Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-12-09
|ST TIME UNDER FIRE.

memory of the soldiers first bat
hi never be forgotten by him. The
assions were burned SO deeply into
,rain and spirit that century Of
would not efface cr even dim them.
bty,uine years have passed since
through the first baptism Of fire, !"
yet the scenes and events are az
and as vivid in the soul vision as
storm of yesterday eve.
Fant to tell you something about it.
N not name the time nor the place
living who were with me will re-
her the facts-for the record give
storic. is real, not ideal or fanciful,
wish to have the recital so worded
any man in the world can read it
ont feeling of bitterness in any
IN direction. The picture I give is
or the man who were this or that
brm. want a cameo that will out
the passion that produced the bloody
kgle
10 not pretend to give history Of
htire battle; no one man can do this
Is he draws upon the experience and
ryation of others, for each actor in
great battle sees the struggle differ
from what it appears to others. /
relate my own individual expert
and observation-what personally
and heard of one fiercely fought bat
one memorable in the history Of the
Emy first passing into and through
lame of fire.
soldiers first battle in war does not
avs come at the appointed looked for
Many of the volunteers went to
front, expecting to whip out the
Il the next morning after arrival
Ter before or after breakfast then to
i'm home crowned with immortal
ors. But with thousands many
ry months g ms7 before the oppor-
ity of mertin., t.le Zoe came in real
best, and when it did come countless
nsands were not expecting it, After
enlistment as soldier l had not long
Eait the coming Of the fight.
y n y
Night had enyeloped the camp, and
dreaming of sunny fields, of smiling
hdows, of a happy home-of mother,
all that was near and dear to a hu-
b heart But the destroying angel
he, and all vanished into the realm of
eetened shadow.
or comrade stood beside me with
hand ON my bosom. AS he leaned
pr toward my ear | heard him say
tmulously -the mans heart in a fut-
Of emotion:
FWake up! They are advRncing!-
Was there the hue on his lips that made
think instant aneously of the line:
tispering with white lips, 1.-The they come
they come"
The first beams of the full morning
Pre- penciling the orient sky. and the
rs fell upon group of half dozen
|Eious faces gathered around the ad-
PANTS tent. Two horses were there
r with dropping head and limb at
|rest; another was painting heavily and
eking with smoke as the courier still
! on him. The commandin. officer
IS reading note, hastily scratched in
|hcil, under starlight .-lone.
|ihe officer was en- dishabille. Yet
|ard him speak hurriedly and anxiously
the bugler just called up;
Sound reyeille at once, and boots and
|ddles Immediately afterward." Turn
b around he added, addressing his serv-
n, Saddle my horse at once, William"
Strange it is what magnetic inf1u-
Fee, as 1t were, that will pervade mass
men In the hour of danger and duty.
pre- minutes had not elapsed after the
|unds OF the last bugle blow had thrilled
Y camp till the squadrons were forming.
Move the column down the road,
lptain," said the commanding officer.
will gallop on and ascertain the real
tuation.
Wepassed another and another courier,
~ Then we came to u body of men hold
9 horses behind clump of trees.
Just then there seemed to be an awful
Illness in the morning air, suddenly
oxen bya noise that sounded strange
me.
What is that" / asked.
II Is the rumbling OF their artillery"
20 Gen. 5. Then he turned around,
oklng us all squarely in the face, and
loed IN confident tone, Eyes, they are
waning, and in force"
II mere was no installing the sound that
'Al greeted the ears, there was a clear,
nslng report that punctuated the still
S. then there was another and an
her and the rife cracks died away.
ley were the prelude of the battle soon
Degln IN earnest
Inc gathering of horses hoofs signaled
lother courier who dashed mp, exclaim.
! IN tones of feeling:
General, our dismounted men are
with them" We had heard
: rifle shots half mile away.
captain, gallop back, and hurry up
infantry. Tell Capt. Hart we need
artillery at once. He, too. is com
g.
uei there was another and another
y OF the clear voiced rifle, then ter
:, 'oiley and a double shot or two,
- 'heh the guns were hushed for
'iileLt' Men were seen hurrying from
direction of the sound. They were
uismounted skirmishers who were
Jug driven back by the strong advance
'front.' The men rallied with our col
'an IN, men, cried sergeant near
!, !, ran in, men! fall in promptly.
vi in here!"
T,, TINS terrible tongue of war.
80 aii IN here! Fall in. This is the
~, -. awful appeal that greets the SOL
!; ~ ears, Fall in. 1t is a tocsin that