Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-08-18
GLORY OR OuINiNE2
why n Confederate Division Charged the
Federal Breastwork.


The major was gallant officer in the
confederate service. Indeed 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 q good many kinds of
desperation in the southern ranks that
were little known TO the boys in blue,
after whose comfort, welfare and health
powerful government looked with
such solicitude AS IT might 1t is one
thing TO be footsore, wounded, or down
with break-bone fever where n we'll
stored commissariat, government
amply able TO replenish the supplies
when needed and a large corps of skilled
physicians and surgeons are at hand.
II is quite another thing to meet with
these same Affections while fighting In
the ranks where poverty's CHASTITY hand
withholds not only food but medical
skill and medical supplies as well This
was the condition Of affairs in the di-
vision OF the southern army TO which
the major belonged
Tho men were not unusually hungry.
They had become quito accustomed to
short rations There were not an UNI
due proportion of wounded sufferers;
but break-bone fever had settled like a
pail over the entire camp; and the pc
culiar form Of desperation engendered
by this fact was what might be called
a quinine mania There was nothing
the men would not do to get quinine.
Some of them had been known TO steal
the carefully boarded ounce, held more
precious than diamonds, by some iso-
lated country family. Others had OBJ
tanned it by dire threats from even
those whom they were protecting, and
men who were known Us perfectly re-
spectacle had resorted to devices for
obtaining the coveted drug that would
bring flood OF crimson to their
checks were II recorded against them
now.
This was the state of affairs when the
battle of which | speak took place,
where the gallant major won distinc'
ton by means of the circumstance and
the particular type of genius which en-
abled him TO take advantage Of and
turn TO account calamitous condition
of things.
just at that time they were in Arlian
sas and the fever, malignant at all
times, was holding high carnival Mer
who were accustomed TO the climate
were doggedly desperate and those tc
whom IL was comparatively a new eX
perience were in despair Everybody
was sick and almost everybody was sui
len. In short, 1t was IL particular in
/ opportune moment to ask for brave
deeds or expect TO find heroes.
There was pretty brisk skirmisf
going on which merged itself into q
battle later in the day. The confeder-
ates were loading and firing-or lying
ON their arms-according to the orders
given-in IA logged and half-dcad con
dition. They obeyed orders as machine
might--if the machine was pretty near
ly worn out. The officer in command
tried to rouse them in vain. He shouted
TO them Of glory, but the fevcr-curset
men had no yearning TO be glorious JUS
then. He dashed along the line ant
tried to inspire them with the idea tina
the protection of the homes of tn,
south from all sorts Of dire disaster anC
disgrace rested upon their shoulders
alone. The men, shaken with ague
fixed their thoughts not upon homes
but upon the empty drug stores o.
their beloved land-and felt that hom'
would be mockery with empty quinin'
bottles.
One officer shouted brief speech e
the reserves to the effect that this wa
TO be the turning point Of the war, arc
that the success or failure of the con
federacy rested upon them and then
alone. The men sat or lay sullenly be
fore him, and no CLEAN Of enthusiasm
stirred them. Only the steady, awful
shake of break-bone fever occupie,
their minds. The confcderacy was
dream, This was reality. The Yam
KEGS were far of. Each man clutche'
10 his own breast the terrible enemy
The officers were in despair. No on
could win battle with men SO indiifer
ent and so sullen as these.
At last happy thought struck tn
major, lie dashed along the line will
fresh news from the front. lie told tn
company officers that which put new
life into them. The word was swift
passed along the line from man To maj
as they lay in the reserve line.
The effect was magical Every maj
prepared with that vim and energ.
which means success to obey the mex
command. A battery had for a lonl
time held for the northern troops tn
vantage ground. Behind that ugly bat
terry were the supply wagons of the fed
eral army. The major had sent GU
word that those wagons had Just al
rived, laden with quininel That va
enough.
When the command was given
charge not man failed him, not ma
was too III to reach-ove breastworl
and cannon 1.-The ono thing that a
wanted, SO when the ina jor dashed OF
IN front with .uplifted sword and shou
ed; "Chargel Charge, boysl Give u
Yankees fits, and charge for quinine
his ranks were full, and not man sto
3 ped Of his own free win until he was
the enemy's rear.
: A good many there were who stops