The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-04-18

OCnef nau Dcon captured 10y tho CnCmv
So tho morning and tho afternoon pass
cd, and when evening foil but S, 900
Confcdcrates had been thrown across
What was to havo been executed on
Friday, tho 18th Of September, must
bo deferred till the noxt day Will it
then bo too late?
Tho moon is lighting up tho fold, tho
woods, tho SUBMITS of tho two ridges
inolosing tho valley of tho Chickamauga
and 100, 600 soldiers. Tho air is cold
and crisp, and n,yrads of campliros arc
scattered over the valley as reflection
OF tho starry heavens upon tho bosom of
q lako. All night tho moon CLEANS upon
the stool of tho two slccpless armies.
the Confcdcratos pushing across tho
Chickamauga, the Unionists marching
to coyor their unprotected left. Many q
soldier casts his ego up into tho scrcno
heavens and remarks tho Qucon of night
looking down upon him, so palo, SO
cold, so dead, as if in moclicry Of his
own animate being and prophetic Of
what may como for him Oh tho morrow
From tho southwark comes tho tramp
Of dust covered mon in bluo. At their
sets is to talo first rank among tho he
rocs Of Chickamauga. Thomas is leading
his men from distant point far beyond
Crittendcn to tho exposed left and rear,
to tho Chattanooga road-tho road com
manding tho limo of communication Of
tho Army Of tho Cumberland it must
be forced march, for the timo is short
and tho distance is great
From tho eastward tho Confcdcratcs
arc pushing across tho Chickamauga.
Livery available passage is occupied, but
there Is little left Of the bridges, and il
is slow and hazardous work at tho
fords. Largo bodies of men arc like
streams. They flow eaSil; across open
countries. but become ch0bod in narrow
ways. Yet the work goes on 1t is a
long nlght--lonS for these men Wadins
through water or standing in tho chilly
hours past midnight in wet clothing 1t
Ia All ovcntful night, for if they get
across i'll sufficient force, and the way,
is still unblockod III yesterday, tho fate
Of tho Union army is sealed.
At midnight Maynard lay under a
tree trying to catch some sleep. Tho OK
ertion of the day would have brought it,
for ho was exhausted, but his position
as to the army with which ho had no
place was burning him like hot iron
q fow days before, and he would have
boen leading his brigade through these
stirring scenes. Now ho was not even q
private soldier. He was an outcast, q
wretch too dctostablo for tho respect
even Of monial cooks and strikers, of
toamstcrs, Of tho sraspinE horde Of az
my followers, whose object was TO cheat
tho soldier and rob the dead.
Tho moon, finding Il convenient orcn-
ing i'll the houGha ahovo hiln, looked al
him in Way th&t in IL measure uuictct
him. What an UhScuc0 &C turmoil ol
her surface! No guns roar in hoy val
| leyS; no armies contend for the posses
| sion OF her rinSGI ridges 1'ho though
for moment chased away his desir,
for oblivion. Eo shrdIcrcd at her moth
1nSness. Tho scenes through which h(
was passing seemed far preferable. He
was in tho midst Of mans coveted &c.
tion. Whilo that lasted he could not foy
long bo plunged in despair. Thank heav-
ell, ho was permitted to Scok solace in
such turmoil, such roaring of guns and
yelling Of mon as had como and were
coming
Toward morning his thoughts became
less intense, less clear. Tho sounds
coming from Il troop of horses picketed
Hear became moro and moro confused.
Tho snorcs of mcr, resting after day
Of hard fighting lost their vigor The
branches above him twined indistinctly.
He slept.
Flo was awakened by tho sound of 0
gun. 1t was broad day. He started NJ
and listened. Then camo another dull
boom, then another, and in Il fow min
utcs thoro was the rapid firing of q bat
Ito OH the left Surely thai IS not the
little body of cavalry in whose ranks ho
had fought tho day before.
Mounting, ho rodo toward it through,
@ partly wooded, partly open country.
Tho folds were gray, but tho woods
wcro still green. Then there was the
odOr Of tho morning in tho country and
tho chirping of birds hunting for their
breakfast. 1t would not bo long before
smell Of Gunp0wd2r, before tho chirpinp
OF tho birds w"nld lo drowned by tho
sounds Of nluskolry and artillory.
Meeting an aid-dc-cHmp riding at
full speed toward the south, he called
ont, pointing in tho direction Of the
firing, which Eo co0il noW discern was
OH or near the Chattanooga road:
''Who's thnlc:'
"Old Pap, with two divisions" "
Maynard uttered un exclamation Of
surprise and pleasure.
'ItOW did he oct ihrrcfs