Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-01-20

ton; ahead, the old farmhouses which
sheltered no one who could march in
the ranks and fight against us. The
fragrant blossoms, the green hills, the
sunny yslties--everything told of peace,
and yet war was ut hand as the flaXen-
haired children came running to the
doors. Just below q farmhouse we
halt to water our thirsty horses at n
brook flowing lazily across the road. A
few men ride on to the house. We can
hear the voice of a woman raised in
fearful protestatiop. We can see an
old gray-haired man with child in his
arms at the door, and though his voice
is too weak to reach us we can see by
his gestures that he resents the lawless
invasion OF the premises.
Some of us ride to the right to reach
the barns, where the wagons are al
ready drawn up; some to the left
where horses are at pasture; the re-
mainder straight on up the road. Sud-
denly the bugles sound the alarm and
then warn us to rally on the center. In
one minute the scene is changed from
dreamy peace to active war. A body of
the enemy, having the same object in
view as ourselves, has come up from
the south and attacked us at sight.
Many Il saddle on our side is emptied
before we check their fierce charge and
push them back till we have room to
form. Each side has light battery.
The guns get to work almost as soon
rs the carbines The old farmhouse is
the key to the battlefield. An old man
and mother and four children are in
there, but what of it? This is war. No
one gives them thought. Shot and
shell plow through the ancient struc-
ture-bullets search out every nook and
corner. Now our right wing drives the
enemy back with cheer-now the en-
emy presses back our left and shouts in
exultation. 1t is hot fight for thirty
minutes-time enough for the dead and
wounded to number one hundred and
fifty. The reverberation of the guns
brings down shower of blossoms ut
every discharge, and the black powder
smoke floats up through the branches
and smirches and discolors and leaves
its CRIME.
Rally on the center Forward-trot
-gallop-charge"
We have broken the enemy and sent
him flying. We followed him for q
mile or more, shooting and hacking,
and then the buglcs blow the recall,
aud we cease the pursuit. There are
dead men on The dusty highway, in the
bitches, among the mayweeds and the
thistles, and dead horses almost block
the way at certain points Yes, Il hot
little fight, and we are proud of our
victory as we return to the old farm
, house. We have our dead to bury ant
our wounded to look after, and it is
only when an officer starts to enter
the house to say that it must be turned
into q shambles that the inmates are
remembered, The officer cries out anC
starts back in horror. Under the peacf
tree growing close to the back dool
lies the body of the old gray-hairet
man, father and grandfather to the
woman and the children. He mus
have been in fight when struck by {
solid shot which cut him almost in two
at the hips. He was carrying a chile
not more than two years old hugged b
his breast Her little arms were aroun(
his neck, and her face was hidden il
his bosom We unclasped the old mans
nrms and took her up She was dead
dead without wound She had diet
of terror as he sank down with her
perhaps kissing her in his last breath
And as we stood with uncoveret
heads the woman came out Grea
hcavensi but how white her face-hov
ghastly the color of her lips-how rec
the blood which dripped from he
wounded shoulder on the pink bios
SONS at her fcetl She looked ut hel
father and gasped for breath. She
looked at her youpgest-born, and hel
throat swelled up and her eyes dilateC
until her look frightened us.