Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-12

They're making good fight every
where" observed Maynard.
"Let me see. You say you were call
ed upon to shoot woman. She was
some relative to this Captain
"Now, Colonel Fitz Hugh. A sister. "
"That made it pretty hard for you,
colonel. But soldier must do his du-
ty:"
"Have the Confederates possession Of
that ridge, general?"
'They have" "
"And are our men going to retake it,"
"They're going to try"
Maynard swept his eye over tho posi-
tion.
"They must take it."
The general shot quick glance at
the degraded officer.
"You think it Important"
"The fate of this part of an army
it can't be called whole one-depends
upon it.
"You are right, colonel. We must
take that ridge or before nightfall be
flying over this field like the right and
center, or, what is worse. be captured.
This is not the first time have observ-
ed that your eye is made for war. "
Maynard had become so engrossed
that he did not hear. He almost forgot
his chiefs presence.
"Ihaven'ta a command to lead up that
hill. but have arms to carry musket.
I'll 90 in the ranks where I've been since
the fight began" and he started in the
direction of the reserve.
"Stay, colonel" called the general.
Maynard turned and walked back to
where the general was standing. He
waited for him to speak further, but he
did not. Minutes passed, while May
nard watched the absorbed commander,
who in turn was watching the line form
ing below.
"Colonel Maynard" he said at last,
"do you see that regiment down there!
It seems to be short of officers. So far as
I can Judge from it's movements, no one
is in command. I shall have to make
an infantryman Of you, though you are
Of the cavalry. Go and lead that regi-
ment in the attack about to be made on
tho ridge"
"But, general
"There is no time for butts, sir. "
"I am q civilian, with no right to
command"
"You are in the service till the find
ing of the court that condemned you
has been approved" Then to an aid,
who rode up at that moment: Gap
tain, 90 with Colonel Maynard and
place him in command Of that regi-
ment," pointing. "And let there be no
mistake. If the order is questioned, say
that the exigencies of critical moment
demand that it be obeyed."
Maynard tried to speak the grateful
words that rose to his lips, but either he
could not or he saw that the generals
eye had caught new point Of danger
and was absorbed in it. Mounting
Madge, hs rode away with the staff Off
Ger.
There was wonder on the faces Of the
men who saw new commander IN the
uniform of private of cavalry put tenn
porarily in place to lead them. For a
moment murmur ran along the line,
but some one recognized him-one who
knew his mettle-and word was passed,
"It's the cayalryman, Colonel May
nard."
None cared at that critical moment
for his recent trial so long as there was
one at their head who could lead them
in what they all saw must be desperate
effort
Amid the incessant thunders that
burst everywhere around the line OF
that horseshoe curve Of battle is one
place where there is no firing. 1t is at
the ridge, where men are forming at its
base for desperate attempt, and on its
top others are preparing to receive them
with lead enough to teach them the futll-
ity Of SO presumptuous move.
All is ready. The line is formed. Sew
enty-five hundred men are about to push
toward the realms of death, and a lar
ger proportion of them are to enter
there. At the word Forward" the skir-
mishers move out into the thicket that
covers the side of the disputed ridge,
followed by the regular battle line, all
climbing the hill together.
Glance the eye along the line. There
is the officer, his mind intent on keep
ing his men up to the trying work before
them. The officer intent in keeping him
self steady before the eyes of the line he
leads. There are the faces in the ranks,
most of them, if not all, stamped with
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