Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-11-16

GOOD-Bf BEFORE TIE CHAlsGE.
into his ranks as fast as men could load
Il and fire. but he continued TO mass his
cavalry in the open. Only veteran
4 troops could have boon held there for
. tue fire was murdernus. The Sixth
i should have had one thousand men.
4 Death, sickness anil detail had re-
n duced the force to four hundred
4 aud eighty. II was a pitiful sight to
4 look along the short lines and then
4 across the meadow at the force opposed
five. six or seven to one. ] saw the
4 gunners looking ut Us in wonder and
s dismay. and the troopers turned in
\ their saddles and shook hands right
and left and said good-by. We were
. not to support the battery, but save it,
4 Il possble, by diversion.
Attention.
A Through a rift in the smoke | saw
n that the enemy was about ready to
n charge. His lines had three times the
4 front of ours Some of the gunners
were looking around them in nervous,
. panic6y way. Us if contemplating re-
4 treat before it was too late.
Right dress!'
Most of the horses had become so ex-
\ cited that the order could not be car
4 ried out. Some of the animals were
h smelling powder for the first time, and
n fear and Impotence kept them rearing
4 aud plunging about.
\ All! Here we go! A gust of wind lifts
4 the smoke. aud on the other side of the
meadow the lines are moving. The
4 guns suddenly cease firing, as we must
4 left oblique," aud thereby get in
4 front of them There is no cheering
at first Every trooper understands
B the situation We are being offered
4 up as sacrifice to save the battery and
prevent gap in our battle lines. just
n as we move out there is a great cheer
ing over the news that infantry are
moving up, but we must strike blow
4 or they will come too late.
"Trotl Gallopl Chargel''
There is no need to touch horse
with spur Each and every one is
madly wild for dash into the mass
ahead. That mass is moving toward
us-a great wave just getting under
motion. When we had covered fur
long. men begin to cheer and wave
their sabers. The cheering runs up and
down the lines, and the bright sun of a
July day flashes from the steel blades
iato the eyes of the enemy. II is COM
ing! Grip the reins with firmer hand
brace your feet anew-cease cheer
. lag TO shut your teeth hard for the
shocll
There is a crash as If the side OF
Pong shed had been broken in by the
Dash of a mighty wave. Troopers are
pitched forward ont Of their saddles;
horses stumble and go down, and kick
and founder about No one can re-
member the particulars of what fol-
lowed Revolvers flash and crack;
habers sweep and thrust; horses collide
and 60 mad with the excitement. The
Feeling is that the entire body of men
s circling round and round, like an OBJ
get caught in a whirlpool. All in front |
X You are enemies. You slash at what |
ger object you discern through the !
loke and dust. You hear the notes OF |
he bugles-the cheers Of men-the !
continuous pop of revolvers-the Curl |
Dus screams which horses utter when |
FOUNDED. None of these sounds are |
4 parate and distinct. but all are /
falngled to make one general babel
We have cut our way through. We /
ave disorganized the enemy and |
hecked his advance. If the bugles
N9und the rally none of US hears it. We |
make half circle and get out of the
smoke and dust and then drive at tn
aass from the other side The shock
: not so great this time. but the fight
X Is hotter We are checked; we
rive ahead again; we seem to bear OF
the left Time is lost sight Of No
ne can say whether il is ten minutes
half an hour before we emerge from
he cloud again and find ourselves TO
le left of the battery, and the guns
ing grape and canister into the con-
used and disorganized enemy. There
tremendous yelling and cheering
ne infantry supports have come up at
sst and the musketry fire settles the
ocsi on-the enemy is driven back
quarter of an hour later the firing
eases along our front, and presently
Re get a view of the field From the
lazzles of the guns almost to the far
F1ge Of the meadow the ground IS piled !