Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-04-16

There WAS momentary lull In the
firing on right, and Maynard thought
that from distance he caught tho
faintest sound Of church bell. II might
have been f.,rcy, fer congregations would
not be likely to meet near battlefield,
and the continued roar in the center and
left would likely have prevented bell
being heard. At any rate, it suddenly
occurred TO him that il was Sunday
morning.
Sunday morningi What q contrast
between that and other Sunday morn
ings he had passed. 1t was near ii
O'Clock, the hour when people were as
sembling for worship, and he pictured
tho neatly dressed throngs moving TO
church while bells were ringing in the
belfries. All over the broad land con-
gregations We're assembling, unmindful
Of the struggle that was going on at
Chickamauga.
Tho enemy were moving 10 the attack.
As Maynard glanced toward the Union
line to see If il was in condition he saw
a 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 heavens! Some one has blum
dercd T"
Halt! Go back! Great God, what
arc you doing:'
Who could hear him at such distance?
Who would obey him il heard? Oh, the
agony of sight like thatl To see men
marching not only to their own destruc'
ton, but tho 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-toc conceal It'll Oh,
for n cyclone TO blow dust IN tine eyes oi
those Confoderates! God grant that the
stupidity which prevails in war may
seize those southern generals now; that
they may not reap this Offer ii advan-
tage. May they be blinded God, this is
terrible!
There! They see il. They arc pro-
pairing To march through il. There they
90. Hear those choers-that rebel ;tll.
They re uear it, They're in it, Our mon
are breaking on the right Of the gap.
There goes regiment, a whole brigade
on the leis Heavens. how those gray
coats leap forward! lisa splendid sight
il they are Confederates. They know
it's all up with US The whole right OF
The army is giving way. broken, seat
tering pellmcll over the field, cha cd
by the southerners pouring yollcy upon
vnlley after them.
stop and rallyl MOI No one could
rally troops on the breast Of Niagara
But there's "a crumb of c1miJrt-those
men nearest this way are Lenf@ug batl;
like wrought iron They are not br,ak
ing. Good. There s faint hope for the
left. But, O Lord, what's the left with
the right and center gomez
And now comes a spectacle, a contrast
which must always stand cut a splendid
monument Of heroic endurance IN the
great cemetery of war-the spectacle OF
an army, one half routed, gone, driven
like dry leaves before the wind, the re-
naming half holding in check for more
than half day force against whicn
the whole had found it difficult TO con
tend. Standing. in the center Of the
"horseshoe, the fortifcation Of which
his wisdom has constructed during the
night, General Thomas, intent upon
guiding the troops Of his own corps
with 10 word from his commander IL
chief, for time not knowing, or at
least not admitting, that the army Is by
all the rules that govern the science OF
war defeated, goes on fighting as II
there is but one Army Of the Cumher-
land, and that composed Of the troops
under his command.