The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-05-18
WHY THEY CHARGED.
Qufnine, Not Glory, Was the Stimulus
that Gallant Major Suggested.


The Major was gallant officer in
the Confederate service and he is men,
toned in the army records as having
been something of an inspirer of men
where desperate chances were to be
taken. There were good many kinds
of desperation in the Southern ranks
that were little known to the boys in
blue 1t is one thing to be footsore,
wounded, or down with breakbone
fever where well-stored commissariat,
a Government amply able to replenish
the supplies when needed, and large
corps of skilled surgeons and physi-
clans are at hand. 1t is quite another
thing to meet with these Affections
while fighting in the ranks where
poverty's ghastly hand withholds not
only food but medical skill and medical
supplies. That 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 accustomed to short
rations, but break bone fever had
settled over the entire camp, and the
peculiar form of desperation engender-
ed by this fact was what might be
called a qulnine mania. There was
nothing the men would not do to ac-
| quire quinine. Some of them had
! been known to steal the carefully
| boarded ounce, held more precious
than diamonds by some isolated coun-
try family. Others had obtained it by
| dire threats from even those whom they
were protecting, and men who were
known as perfectly respectable had re-
sorted to devices for obtaining the
coveted drug that would bring flood
! of crimson to their cheeks were it re-
corded against them now.
Just at that time the troops were in
Arkansas. Men who were accustomed
to the climate were doggedly desper-
ate, and those to whom it was COM
paratively a new experience were in
despair. Everybody was sick, and al
most everybody was sullen. In short
it was particularly inopportune mo-
ment to ask for brave deeds or expect
to find heroes.
A pretty brisk skirmish merged it
self into battle later in the day. The
Confederates were loading and firing
in dogged and half dead condition
The officer in command tried to rouse
them in vain. He shouted to them o.
glory, but the feYer-cursed men had nc
yearning to be glorious just then. He
dashed along the line and tried to IN
spire them with the idea that the pro
lection of the homes of the Soutf
from all sorts of dire disaster and dis
grace rested upon their shoulder
alone.
One officer shouted brief speech t.
the reserves to the effect that this was
to be the turning point of the war, anC
that the success or failure of the Con
federacy rested on them and them
alone. The men sat or lay sullenly be
fore him, and no CLEAN of enthusiasm
stirred them. Only the steady awfu
shake of break-bone fever occupied
their minds. Each man clutched to hi!
own breast the terrible enemy. Tht
officers were in despair.
At last happy thought struck tn
Major. He dashed along the line witt
fresh news from the front. He toll
the company officers that which pu
new life into them. The word wa
swiftly passed along the line from mai
to man as they lay in the reserve line
The effect was magical. Every mai
prepared with that vim and energ
, which means success to obey the mex
command. A battery had for a lon
time held for the Northern troops tn
vantage ground. Behind that ugl
battery were the supply wagons of th
Federal army. The Major had sen
out word that those wagons had jus
, arrived laden with quinine! That wa
! enough.
When the command was given t
charge not man failed him, not ma
was too i'll to reach-over breastwor
and cannon-the one thing that a
wanted. So, when the Major dashe
out in front, with uplifted sword. an
shouted. Charge! Charge, boys
. Give the Yankees hell and charge fo
t quininew his ranks were full, and nc
5 man stopped of his own free will ur
| til he was in the enemy's rear.
< good many stopped short, it
true; poor fellows who needed quinn
t no longer and only left the more fc
the comrades who captured the ba
. terry and saved the day = so say
4 history, and history is right as to fact
| but as to the motive for this gallal
and desperate charge history is silen
t and glory, not quinine, is erroneousl
f supposed to have been the inspirin
3 stimulus with which the Major, in SON
/ mysterious way, infused his men,
: N. Y. World.