Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-12-24
FIRST TIME UNDER FIRE.

DE will never be forgotten by him. The
Impressions Were burned so deeply into
the brain and spirit that a century Of
PEACE would not effaee or even dim them.
Twenty-nine years have passed since l
went through the first baptism OF FIRE"
and yet the scenes and events are n
fresh and as vivid in the soul vision as
u the storm Of yesterday eve.
want TO tell you something about it.
| shall not name the time nor the place |
the living who We're with me will re
member the facts-for the record give |
Is historic, is real. not ideal or fanciful, |
and wish 10 have the recital 50 worled /
that any man in the world can read it
without feeling Of bitterness in any
known direction. TIE picture ! give is
not for the man who wore this or that
uniform. ! want cameo that will ont
last the passion that produced the bloody
struggle.
do not pretend to give "A history Of
IN entire battle; no one man can do this
unless he draws upon the experience and
observation of others. for each actor IN
any great battle sees the struggle differ
emily from what 1t appears to others.
shall relate my own individual expert
tnce and observation-whatI personally
saw and heard of one fiercely fought bat
tle-one memorable in the history Of the
war-Iny first passing into and through
Its flame Of fire.
A soldiers first battle in war does not
always come at the appointed looked for
hour. Many of the volunteers went to
the front, expecting To whip out the
6ght the next morning after arrival
either before or after breakfast then to
return home crowned with immortal
honors. But with thousands many
weary months elapsed before the oppor-
tunity of meeting the foe came in real
earnest, and when it did come countless
thousands were not expecting it. After
my enlistment rs soldier had not long
10 wait the coming Of the fight
Night had enveloped the camp, and
was dreaming Of sunny helds, Of smiling
meadows, OF IA happy home--of mother
and all that was near and dear to hu-
man heart. But the destroying angel
came, and all vanished into the realm 81
sweetened shadow.
For a comrade stood beside me with
his hand on my bosom. As he leaned
over toward my ear | heard him Say
TREMENDOUSLY mans heart in flut
ter of emotion:
Wake upI They are advancing"
Was thers the hue on his lips that mad,
me think instant .aneously Of the line:
whispering with white ir~ "fhe re they come
they come
The first beams Of the full morning
were penciliug lac orient sky, and tn,
rays fell upon group Of half dozer
anxious face gathered around the ad
jutant's tent. Two horses were there
one with dropping head and limb a
at rest; another was painting heavily an,
reeking with smoke as the courier still
sat on him, The commandii office
was reading note hastily scratched il
pencil, under starlight alone
The officer was en- dishabille, Yet
heard him speak hurriedly aud auxiousl
10 the bugler just called up:
Sound reveille at once, and boots an
saddles Immediately afterward.' Turn
ing around he added. addressing his sers
ant, SADDLE my Eorse at once. William.
Strange il Is what a magnetic inflr
ence, as it were that will pervade a ma
of men in the hour Of danger and dut,
Three minutes had not elapsed after tn
sounds of the last hngle blow had thrille
the amptill the squadrons were forming
Move the column down the roas
captain" said the commanding office
II will gallop ON and ascertain the res
situation"
We passed another and another courie
and then we came to "A body of men hole
ing horses behind clump of trees
just then there seemed to be an awfl
stiffness in the morning air. suddenl
broken by a noise that sounded strana
to me.
What is that | asked.
1T is the rumbling of their artillery
said Gen. 5. Then lac turned arount
looking Us all squarely in the face. an
added in a confident tone, Yes they Al
advancing, and in force.
There was no mistaking the sound thu
next greeted the ears, there was "A clea
ringing report that punctuated the still
ness, then there was another and al
other and the rife cracks died ava,
They were the prelude Of the battle 500
10 begin in earnest.
The gathering OF horses hoofs signale
another courier who dashed mp, exclain
ing IN tones OF feeling:
General, our dismounted men al
skirmishing with them" We had hear
the rife shots half a mile away.
Captain, gallop back, and hurry u
the infantry. Tell Capt. Hart we nee
the artillery at once. He, too, is con
ing"
Then there was another and anothe
ring Of the clear voiced rifle, then tel
rife yolley and a double shot or tw,
and then the guns were hushed for
moment. Men were seen hurrying frol
the direction Of the sound. They WEI
the dismounted skirmishers who WEI
being driven back by the strong advant
In front The men rallied with our CO
umn
Fall in, men. cried sergeant nea
me. Fall in, men, fall in prompt,
Fall in herer'
Oh. this terrible tongue Of war,
Fall in herel Fall in, This Is ii
most awful appeal that greets the %
Tiers ears. Fall in. 1t is tocsin tn
dies away only with the funeral knell
many-for to them il says:
Fall in-fall into the arms