The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-24

tHlCk utoOi bullctS, WHICH Wcfc ihiASicu
with the larger missiles Of cannon, he
encountered q sight that has seldom
been seen on the field of battle. Crouch
ing under log was littlo girl about 8
years old. who, having got caught in
among the disputants, was right in the
midst Of battlefield Maynard never
forgot the contrast between the terrified
child and the unmerciful scenes sur
rounding her. Being volunteer, he
was under no mans orders except as he
chose to obey them. Falling out of the
ranks, he went to the child, took her up
in his arms. and while bullets pinged
about them and shells screeched above
them carried her to the rear, to where
he had left Jakey.
''Here, Jakey," he said, setting her
down by the boy, ''it's time you have
sweetheart, SO I've brought you one
She comes 10 you from the field of bat
tie and probably won't stand any non
sense. So you must treat her with proper
Difference.
"Gollyr' exclaimed the boy. squar-
ing himself before the weeping girl,
with his hands in his pockets.
Take her to that house down there
and wait till / come--that is, If i ever
come, and il / don't tell my wife to
look out for this little one. and il neces-
sary provide for her. must go. There
is hard fighting at the front.
Jakey took the little girl by the hand
and led her away, while Maynard went
over to the south slope Of the ridge to
see what was going on at the right.
Standing on an eminence. he looked
down on the contending lines toward
the south.
The sun was now standing midway
between the horizon and the meridian.
The day had thus far gone without any
esporal advantage on either side. Find
ing the left strong tho Confederate com
mander was massing troops on the right
of the line Of blue. Maynard could see
them marching into position for a gi-
gantic effort
There was q momentary lull In tht
firing on the right, and Maynard thought
that from a distance he caught the
faintest sound of church bell. 1t might
have been fancy, for congregations woulo
not be likely to meet near a battlefield
and the continued roar in the center and
left would likely have prevented bel
being heard. AT any rate, it suddenly
occurred TO him that il was Sunday
morning.
Sunday morninyl What contrast
y,.$. lxaf ~ 1ou
ings he had passed 1t was near | !
o'clock, the hou- when people were as
sembling for worship, and he pictured
the neatly dressed throngs moving to
church while bells were ringing in the
belfries. All over the broad land con.
gregations were assembling, unmindful
of the struggle that was going on at
Chickamauga.
The enemy were moving to the attack.
AS Maynard glanced toward the Union
line to see if it was in condition he saw
q division face to the left and begin a
march in rear of another division, leav-
ing its place in the line defenseless,
yawning gap.
Great heavensl Some one has blum
dered.
"Haltl Go backi Great God, what
are you doing?'
Who could hear him at such distancei
Who would obey him if heard! Oh, the
agony Of sight like thatl To see men
marching not only to their own destruc-
tion, but the destruction of their COM
rades, doubtless of the whole army, and
without the power to prevent them. Oh,
for battery with which to fire smoke
over that deathtrap-to conceal It'll Oh,
for cyclone to blow dust in the eyes OF
those Confederatesl God grant that the
stupidity which prevails in war may
seize those southern generals now; thai
they may not reap this offered advan.
tage. May they be blindedl God, this IL
terriblei
''Therei They see IT. They are pre-
pairing to march through II. There they
60 Hear those cheers--that rebel yell.
They TO near it, They re in it. Our mer
are breaking on the right Of the gap.
There goes regiment, whole brigade
on the left Heavens, how those gray
coats leap forward It's splendid sight
IL they are Confederates They know
it's all up with us. The whole right o.
the army is giving way. broken, scat
tering pellmell over the field, chased
by the southerners pouring volley upor
volley after them.
"Stop and rallyl No! No one coulC
rally troops ON the breast Of Niagara
But there's crumb Of comfort-thos'
men nearest this way are bending barl
like wrought iron. They are not break
ing. Good. There faint hope for th
left. But, o Lord, what's the left wit
tho right and center gone?"
And now comes spectacle, contras
which must always stand out a splendi
monument of heroic endurance in tn
great cemetery of war-the spectacle O
an army, one half routed, gone, drive
like dry leaves before tho wind, the re
naming half holding in check for NOR
than half day force against whic
the whole had found it difficult TO con
tend. Standing, in the center Of tn
"horseshoe," the fortification Of whic
| his wisdom has constructed during th