The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-08-18

, called. The old regiments came into line
like the Strengthening OF lash and
dropped to the ground, thereby saving
the exposure of broad trout to chance
shots, until there was work to do. The
Seventeenth was kept standing while
guides were thrown out and the ranks
dressed up till the adjutant's keen eye
saw the foremost button on every coat
in accurate alignment, before it was per-
mitted to follow the example. These
tactics were continued with every change
of position till every veteran in the di-
Fresh fish" could parade under fire.
The boys caught onpland exhibited their
best work, and symptoms of swell head
on account of the attention it attracted.
An officer tells of an unconscious def
erence to higher power on one of these
occasions Being in the right wing of
the regiment, when dressing on the
colors he must pass to the left of his
company, align it, and return to his
place. The companywas aligned, the order
Front" given, and as bullets were hum
| ming headed "Steady boys, the bullet
you hear can't hurt" and started to return.
CHANGING across to regiment that was
hugging the ground he saw an officer
walking half bent in front of it, The
instant thought was, that's ridiculous
sight for your men," just then some
thing whispered "Look at yo urself," and
he found his own nose as near the ground
as locomotion would allow. Il came up
with a yank, he said, land the tough
est march l ever made was back to my
place before those grinning men,
The duty of breaking the enemy's
line had shifted to the right wing, and
desultory operations occupied the left.
Threatening demonstrations at the edge
of the woods were cautioned of the dan
gers of an advance by salvos of artillery
A 10 10 l,a
wounded of Meade's advance were met in
the same way, and only increased their
number. The conflict rolled along the
line, rising and falling at the will of
commanders The calling hum of bull
lets was continuous, and the peculiar
"spang" of the sharp shooters missile
signified that official insignia could be
distinguished and would be safer in
motion. When the sun began to robe
itself in vestments of gorgeous color for
royal advent to more peaceful scenes a
concentration of batteries on the hill
hurled and angry good night" in clouds
of bursting invective. A loud-mouthed
response was more effectlVe as revealed
by heavy explosion and
A Huge Pillar of Smoke
rising high above the trees, and then all
warlike sounds died away.
The exemplars of pomp and pageantry
| were sorry sight, with uniforms
patched all over with mud, faces and
hands grimy with powder and smoke,
and bodies worn and weary from crown
to heel. There was no toprail in sight,
or ration to serve The ridges of the
Gathered cornfield on which the regiment
| now stood, wet with recent rain and trod
| into uncouth shapes, were stiffenlng in
the frosty air. Deceitful beds OF Shiny
mud lay in wait between the rows for
/ unwary feet to press up the excess of
/ water into low backed shoes and load
| them with filthier mixture of sacred
| soil than Yankee dictionaries had words
| to describe. a single blessing was youch-
safed. The stagnant ditches--tramped
| over and back many times during the
day,-held ample store of half melted
snow to cool parched throats Despite
of ALL grim jolIity held sway while the
men were preempting the least plastlc
! intervals for their biyouac. ,
| Suddenly an unwonted sound from the
far left caught their ears. It came
swiftly on, cleaving the air like the wing
of huge night bird, and whirled along
its enfilading course over the ranks INTO
the distance, leaving sensation OF awe
that no shrapnen or shell had yet pro
voked. A babel of voices, discussing the
strang visitant was hushed by return