The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-27

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Copyright. ~ -. "%"@
CHARGED THE BREASTWORK.
The Gallant Major Wan Distinction Undel
Peculiar circumstances
Written for THE HELENA INDEPENDENT
."HE MAJOR WAS A GALLANT OF
.\II fcer in the confederate service. In.
~ deed he is mentioned in the arm.
records as having been something of an in.
spirer of men where desperate chances wer,
to be taken. g%.g:
There were a good many kinds of degper.
alton in the southern ranks that we're little
known to the boys in blue, after whose com
fort, welfare and health a powerful govern.
ment looked with such solicitude as it might
It ia one thing to be foot-sore, wounded, Of
stored commissariat, a government ampl,
able to replenish the supplies when needed
and a large CORDS of skilled surgeons and
physicians are at hand. 1t is quite another
thing to meet with these same Affections
while fighting in the ranks where poverty
CHASTITY hand withholds not only food but
medical skill and medical supplies as we'll,
This was the condition of affairs in the
division of the southern army to which the
major belonged.
The men were not unusually hungry.
They had become quite accustomed ia
short %rations. There were not an undue
proportion of wounded sufferers; but break
bone fever had settled like q pail over the
entire camp and the peculiar form Of des
peration. enRendered by this fact was what
might be called a quinine mania. There
was nothing the men would not do tc
get %quinine. Some Of them had
been known to steal the carefully
boarded ounce, held more precious thar
diamonds, by some isolated country fam
lily. Others had obtained it BY dire threats
from even those whom they were protect
ing, and men who were known as per
fectly respectable had resorted to devices
for obtaining the coveted drug that would
bring G food of crimson to their cheeks
were it recorded against them now.
This was the state of affairs when the
battle of which | speak took place, where
b40 SdllhuI AdjUI WOA ul5bluCtAUH Dy I16hut
of'the circumstance and the particular type
o fgenius which enabled him to take advan-
tage of and turn to account q calamitoul
condition of things.
just at that time they were in Arkansai
aud the fever, malignant at all times, was
holding high carnival. Men who wero ac-
customed to the climate were doggedly
parativelv a new experience were in de-
SPAR. Everybody was sick and almost
everybody was sullen. In short it was &
particularly lnopportune to ash
for brave deeds or expect to find heroes.
There was a pretty brisk sklrmish going
on which merged itself into a battle later il
the day. The confederates were loading
and firing-or laying on their arms accord
ing to the orders giyen-in a logged anG
half dead condition. They obeyed order.
as a machine might-if the machine vert
pretty nearly worn out. sThe officer in com.
mand tried to rouse them in vain. HI
shouted to them of glory. but the fever
ours ed men had no yea,ning to be glorious
just then. He dashed along the line anc
tried to inspire them with the idea that the
protection Of the homes of the south from
Ill sorts of dire disaster and disgrace resteC
upon their shoulders alone. The men,
shaken with ague, fixed their thoughts not
upon homes, but upon the empty drug
stores of their beloved land-and felt that
home would be q mookery with empty qui.
nine bottles.
One officer shouted a brief speech to the
reserves to the effect that this was to be the
turning point of the war, and that the sue.
cess or failure of the confederacy rested
upon them aud them alone. The men sa,
or lay ~sullenly before him, and no CLEAN OF
enthusiasm stirred them. Only the steady,
awful shake of break bone-feyer occupied
their minds. The confederacy was Il dream.
This was reality. The Yankees were faI
off. Each man clutched to his own breus,
the terrible enemy. The officers were III
despair. No one could win Il battle with
men 80 Indifferent ana so sullen rs these.
AT last q happy thought struck the major.
He dashed along the line with fresh news
from the front. He told the company Off
GERS that which put new life into them
The word was swiftly passed along the line
from man to man as they lay i'll the reserve
line.
The effect was magical. Every man pre-
pared with that vim Il energy which
means success to obey the next command
A battery had for a long time held tor the
northern troops the vantage ground. BE,
hind that ugly battery were the suppl,
ngons of the Federal army. The major
had sent out word that those wagons hnc
just arrived laden with quinine That wat
enough.
When the command was given to chat sc
not u man tailed MN, not y man was too
i'll to reach-oyer hreastworks and cannot
the one thing that all wanted. So when
tho major dashed out in front with up
lifted sword and shouted, Charge
Charge, boys! Give tho Yankees hell, aud
charge for pninine," his ranks we're full
and not Il man stopped of his own tree viii
until he was III tho enemy's rear.
A good many there were who stopped
short of this, it is true; poor fellows wht
needed qulnine no longer and only left the
moro for the comrades who captured tn,
battery and calamity saved Tho day-se
says history, and history is right III
TO facts. but as to tho motive fol
this gallant and desperate Charge history ii
silent. and glory, not q%uinine. is CHROME
ously supposed to have boon the inspiring
stimulus with which the major in som,
mysterious way, infused his men ut the las
moment. HELEN III. GARDNER.
CopyriSht.L
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