Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-02-16


II cast shadow over their hopes.
On the day before the vote was to bs
taken at night the bushes, rubbish anc
brush was ordered cleared or leveled il
the ravine between the two armies Il
was perilous undertaking but the con
federates gathered their axes and with.
out fiinching marched to their work
Strange to say. the Yankees quietly
watched this proceeding without firing
gun, either being work they wished
performed or else they anticipated that
the confederates were fixing to storm
their works-a thing they much desired.
Anyhow the confederates got through
with their work and went back to their
camps without any trouble, but fully
confident that it was a preparation to
"charge"-all ignorant of what turn
matters were to take.
When night approached and the Off
GERS quietly bid the men to ''fall in, y
you may wonder at the surprise of all
the privates when they were told that
all commissioned officers would retire
from their presence and that privatee
should decide by ballot among them
selves as to whether the Yankee works
should be attempted by storm" upon
that very night
A little incident happened just as the
commissioned officers retired. and none
of us can say to what extent it bore
upon the action of the privates. The
mail had arrived-letters from home TO
the brave soldier boys, an unexpected
thing just at that time, for it was SO
early to get the mails then.
The arrival of these letters from home
stopped all other thought and the men
gathered in groups around their orderly
sergeants anxiously listening 10 the
names upon the envelopes 10 be called
out AS each man received his letter
he fastened from the group to some
little fire light and down upon his knees
he broke the seal and read the contents.
Soon there were many kneeling men
round the fires through the camps, and
as now and then one would reach up
and punch up the chunks you could see
the tears glistoning in his eyes
This busy world may laugh at this =
We men who read as you run, but it was
no laughing matter there that night.
There were letters from home; news
from the dear wives and the little
children, from the old fathers and
mothers, and from the sweethearts who
were never to be seen again. Dear
hearts and dear thoughts of the old
home and of the childhood playground
but never mind, no one can feel how
this was but the old soldiers themselves
and they have most all passed away or
are getting too old to read, so why
mention such?
But vote must be taken. ballot OF
mo" if the fight was not to be made,
or a ballot of Eyes" If it was Each
soldier knew that time was precious
and it was picture to watch the sol
diers fold their letters and placing them
deep down into the inside pocket OF
their gray jackets, and the ones who
had received none sadly waiting as they
thought of their own dear ones far
away at home.
1t was under just such circumstance
that balloting began, and as they were
gathered all in hat the time had come
for the counting. Then came short
of expectancy. The first bal
lot was:
"Yesi"
And the blood thrilled through every
soldier heart The counting went on.
and
Yes"
Yes"
Yes"
For three times the fatal yes" came,
with not single mo" But mo"
came at last, and then long column OF
noes" with only here and there a
YES" was result The fight
was off. The yankee breastworls
would not be stormod that night
and they never were, but many of these
same brave hearts ceased to beat before
the end at Appomattox
And pity it was Sergeant Plimlatt,