The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-06
HUMBOLT, THE POMERANIAN
x~resYoF THE CAMPAIGN IN THE
WILDERNESS DURING THE WAR.
s~~.as 81 EIesd and o.vnass--Asn Drunk
w7sh the steam of Battle and the Fury OF
Hell, Trampie orpses Under rsos.

Far above us shone the great scales Of
N. empyreal Balance. Leto's fiery chill
hren had paused for a moment In their
eternal chase.
over the eastern mountains swan the
faint, white circle OF the virgin daughter;
In the west the glowing visage OF the
rosy sun.
bling in the flowing waters as we crossed
the Rapidan.
Far at our backs lay the bitter Linz that
parted a united land.
But over all the land before US there
called unearthly voices; some shrieked
With laughter and others whispered faint
~, and we saw their white breath hang
above the distant trees. But these voices
rose from threats OF fire and their sound
vas death.
Down we marched into the land be-
fore us. The tap OF our drums woke the
echoes where the pines and cedars grew.
Down we went into the land where ra-
vines stretched. gorged with gray ard
scrubby thickcts: passing old battle-helds
where canister had riven the trees and
great old oaks were marked with ancient
bullet scars.
And we sang as we went and our
further and further into the depths down
10 our fearful doom in the sink OF the all
unfolding Wilderness.
we were worn and haggard men as we
tramped on our third days march
through the cherries marshes Of the
Wicahoo. Far before us we could hear
the shells screaming shrilly from the
trenches that Quantrelrs men had thrown
Up in our path beside the sandy ridges
OF the Hallicassee. Lifting our hollow
eyes we saw through the twilight OF the
night great clouds OF vapor drifting slow
~ past above our heads like vague and
fearful menacings Of sibyl prophecies.
Now and then we met dim forms OF
men with bandaged wounds and bloodless
faces. who staggered 10 our rear YEARLY
through the slough OF the great morass.
Night had fallen quickly and again the
great trees doomed about US
Suddenly the men halted and ran to-
gether closely. A tumult arose in the
dark ravine before US and we heard the
sudden yell of Durwell's Tigers. Out Of
the weary nondescrpts two lines stood
quickly formed. The men Of the fore
most line dropped to the knees and the
rifles Of those behind them overlapped
their shoulders.
A night wind scorched and stung with
powder. swept into the faces Of these
men, who stood here. stiff and wordless,
an eXpectant silence; a grim phalanX, with
muzzles thrust forth like sarissa points.
With drawn faces and with bloodshOt
eyes they peered along the barrels OF
their rifles out toward the dim and
Navering thickets.
Now great waves OF fame leaped from
the distant trenches and for a moment
M the shrouded wilderness. And as the
feeting light ran Wisp-like over the
rugged land and over the fallen oaks,
and glittered in the moist hollows Of the
swampy ground. we saw three forms
come running toward US from the dark
mouth Of the hollow.
IL was Humboldt who came toward us.
and even in the dying flash 1 could see
his great gray eyeballs rolling and his
big nostrils quivering as they did when
ever he shifted the blood and fury Of bat
he.
II was Humboldt. who with threats
and curses. and with weapons drawn,
drove two ragged Butternuts before him
over rotting logs and through the clammy
swamp and priclily thickets On and on |
he drove them, into the shadOwy moraSS. |
where, with pointing guns and haggard |
faces, waited those two silent rows OF |
men.
All about where our camp fires were
burning there rose little mounds Of earth,
through which shone the points Of white
and sinister bones. Those were the re-
mains of eager volunteers, who, at the
outbreak OF the war, had found their
graves here I'm the gloomy depths Of the
Wilderness And we. the drafted and re-
rruited men Of later days, sat here and
eyed askant the saddening ruins Of those
wasted lives.
one Of the men had exhumed a skull
md was turning it slowly over and over
IN his hands.
THAT will be your fate. Humboldt. be-
fore we come out Of the swamps," Jeered
& soldier from another fire.
The other shook his great head. mot
mine. not mine" he answered softly 81
will come out Of the war without a
wound "
Humboldt spoke with an accent. He was
n Pomeranian, one Of those men Of great
strength and stature who form the sinews
OF the Prussian army.
Humboldt was a son Of war. Wherever
the clash OF arms arose and the nations
ran together in conflict, this warrior
would run to enlist. that he might share
in the intoxicating horror Of war He
had worn a scarlet coat at BaaklaVa, ,
when Nicholas stretched forth his great
hand 10 seize the Sultan's city And he
was clad i'm the famous white uniform
a. Magenta in those days when Napoleon
the Little still chung TO his mite of glory. ,
lie was in fact. a true descendant OF ,
those ancient mercenares that had ere
Hted, only afterward to ruin, the glory Of G
Augustan arms. (
The soldiers gazed upon Humboldt with !
curious interest, as he stated, with such =
grave conviction. that he would come p
from the war unscathed. The men had q
always looked on the huge soldier with .
z certain awe, for a curious influence :
teemed 10 hover over him, as If some in ,
visible Pallas watched over and protected r
This Herakles because he had devoted 9
himself TO her arms. :
Humboldt was not one OF us, for he +
wore a blue trefoil on his cap. and red =
crescent was the mark OF our company =
We had encountered him one day while
we were storming one Of the Confederate d,
As we were slowly work :
ng our way through a brushwork barrier 9
constructed by our clever foes in order to a
Keep as from the rising ground, a solitary ,
soldier joined us. He alone was left of the I,
attacking column that had preceded us +
They had stormed the earthwork fieWely n
'ut the flaming souls of his comrades had
erved but 20 quench the fire from the G
amparts. on that day half Of our men Ii
ell IN the fire. but the great soldier still /,
emained among the living q
Humboldt was extremely taciturn by q
allure. and but infrequently Joined in the I,
conversation OF the men. But his success II
d capturing the two butternuts had a
LEASED him so much. that tonight, as the
olciers gathered around him, he was II