The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1895-06-05

tam, 20 Nlln NOlOuti way hhiN Nii'
place him in command of that regi
ment," pointing And let there be no
mistake If the order is questioned, say
that the exigencics of critical moment
demand that it be obeyed."
Maynard tried to speak the grateful
words that rose to his lips, but either no
could not or he saw that the general
eye had caught a 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 q murmur ran along the line,
but some one recognized him-onc who
knew his mettle-and word was passed,
"It's the cavalryman, Colonel May
nard"
None cared at that critical moment
for his recent trial so long as there was
one ut their head who could lead them
in what they all saw must be desperate
effort.
Amid the incessant thundors 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 fulfil
ity OF so presumptuous move.
All is ready. The line is formed. Sew
enty live 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 Skin
mishers move out into the thicket that
covers the side Of the disputed ridge,
followed by tho 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 tho faces in the ranks,
most Of them, if not all, stamped with
q serious cast, dread under control,
with the thought of each that in few
minutes he may be lying, pierced by a
bullet or MANNED by she'll A few
there are whose remarkable physical
nerve or in whom q natural excltable
temperament gives them an appearance
OF exhilaration, but such are often the
most depressed just before they are well
in the fight.
While the line Of blue climbs the
side Of tho ridge all is quiet above--a
quiet that brings suspense harder to
bear than a scattering fire. 1t promises
tempest when it comes. And it comes
soon. From concealed line near the
top suddenly there is a Myriad Of OK
plosions. Every missile Known to war
is sent down to stagger that blue line.
Tho first crop of human flesh lies under
the reaper.
There was pandemonium on that hill
side for 40 minutes. 1t was an eventful
fight for many q man, not considering
those who were laid low by missiles Of
war. There were a few whose place it
was to lead in whom constitutional
inability rendered it impossible for them
TO face such q storm. They were ordered
back, their places filled by those made Of
sterner stuff. There were soldiers in 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
IL could be transformed to different
field, field Of moral heroism, would
make an army Of gods
Mark Maynard climbed with the rest.
For q moment when that storm burst
the instincts Of human being, acting
upon him suddenly, made him recoil. A
number of quick recollections flashed
before him. His position, the chance
given him to redeem the past, the con-
seriousness that men looked TO him for
strength in that trying moment-they
were all as nothing compared with one
ther giving back. 1t was not desire
for death. That was too near. 1t was
not desire 10 show prowess at a mo-
ment when men were either quailing or
making records as heroes At that terri
BILE moment there came before him a
picture so sweet, SO innocent that one
may well wonder how it could have ap-
peared amid such frightful scenes, 1t
was 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
abCorhgd his autire baiuO.-that yVbat hor
he lived on died word should go back to
those he loved better than himself that
he was Mt least not among the flinchers.
Once this idea possessed him he was q
machine, cog moving 300 wheels. He
knew spthing Of the deafening sounds;
he was oblivious to bullets or shells.
Like tn picture Of the Sistine Madon.
ma was ever present the gentle face and
figure Of woman holding up child.
Mother and child, in the famous paint
ing have for centuries stood forth, a
divine light to lead tho world from sin.
Mother and child, in the eyes Of Mark
Maynard, were a divine light TO lead
him out Of the depths into which lac had
fallen by a violation Of principle.
The timo of probation was short but
not 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.