The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1893-12-31
cLueeep WITH A Muskg1.
A Battlefield scene THAT Ended In swee
sleep.

continued TO play on our mont we uiU mol
mind them. for the fire was so high that
everything went over our heads aud into
the Third brigade in reserve. By and by,
however, q battery moved to the left and
got flank Gre on the line, aud then we
realized that one Of two things must speed
lily happen-the whole brigade must fall
back leaving wide gap in the lines, or
regiment would be- ordered TO charge the
guns Not more than three or four shells
had fallen among us when the order came
oar regiment changed front and dressed its
lines with six guns belching shot and shell
at us from the ridge half q mile away.
We front to the west aud are also on a
ridge. Between the two ridges is onen
ground, with two fences 20 climb or throw
down. There ia also highway running
parallel with our lines, and at the base OF
our ridge IL n bush fringed gully which In
the spring is q creek. After we have cross
ed the highway and the fence on the far
side we must dash up green slope on
which there is not en- bush for cover.
We know that the guns are supported by
infantry, but we have no idea Of the mum
Der We had five minutes IN which TO sur
vey the ground Then the word came down
the lines to take open order and not stop
to level the fences and we moved forward
As wedid SO a shell killed and wounded six
men in Company II, aud five seconds later
solid shot killed two or three in Com
pany C.
It was common tins" TO the brow OF the
ridge and then double quick and trail
arms" across the first field, No one shout
ei or cheered The guns had point blank
fire at MS, and they were served so rapidly
that shells were bursting every instant.
suddenly noted caV on my left, but was
not even gruzed by the shell which killed
and wounded ave men. We We're not over
four minutes crossing the field, but the
time seemed llyetimesas long. Wereached
the fence Just rs the guns changed to grape
and canister, and as | swung "A leg over
the top rail | was covered with dirt and
dust plowed up by charge striking the
earth 80 feet away Here Tor the first time
/ heard the officers behind us shouting or
ders and the screams OF men as they We're
hit What the orders were no one seemed
TO understand, bat we dashed over the
highway, ttmbled into and out Of the ditch
on the west side and swarmed over the
fence.
We were too low for the artillery to reach
us now, but lines Of men who seemed al
most within reach suddenly rose up and
poured volley after volley Of musketry into
us RS we waited for the lHggards to come
up aud get our lines in some sort OF shape
for the final effort One would have thought
that that fire would anuihilate us, but only
one fell here and there. The top rails of
the fence were somewhat decayed, and as
the bullets struck them the spliuters few
in showers We could not hear the orders,
but the lines dressed, great cheer ran from
right to left, and away we went up tine
slope The guns were being hauled off, and
between MS and them We're 500 infantry.
We did not halt to deliver a voliey, but
went at them with tho bayonet. / saw
their feet and ankles under the smoke as
they fired n volley into our faces, and the
next instant we were among them. No
man could tell You just what happened for
the next four or five minutes. There were
shooting, shouting, cheering, cursing and
hand to hand lighting, and all of a sudden
we emerged from the smoke and made a
rush at two pieces of artillery which had
been delayed by losing some of the horses
We ran right over them, iabbinS with the
bnyonet and using the musket as a club,
and they Were ours inside of two minutes
Like the stroke Of a bell daylight van.
ished and darkness fell upon the battle
field wondered greatly. for had thought
IT was only midafternoon. All the sounds
OF battle died out within a few seconds,
and was puzzled about it. remember
OF thinking there might be flag OF truce
and surrender, and | felt like cheering ut
the iden. Then feeling of drowsiness
cTept over me, and said TO myself that it
would be all right to 20 to sleep for an
hour or two and then help get the guns
away.
"Oh, he's all right and will lie about
again in few days Just got his head
smashed with the butt OF q musket"
II was 10 o'clock at night WAS in the
field hospital, and 1t was one OF the sur
geons who was speaking. | had been
struck down at o'clock and picked up ~
Z The blow had rendered me unconscious
for seven hours, aud it was seven hours OF
the sweetest sleep ever had in my life A
man had seized his nusket 10y the hayonet,
raised IL aloft with both hands aud brought
it down on my head, and yet he had only
stunned me
Did We hold the guns and the hlll'"
asked of a wounded man beside me.
YOU bet,' he chuckled. And then
fell asleep again aud did not awake until
morning. NJ. QUAD.