The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1892-06-22

luz Dul WOAhs WOIA
in which dreams had no part | had, as
remarked, long forgotten those of boy
hood
One crisp December morning, after
several days of desultory fighting under
General Rosecrans, my command
marched into the memorable battle of
Stone River. We were on the extreme
right in the first days engagement. ard
were part and parcel of that unfortunate
wing of the great army that was hurled
back upon the center in disastrous con-
fusion. We were reserves. brought for
ward to strengthen an attenuated and
long drawn out line of battle already
outflanked by the Confederate hordes
Marching across open ground by the
right flank to our position under gall
ing fire which we could not return, it
required all the nerve aud discipline of
tried soldiers to preserve formation; bit
we managed to do 30, and were quickly
advancing in line of battle across the
fields, over fences and dead and wounded,
to the support of our comrades already
engaged. The last field we crossed to
reach them was cornfield, the stalks
still standing, and we joined them at the
rail fence on the farther side and were
soon hotly at work
To say that the enemy made Ii warm
for us is stating it mildly. A perfect
cloud of splinters arose from that line of
fence. The range was point blank. Our
batteries to the right and left and di-
rectly in the rear of us replied effective
ly with grape and canister 80 low that
some of our own men were killed by
these discharges. We were ordered to
lie down, hut some of the boys would
get excited and reckless. We hadn't
been there two minutes before half a
dozen men in my company We're killed
outright and two dozen were wounded.
The blood and slaughter and shrieks and
yells and roar of musketry and artillery
were awful! The terrible ring of those
double shotted brass pieces behind us
will sound in my ears to my dying day.
II was IA living, breathing hell!
The gallant foe came steadily on In
the face Of this sweeping fire. We could
see the buttons on their coats. Their
officers rode backward and forward be-
tween the lines, waving swords on high
One OF them was mounted on snow
white charger, n conspicuous mark for
our rifles. He seemed to bear u charmed
life. In common with many others,
perhaps, tried for him, without sue
cess
1t was my lastshot A rife ball struck
me in the left side and hurled me sew
eral feet backward, stunned and bleed
ing, in furrow of the cornfield.
"My poor boy" said kindly voice ut
my side, where is 1t? Are you badly
hurt" 1t was our major in the next
furrow. He stretched his arm over and
laid his hand tenderly upon me.
"Give IN h-lr' he hoarsely shouted,
with quick repetition. His hand had
sought and found mine, and the gentle
pressure brought up the sweet memory
of home and mother.
Ammunition We are out Of ammu-
nitionr The cry rose along the fence.
MY box. major-my box" said l,
reused in a moment to the occasion. He
understood and fumbled nervously ut my
belt
nave you kulIel
Reach in my pocket" feebly replied.
He did So 1t was common pocket
knife, with large, keen blade. He cut
atmy belt. The sharp steel went through
leather, overcoat, jacket, underclothes
and skin. No matter. knewit, felt it;
but it seemed painless and unimportant.
The major flung the cartridge box,
hal mi all f,af. T..
doing SO he never removed his other
hand from mine-the brave old soldier!
His loud voice of command was one con-
tinuous cheer of encouragement. 1t rose
upon my ears between the terrible ring
ing sound of the brasses behind us and
the denoniacal scream of the flying
frames of our grape and canister.
saw my comrades pounce upon my
cartridge box like so many terriers upon
a rat, shaking and tearing 1t to pieces
Then saw no more
was lying in the corn furrow ON the
old farm. The sorrel horse was cropping
grass in the fence corner, while
stretched my boyish limbs upon the
warm earth. The tall stalks nodded
above me, and the rustling of many
leaves soothed my senses. The yellow
germs fell from the swaying tassels into
my face. Here and there the virgin silk
came forth like golden curls to stir my
ripening imagination. was terribly
thirsty, and the well was across the
meadow and over the hill. could see
my dirty face and spiky hair in the cold
liquid depths. The brown moss clinging
to the curbing was soothing to the eye.
My thirst grew upon me, and yet, though |
knew that well was only over there, l
dared not 20 home at such an early hour
for fear of parental displeasure. What
a funny dream that wasl To think that
would ever be 'soldierl Well, we'll |
Confound that old horsel He is drag
ging down the cornl He is--why, he |
win trample on mel And I'm asleep and
cannot wake upl This is horriblel
A wild, mad rush, trembling of the |
earth, deafening roar, like that which
accompanies the deadly cyclone.
The fence Is swept down by the hu-
man blast as II it We're built of tooth
picks.
Those of our command who can run !
have fled before it.
"Goodbyl God help you, my poor
boyr II WINS tue last pressure of the
majors hand.
Then the gray columns swept over US
and lay beaten into the corn burrows
by thousand rushing feet. Charles
Theodore Murray In Philadelphia Press.
lyon can never put too much water
In milk II You always put II through the