The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-08-08
CHICkAMAUGA.
Continued from first page.)

CONTINUED from first page.)
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,
edo you see that regiment down there?
It seems to be short of officers. So far as
I can judge from its movements, no one
is in command. I shall have to make
an infantryman of you, though you are
Of the cavalry. 90 and lead that regi-
ment in the attack about to be made On
the ridge"
"But, general
''There is no time for butts, sir
II am 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: cap
tain, 60 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 general s
eye had caught new point Of danger
and was absorbed in it. Mounting
Madge, he 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,
cts tho cavalryman, 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. It 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 fulfil.
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 lar.
ger proportion of them are to enter
there. At the word Forward" the Skin
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
q serious cast, a dread under control
with the thought of each that in few
minutes he may be lying, pierced by g
ballet or MANNED by shell. A few
there are whose remarkable physica
nerve or in whom a natural excitablt
temperament gives them an appearance
of exhilaration, but such are often the
most depressed just before they are wei
in the fight
While the line of blue climbs thu
side Of the ridge all is quiet above;
quiet that brings suspense harder tx
bear than scattering fire. 1t promises
. tempest when it comes. And it comes
soon. From a concealed line near tn
top suddenly there is myriad Of ex
plosions. Every missile known to wa
is sent down to stagger that blue line
The first crop of human flesh lies unde
the reaper. ......,.-... .-..
There was pandemonium on that hill
side for 40 minutes. 1t was an eventfu
fight for many a man, not considering
those who were laid low by missiles O
n a