, 1891-01-15
FIRST TIME UNDER FIRE.


The memory Of the soldiers first hat
tie viii neve be forgotten by him The
impressions were burned SO deeply into
the brain and spirit that a century Of
peace would not efface or even dim them.
Twenty-uine years ave passed since /
went through the first baptism of fire '
and yet the scenes md events ara as
fresh and rs VIVID in the soul vision as
is the storm Of yesterday eve.
] want 10 tel yod something about it.
shall not name the time nor the place
the living who were with me will Re
memher tbe facts-for the record l give
is historic. Is reel, not ideal or fanciful,
and WI TO have the recital so worded
that n 5Ean IN The world can read #
without % feeling Of bitterness in any
knowu 1n g ion. The picture l give Is
not for tac mau who wore this or that
uniform / want a cameo that viii out
last the passion TINT produced the bloody
struggle
lido ROT pretend to give a history Of
an entire battle; no one man can do this
unless L draws upon the experience and
observation OF others, for each actor in
any great battle sees the struggle differ
NAaA ANth nat II ApIEAIH 20 oNtltIss 4
h relate my own individual expert
ence and observation-what 1 personally
saw and heard of one fercely fought bat
tle-one memorable in the history of the
arm first passing into and through
its flame Of fire.
A soldiers first battle in war does not
always come at the appointed looked for
hour. Many Of the volunteers went to
the front. expecting to whip out the
fight the next morning after arrival
either before or after breakfast-then 10
return home crowned with immortal
honors. But with thousands many
weary months elapsed before the oppor-
tunity OF meeting the foe came in real
earnest. and when it did come countless
thousands We're not expecting il. After
my enlistment as a soldier / had not long
to wait the coming Of the fight.
Night had enveloped the camp. and l
was dreaming Of sunny fields. Of smiling
meadows, of n happy home-of mother.
and all that was near and dear to a hu-
man heart. but the destroying angel
came, and all vanished into the realm of
sweetened shadow.
For a comrade stood beside me with
his hand on my bosom. As he leaned
over toward my ear l heard him say
tremulously-the mans heart in a hut-
ter Of emotion:
Wake upi They are adynncingY"
Was there the hue on his lips that made
me think instantameously Of the line:
Whispering with white lips, '"rhe foc-thcy comet
they come
The first beams Of the full morning
were penciling the orient sky, and the
rays fell upon = group of half a dozen
anxious faces gathered around the ad-
~iutant's tent. Two horses were there
one with dropping head and limb at
nj rest; another was painting heavily and
rocking with smoke as the courier still
sAt on him. The commandin, officer
WIS reading a note, hastily scratched in
pencil, under starlight .lone.
r. officer was en- dishabille. Yet /
heard him speak hurriedly and anxiously
to the bugler just called up:
''Sound reveille at once. and boots and
snddles Immediately afterward." Turn
ing around he added, addressing his serv-
ant. Saddle my horse at once, William"
Strange it is what a magnetic infu-
rs it were, that will pervade n mass
of men in the hour Of danger and duty.
az iAtAt ~ nv tAipHfu hAAtI Iut
sounds Of the last bugle blow had thrilled
the camptil the ~squadrons We're forming.
Move the column down the road,
captain" said the commanding officer.
Il will gsllop on and ascertain the real
situation"
Wepassed another and another courier,
and then We came to a body of men hold
ing herses behind u clump of trees.
T.gs tIau Fhawa u.aV,.T - l.. - FL
stllness in the morning air. suddenly
broker by "A noise that sounded strange
to me.
What is that l asked.
1T IL the rumbling of their artillery
said Gen. S. Then he turned around,
looking Is all squarely in the face, and
added il a confident tone, Yes. they are
advancing, and in force"
There was no installing the sound that
next greeted the ears, there was a clear,
ringing report that punctuated the still
ness, then here was another and an
other and die rifle cracks died away.
They were the prelude Of the battle soon
to begin in earnest.
The clattering of horses hoofs signaled
another coug-er who dashed up, exclaim
ing in tones VI feeling;
StANAas III hAHAAANhlAANa Alth art /
skirmishing with them" We had heard
the rife shots MALT a mile away.
Captain. Rydlop back, and hurry up
the infantry. Tell Capt. Hart we need
the artillery NJ once. He, too, is com
ing"
Then there WAS another and another
ring Of the clear voiced rife. then a ter
lifc volley and - double shot or two,
Snd then the guns were hushed for a
moment. Men were seen hurrying from
the direction of the sound. They were
the -disInounted skirmishers who We're
beng driven back by the strong advance
In front. The mei rallied with our col
UNI
Fall in, men, cried "a sergeant near
me. Fall in, mer, fall in promptly.
Fall in here!"
Oh. this terrible tongue of war
Fail in herei Fail in, This is the
most awful appeal teLt greets tho sol