Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-12-21

ress of the sham battle, preparatory 10
an attack on the right. A line Of skir-
nishcrs were lying along the edge Of u
ditch behind some furzc bushes and
smnll underbrnsh; the infantry COM
mands were being wheeled around into
position: some aides were ga!loping
ncross toward group of officers In the
distance. and the guns Of the light ar
tilery commands were moving up ms
support on the one side. an attacking
force on the other. The opposing force
was partly hidden by heavy line Of
trees. and we could just distinguish u
line of moving infantry by the CLINT OF
the sun on their bayonets.
Lord. mani" sand Stapleton, pushing
his hat back and watching intently; "lf
| had command of these troops ! would
fail back to that angle You see yondcr
and order the attack to be made on this
side. Those skirmishcrs are badly
pasted. Don't you see how effective n
sudden rush down that road could I've
made: Why. the boys could cross over
the open nj u double quick. charge on
their flank and get under cover OF the
woods before that artillery supporting
column could come up. IL these blue
coats were Smiths corps and my old
New York 18th, wouldn't they churg.
prcttily down on the rebs!"
"lIold up" | said. what are you
talking about! Those boys are not
your 18th. of Smiths corps, br. / rather
think they could charge just ms effect
lively. IN fact. you remember when
Smiths and llancock's corps, your New
York 18th included. made those AS
slults ON our lines before Petersburg
there were only nj first 1900 men until
sc came up. Kcrshaw's division OF
Andcrson's corps. You We're 10000
strong then. and l;enurcgnrd only had
10000 to oppose you then, and yet h,
held you in check pretty effectively"
Temporarily" answered Stnpleton.
with an ill-tempered, ugly air. "but we
dislodged you that night and took four
of your batteries, you remember"
mot much of "a feat" retor'ed sharp
". Those lines we were occupying.
to he properly manned. required force
of $4,000 men. When you took those
batteries you had been reinforced by
Warrcn's corps, and you were 90,OUo
men. ! wouldn't boast of what you ac-
complished those three days il were
you"
at was tall fighting. that's fact"
said Stapleton after n pause. shifting
his position to see where the troops
were moving to. I'VE lost more than
10000 men In those assaults. But we
would have carried your lines the next
day. all the same. 10 Beauregard had
not withdrawn during the night. You
fellows were d glad TO get behind
those breastworks further back"
"Yes, and you fellows were glad not
10 bc again ordered up in an assault to
lie slaughtered"
There we paused, while the bugle gave
some commands TO the troops TO move
up.
"Dick. old man" said Stapleton. mop
p,ng his forehead, while | ner,ously
chewed the end of my cigar in n dry
smoke. Come. let up on that"
We agreed not to go back to those
great old fighting days.
Look there. First-rate! Pretty
good! Go il, boys!"
The line had dashed forward and a
spirited engagement cnsued. The crack
Of the sharpshooters' rifles was distinct
above the yolleys OF the infantry, and
the artillery swept over the field, while
the handsome Louisiana field artillery
wheeled round in position on the other
SIDE 10 confront it.
'liurrah!" shouted.
look ut that company" said Sta
pleton. with eager impatience. What
a fool thing to do! Why, they'll be cut
TO pieces. Oh. II those boys were under
mel"
Good" / shouted, rs the artillery
cashed up in fine shape, unlimbered and
took possession. Fire, boys! Give 1t
to them"
Then Staplcton and I looked ut each
other and laughed.
Come on" said, lets 40 back to
dinner. Staplcton, you IRE an awful
fool Tor man of your years"
"Yes." acquiesced Stapleton. "I'm
MS big an ass MS you are, Dick. The idea
If getting excited over u sham fight
and wanting TO maui each other, be-
cause 80 years ago Smiths corps and the
18th New York were rcpulsed with some
others by Kershaw's division and few
nirasley confederntes-"
shut up!" said, rubbing my rhcu-
unutic knees. 81 hope Watson will give
as some of that Yquem you are so fond
Of for thinner. and that you will have an
dttacl; of the govt tomorrow. a fell
low like you don't deserve 10 live. You
should have been numbered among
YOUR 10000 dead and wounded"
"Shut up" said Stapleton. m. o.
st;p,au n..u,nctnt