The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-07-04

THE SAME STUFF IN CAMP.
the case may be-down TIE read toward the
visible enemy who fires "A few shots and then
falls hack. Further ahead the road is hsrri.
caded, and in such place that the charging
column must get close to it before it can he
seen. and the enemy is strongly posted behind
! it. OF course, the cayalyyman takes his dose
Of lead and falls back to dismount and adj
vance again on foot-he cannot get at the
enemy mountcd-an the result of that
charge was some more empty saddles and
dead horses.
The cavalry is now sent forward as infantry,
in a skirmish-lne stretched ont On both sides
of the road as far as they can reach, then
forward" ANY object that may give
shelter from the enemy's bullets is made use
OF. but il there is none it makes no difference;
! forward it goes, anyhow, pressing rs close up
to the enemy's position as possible. AS the
enemy's line is approached closer and closer,
the pop, pop" is increased, and things be-
come more and more interesting. Al last, the
enemy find il getting too hot for them and
the force they have there. and concludes TO fall
back. perhaps over an open stretch of country
or fields, Whore their main line Is in strong
position behind l.reastworhs, and the cavalry
follows on foot, popping away; they have
now succeeded in locating the eneny's line,
but not his strength.
While this is going or, az General, with
his staff, comes galloping np t. some elevated
spot in the rear and takes Il look at the situa-
ton through his field glass, and soon Aids
and Orderlies are seen. On a brisk galiop,
going 10 the rear with some orders from the
General After little while here comes
noble battery Of artillery on brisk gallop,
going so fast that il seeias the wheels are not
touching the ground, and gets into position
Ga some high ground, quickly unlimbers,
loads, and boom, boom, boom" sounds in
a laundering voice from the mouths Of the
war-dogs. and the cavalryrlan cheers as the
first discharge of the battery passes over his
head and goes bang into the enemy's line.
Artillery is generally the frst 10 come 10
the assistance OF cavalry in developing the
enemy's line, as it can move faster than in
iantry. They have not long to wait for the
infantry, either; it is not sticking in the mud
now. The racket in the front has been heard
by the boys, and they have shaken the mud
off their feet, and they come on q double
quick, and form line TO Tie right and left and
depley their slliImishers.
OF course, the cavalryman is now relieved,
and takes his horse, mounts and assumes the
orally is, after turning the little row he he's
now commenced over to the infantry aud
artillery, TO move TO the right or left flank
and commence to feel for the enemy's
wings" and ascertain how far they may
extend in either direction. If is found that
the enemy's line extends much further to the
right and left than ii is possible TO stretch the
troops now at hand, a delay generally occurs
which is very trying, not 20 the men, because
they do not know what is the matter and
simply wonder why they are not ordered
forward, but TO the General commanding who
knows that the troops he requires TO COM
plete has line are far back on the road ard can
not possibly be up until the next morning,
and an attack by the enemy before that
time would De disastrous TO his command
a bold appearance is kept up, however,
and diminishing continued by the troops now
IN the field, and if not routed by the enemy
they Will remain in that position during the
night; and this time, rain OF not, they are sure
TO have 10 do without coffee or perhaps supper
entirely except those who happen to have
something IN their hayersaclls, as they will not
be allowed to build a fire that night, and
that causes good deal of murmuring among
the soldiers, who do not understand the
critical position they are in and why they are
not relieved to get their supper During the
night a stir in the rear is observed by the
Yatchful men in the line facing the enemy.
and campfires are seen to spring up here and
there through the woods, which indicates the
arrival Of our troops, and the next morning
as soon as daylight appears long lines of in
fa,ntry and batteries Of artillery are seen
moving forward TO their assigned positions
IN the line. And now probably before the
sun is half hour high the ball - has really
commenced, the music becoming quicker and
quicker as il progresses, accompanied by the
bass notes of the artillery, and the dancing
suppose is the forward and backward swings
of The lines as they charge or are Iepulsed.
A sketch of campaign viii always bring
back recolleClions TO the soldier "who YVES in
il 30 years ago" Of how he felt under differ
ent circumstances incident TO war The
battle, when he is once in il, is 50 exciting that
very little time is found fer the hair to rise
on his head and the chill TO run down his
back; but if be is 80 unfortunate as 10 be
placed in a position where he must remain
for considerable while under fire and not
able or allowed to return compliments, if his
hair does not then Iisea little on his head and
a chill move slowly over his back, be is of
very good stuff indeed.
standing ready waiting orders q TO 20 in u is
found close in rear of the main line-of-battle.
where the wounded are-being carried out on
the stretchers and the ambulances are moving
slowly along with their ugly blood-staine
stletchers hanging on The sides. Any soldier
Will feel a chill at such sight, and be willing
to move on. If the battle is successful and
the enemy retreating he is flushed with the
victory and does not take much notice Of the
dark and ugly side of the picture. The
comrades who have been wounded are cared
for by friends as soon as possible and the
dead are buried, and the victory is another
step towards peace.
If it ends in defeat and retreat it is quite
different He is disheartened. and sullenly
moves toward the rear; his dead and wound
ed comrades have been LETT on the battlefield
TO the mercy of the enemy, which TO the
wounded means Andersonylle or Libby
prison, if they should be so lucky as TO
recover from their wounds. He knows also
that he is in danger every moment Of being
disabled and dropped behind to fall into the
hands of the enemy. He must, however,
continue fighting as he moves back, but ali
he can accomplish by his best efforts is to