee.
We knew that from flank to flank. II
he could not force passage through
those gray lines he could flank them.
Before the sun went down we knew that
he would do it. 1t was not yet night
when the movement begun, but my
division would be one Of the last to
move, and we must hold our ground
and prevent the confederates from dis
covering what was taking place. 1t
was curious coincidence OF war that
Lee was also moving by the flank, both
armies marching in parallel lines from
battle field which had yielded neither
victory nor defeat to either side.
Post No. was under a large tree on
the edge OF thicket. To the south
there was q strip of open ground, then
thicket, then an old field, in which
stood log cabin. 1t was lonely
place, we'll away from the camps, the
dead and the dying. but was glad to
be alone. All along the lines there was
growing OF musketry, but this was
but bluff-a bit of acting to cover the
real design. l had been nearly an hour
on the post without anything happen
ing to alarm me. when heard person
moving in the thicket across the open
strip.
Was T. person? Riderless horses
had galloped about that day almost
without number; this might be one
which had found shelter in that
thicket.
Rustic Rustic Step! Step!
It was cautious movement. Who
ever it was hoped to reach me without
discovery, but there were dead leaves
underfoOt and thicket was dense. A
hare could not have moved without be-
traying its presence.
Rustic Rustic
Kneeling down so as to see under the
darkness, as it were, suddenly made
l1nolr AlNfA1.t onroincf tho 6QIsk hQnK-
ground. II is neither horse nor mule;
it is human being. A scout from the
enemy's picket post only quarter OF a
mile away? A wounded man hobbling
about to find succor? One of our own
scouts returning?
"Who comes here?"
There is a silence for fifteen seconds,
and then a woman voice answers:
II can't find the place! 1t is so dark
can't find the place I"
Ave! it was woman's voice, and 1t
had sob in it, too. A woman there in
the darkness between the hostile lines
with powder smoke still in the air,
with stray bullets darting through the
thickets with whizz, as OF some great
insect stirred TO anger!
"Who comes here?"
II wish it wasn't so dark / am so
tired-so tired !"
And then she came across the open
strip towards me, making no stop, never
hesitating, walking straight up to me,
as If she could see as we'll by night as
in the sunshine of day.
II can't find the placer" she sobbed,
as she came to a stop within arms
length.
Good God, woman! what are you
doing her?" l gasped. almost terrified
at here presence.
'See! see!" she replied, holding q
bundle out towards me. Zone time l
saw beautiful spot in the woods, and
said to myself that II he died would
bury him there, but can't find i'll
can't find it 70
"What is it, woman? What have
you got there? ?"
''See! see! Don't be afraid. He's
dead. He can't speak or move. Take