The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-10


at the major expecting him 10 fall. but
he remained upright. He seemed dazcd
and bewildered. and did not appear 10 be
hurt. FOR n moment c0a'u nQ' nm Nmoe
flashed across me. Not one OF those SIX
men could make ny his mind 70 aim
al the major Every bullet had flown
lender had not shot az all.
The Colonel was purple with rage. He
drew his pistol and for a moment /
thought h. himself was going 10 shoot
But before he could make up his mind
what 10 do. and before the regiment could
realize just what had happened. mes
scnger rode headiong into the camp and
Jumped down from his horse at the Col
oners side. He was splasned with mud
from head TO foot and his trembling
horse foa1led at the mouth.
Are you Colonel Hendricks" he asked.
Il am"
We'll. then. the General sends you word
by me that he's left you here alone and
that you're 10 hold this hill ill he comes.
The enemyll be- here In nve minutes
I've had n race with en-. ! can tell you.
They'll outnumber you three TO one, out
the general says he knows the Forlorn
Regiment. He says II you'll hold en- Tor
two hours. he'll have EN- surrounded
and beaten. That's all. He'll be here in
two hours"
hat. put spurs 10 the bloody sides Of MS
horse. and rode off as fast as he had
come
There was not moment TO be lost. The
major was sent 10 the rear with MS
hands still tied. Preparations were made
for instant action. The Colonel was
everywhere, sending out scouts. drawing
up companies, giving instructions 10 Off
GERS. ! remember how stern his face
looked as he rode up 10 me and grasped
me by the shoulder.
Your name is Atkins. isn't it?" ne
"Yes, sir" said I.
We'll Atkins, you're young and spry:
Climb UP in that highest tree there and
sing out when YOU see the enemy"
But he had hardly finished speaking
when our vedettes came flying IN, shout
Ing that the enemy wcs coming.
The colonel drew US up In three ranks
on the hillside. l was in the rear rank.
There vas more than one among us who
rest. Colonel Hendricks was splendid;
but he could not do everything; and oh.
II used to be grand to see those two
work together on the battlefield. Well,
the poor major was out OF the night this
time, and now we must just make the
best OF II.
Company after company. the Federal
troops marched out from the shelter Of
the trees and drew up In line Of battle.
When a whole regiment had formed no
more companies appeared. and l remem-
Der n grin went along our line at the
idea of one regiment undertaking 10 dis
lodge Us from our position.
But the delay was only mOmentary
Soon more companies issued from the
wood, then faster and faster they came,
the sun glistening on their bayonets
up. After these, two squadrons Of caval-
~. Our general must have been misin-
formed az to their numbers.
/ could see Colonel Hendricks smile
III y Nr4rr - rogtg
TO receive definite orders. He had had
them this time. He was ordered 10 hold
the hill for two hours, and hold IT he
would. We all knew We were In for
splendid fight
The enemy advanced in four columns
keeping the cavalry in the rear. When
they came within range they halted and
opened fire. This was Just what We
wanted. Our three ranks gave them
tremendous fire in return. 1t was glo-
rious 10 see the sheets of flame burst cue
cessivey from the first. second, ana thlrq
lines. When we in the third rank had
fired the first rank was ready again; and
we kept up a steady blaze for ten min
utes. Then the enemy fell back slowly
10 the woods again.
I can see Colonel Hendricks now as he
looked when the Federal troops began TO
give back He was in the seventh heaV-
en- He would have been In the eghth II
he could only have given the word 10
charge. for his fighting blood was w. and
was clearly his duty TO delay the action
az long as possible so he restrained him.
self, and we waited.
Although we had had the best OF II
so far. we had suffered considerably.
The first and s second ranks especially had
been thinned out badly. and We had 70
I'll the vacancies from ours, tho4gh
was stll left in the third rank. J Ielt
pretty bad because Ike Thompson had
dropped l had fought beside him for
three years, and now he was dead with
four bullet holes in him. II almost al
ways took three or four bullets to Kill
one Of our men.
If the colonel wanted 10 try the bayonet,
II scented that he was not to be disap-
pointed. As soon as the Federals could
form in an attacking. column they set
out on the double-quick. They were evil
IDENTIFY good soldiers. for they were upon
us in almost no time. We could only
give them two good volleys before they
were at close quarters with us.
They broke through our front rank as
If II were made Of paper The second
rank held for a while, but soon that was
obliged to give back also; at least on
the left where I was: Our right he 20
managed to keep the men steady.
our third line would have gone TOO.
but suddenly We heard shout. and
Major Freeland came bursting in amons
us How he had escaped no one knew
His sword had been taken from MIN the
night before but he had snatched a gun
from a wounded man in the rear. His voice
rang out among the tummt as 1t had
done hundred times before, and we
drank in the sound like wine.
"Dovn with them. Down with them.
Follow me- boys" he cried. and at every
shout a man fell. We took courage ard
the Federals began 10 give place. l never
saw a man use a bayonet as the MAJOR
did that day. Every blow was death.
The enemy retIoated at last not with the
r, sh. ike raw troops, but stubbornly ana
slowly like old soldiers, who Y ere com
irg again II was long time before
we shock them off completely.
When they had at last Withdrawn
what q wretchcd-lookirg set of men it
was that they left behind thcml Stag
rering grcups among the dead Of both
sides, ragged. almost every nan wounded
md bleeding our regiment was indeed |
fcrlorn. Not more than fourth part |
OF us were left standing ! was the
orly man 1 could see, who was not seri-
on slv ounded, and I had bullet hole
In nv cheek. and bayonet thrust in my
cg. Tho Majors right arm hung help |
ess but he had found a sword now |
and was grasping IL In his left hand |
rne blood was streaming down the Colo |
cells forehead. Only one OF our captains
gas alive. A pretty set Of men to re-
,uIsc four regiments. And the next time
hey we're going 10 use their cavalry; |
could see them forming for attack |
behind the infantry III.
The enemy now sent us an officer with |
/ flag of truce TO receive our SURRENDER |
,ut the Colonel sent him back with
rand fighter, but he could never under
tand the courtesies Of war. He formed us
II two lines now; two short lines or |
gorrded trtmt 'irg. desperate men; ana |
We waited for our fate. We had no nope |
II help The hght had not lasted for |
nd No