The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1894-04-14

ing MS canteen to the colonies mouth
Yes" answered the officer befor
he drank. You'll find one of tn,
dead color bearers on it,"
Can you walk, curnell"
mo, I'm done for this time, Davy
Try to get away with the flag"
Davy crawled away among tn,
dead. 1t was horrible, but the chile
was now hardened, and he lifted frs
one, then another. 1t was SO darl
he. could hardly distinguish objects
but his n of touch was keen.
Ah, there it was at last. AS he
felt the silken folds and tassels of
the flag the boys eyes glistened. II
had been torn from the staff and Sc
creted by the color bearer. Davy
pulled it away and rolled it into
as small a compass as he could
and crept back to the colonel. He
placed the water canteen close to his
hand, then up the ravine he crawled
on hands and knees to reconnoiter.
He was so small the outlying pickets
would hardly see him. A footstep
approached, and he crouched low.
Blessed if it amt a sentry" he
muttered. I'm inside the Johnnies'
lines"
The soldier, in a rude butternut
suit, passed near and disappeared in
the darkness. Foot by foot Davy
crept back to the ravine. He heard
a low groan a little to the left and
whispered, us that you, curnelll"
Howard feebly answered.
I'm ken back fer YOU"
The officer reused. Deuce take
you, boy. Didn't l order you to AZ
ry back the fag9 Back now!'
Dis amt the place whut l left you
in" Davy continued. Are yer able
to crawl"
mo, l tried and had to give up"
Yer got on a good bit, dough.
Hold on er mint. Some of de boys
had whisky dis mornin."
Davy crept silently away again,
and by and by he was back.
dis is brandy, l guess" he said,
putting a silver flask into the colonel's
hand.
you've saved my life again, Da-
Wy" the colonel said after a draft.
"Mebbe," said the boy. Now fer
q move. Give me der revolver"
Davy crept forward on hands and
knees, and Howard painfully set him
self to follow. His arm was broken.
He had a bullet in his shoulder. A
fragment of the shell had torn his
side. One leg was shattered by a
bullet, and he felt as if his head had
been shot off. Slowly and with tor
ture he dragged along, Davy a pace
OF two in advance. Suddenly the
boy stopped,
Seer" he whispered, ''dere's de
sentry bout so yards in front"
They We're approaching a broken
fence which surrounded one of the
little gardens near the fork of the
Hanover road.
Davy crawled away in the dark
ness.
The picket-one of Cobb's sharp.
shooters-was staggering up and
down with a heavy tramp, half
asleep, dead tired with the day $ fight.
Davy crept up n~oiselessly, his prac-
tice as a wharf rat standing him in
good stead.
The picket approached, dragging
his steps wear1ly, then turned again,
walked unsteadily, stopping and go
ing on again.
Davy felt secure, and he fastened
back.
Wed better git a move on us
now" he said quickly.
They crawled safely across the
fence and across the road for about
200 yards, when they were stopped
abruptly by the sound of approach
ing steps.
Just then the faint light from the
stars came out, and Davy shouted
out for JOY and rose to his feet.
"Der's one of der boys!'
The corporal of the picket line
came up at the double quick. Colo
mel Howard was recognized and a
messenger sent for an ambulance,
which conveyed him to the field hos
pital, and Davy set off for Fredericks-
burg at a limping ran.
1t was nearly midnight when he
found the shattered remnants of the
regiment. There was but a handful
OF tho gallant red legged fellows left.
They went into the fight at Marye's
Hill over 800 strong. There were
just POS men bivouacked on Hanover
road. Gallant Harry Egbert, the ma
jor. was in command, with three cap
tains and seven lieutenants-the sur
vivors of the officers.
Davy approached the major, salut-
cd and stood at attention.
Il brought yer the old flag, ma
he piped in his thin, boyish
voice as he uncovered the colors. all
and stained.
Discipline was set at naught. The
men caught up the boy and tossed
aloft, while a roar of cheers
went up from the whole brigade. It
was the only flag Palmer's men had
lost. The surrounding survivors of
Kimball's and Andrews
origades took up the cheers.
Yah, femme down." laughed the
10Y. yer a set of chumps, yer air.
Yer should a never lost her KING.