Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-07-28
CoprRieATIn 1854 BY AalAcAN pRfss AssoesArloN

be leaned over in the saddle, caught her
with both hands, and next instant she
was on the saddle before him, and the
horse was flying back to the Federal
lines. The woman fought and screamed.
and fragments of bursting shell whizzed
and whirrcd around and above horses
and riders, but they dashed into the
lines unhurt, and tho gallant Iescuer
was directed to continue down tho road
until the woman could be placed beyond
danger.
Turn quick to the south! You will
never see a grander spectacle than this.
The Confederate command, divided into
three divisions, with double lines dressed
as If on parade. has received the order
to advance. They had waited for Custer
to charge, but the chevalier was also a
strategist. His artillery, being better
served, was creating the most havoc,
and he could afford to delay. Look!
Look! As the gray horsemen begin to
move Clusters guns, which have been
grouped in front of his center, timber
up and move at a gallop-four OF them
two to the right and two to the left.
In three minutes they are on his TANKS
and loaded with grapeshot and canister.
The Confederate battery does not follow
the example, aud as the horsemen move
forward the guns are useless.
'Trot! Gallopl Charge!'
You hear the bugles sound the order,
and you sec 1000 sabers flash I'M the
onpsof M D nan l,o,so,,.<,, kb,nJa- <x,ax
the plain. Give them credit for bravery
even to recklessness. Before the horses
are off a-trot the murderous grapeshot
are knocking them down by dozens, and
as the artillerists change to canister
1900 Federal carbines also open fire.
Rally! Reform! Forward"
Above the roar of cannon and mus
kerry you can catch tho notes of the
bugles, and as the smoke lifts here and
there in spots the eye can detect the
gray horsemen seeking to obey the calls.
They do rally. They do reform. They
do push forward under that terrible fire,
but only to be broken up and swept
aside. The Federal artillerists get the
order to cease firing. the crackle of mus
kerry dies away, and five minutes later
the smoke has drifted off, ard the eye
can scan the plain. Beaten, broken,
slaughtered, and yet the gray horsemen
arc trying to rally again!
Now is the moment, and Custer has
waited for it. Only the dead and
wounded are left behind as he moves
out, as his entire command sweeps
straight across the plain and falls upon
tho broken and disorganized enemy.
They rally here and there by the score
and meet the shock. They fight singly
and by twos and threes. Men wait and
die rather than run away. Brave men,
all of them-men whose deeds will be
spoken of around our campfres for years
to come. The only criticism will be
that they did not have leader equal to
Custer in the murderous art of war.
Night has fallen, and the fight is over.
There are prisoners to be guarded,
wounded TO be cared for. dead to be
counted for the official report and spoils
to be gathered up. The clouds have
driven away to the east, and the canopy
of heaven is studded with bright stars.
There is no moon. and the blood spots
on the snow gradually fade away and
are lost TO sight.
Hark! That sound is the cry Of
wounded men blended into one great
wall Tor succor. 1t is freezing cold, and
they are in torture. Hank again! That
grewsome sound rising at intervals
above the wailing comes from the
wounded horses. They are also begging
and pleading. Some are limping about
among the dead and wounded men as il
seeking their masters, pausing now and
then to rub their cold noses against
body. while others are lying down and
lift their heads only to utter whinny
which tells OF fright and pain. Thank
God that nigh and darkness come to the
battlefield to hide its horrorsl In the
darkness we shall search out all the
wounded, but we shall not be forced to
look upon the mangled dead-mangled
by shot and shell and grape and the lion
boots of the charging horses until re-
semblance to humanity is lost and one
cries out in horror.