The Red Cloud chief., 1895-04-05

OF exbilaration, but sucn are often inc
most depressed just before they are well
in the fight.
While the line Of blue climbs the
side Of the ridge all is quiet above-a
quiet that brings a suspense harder 10
bear than a scattering fire. 1t promises
q tempest when it comes. And IL comes
soon. From q concealed line near the
top suddenly there is a myriad OF ex'
plosions. Every missile known TO war
is sent down to stagger that blue D
The first crop Of human flesh lies under
the reaper.
There was pandemonium ON that hill.
side for 40 minutes. Ii was an eventfui
fight for many a man, not considering
those who were laid low by missiles OF
war. There were a few whose place 1t
was to lead in whom a constitutional
inability rendered it impossible for them
TO face such a storm. They were ordered
back, their places filled by those made OF
sterner stuff. There were soldiers III the
ranks who skulked, but their officers
drove them on. The main force Of that
reserve division Of Union troops showed
a united strength of purpose, which, If
it could be transformed to a different
field, q field of moral heroism, would
make an army Of gods.
Mark Maynard climbed with the rest.
For a moment when that storm burst
the instincts Of q human being, acting
upon him suddenly, made him recoil. A
pp,,lar ~ nyiply ra1a11aottnng flashed
before him. His position, the chance
given him TO redeem the past. the con-
sciousness that men looked to him for
strength in that trying moment-they
were all as nothing compared with one
other, one which prevented any fur
Their giving back. 1t was not a desire
for death. That was too near. 1t was
not a desire to show prowess at n mo.
ment when men were either quailing or
making records as heroes. AT that terri
BILE moment there came before him q
picture SO sweet, 50 innocent, that II
may we'll wonder how it could have up.
peared amid such frightful scenes. 1t
vas the photograph of his wife and boy.
With it flashed the thought: "All for
them. For myself, nothing"
Whether he needed this to nerve him
TO do his duty, certain it is that from
this moment he forgot danger. One idea
absorbed his entire being-that whether
he lived or died word should go back to
those he loved better than himself that
he was at least not among the flinchcrs.
Once this idea possessed him he was a
machine, n cog moving 300 wheels. He
knew nothing Of the deafening sounds;
he was oblivious to bullets or shells.
Like the picture Of the Sistine Madon.
ma was ever present the gentle face and
figure Of q oma holding up a child.
Mother and child, in the famous paint.
ing, have for centuries stood forth, q
divine light to lead the world from sin.
Mother and child, in the eyes Of Mark
Maynard, We're a divine light to lead
him out of the depths into which he had
fallen by a violation Of principle.
The time Of probation was short, but
mo- too short for Maynard's bearing to
have its effect. Among the few who
held the men together during that brief
struggle for the life of the army he took
an important part. The ridge was won,
and one of the first regiments on it was
that commanded by Colonel Mark May.
nard.
The ridge was not only won; it was
held. But who can depict the holding?
IL was by a repetition Of struggles like
the M that took it, only the gray at.
tackled, while the blue defended. Eight
times the C~onfederates charged, and
eight times they were driven back.
Night came; there was no light where.
by to make another. The ridge was in
Union keeping; the Army of the Cum.
berland was saved.
R~elinquishing his command, Maynard
rode through .. 500 dead and wounded
OF the 1900 men who climbed the hill.
side a few hours before to General
Thomas headquarters.
Have you any further commands,
general:' he asked.
''Ah, Colonel Maynard! Let me thank
you among others for your work. You
men over there have saved us. | want
you to go back to the cavalry and com.
mand II OF several forces intended to
cover u retreat. We must get back to-.
night to a safer position"
To he c~ontinurdD