Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-09-02

@5zzaesassAgTTHI.,, g mist rlSlnS IfOm
M ~ ytaFA the historic river,
a mighty host of men make ready for
battle. Above the town is a plain
beyond the plain chain of hills. Here
above the town is Lees center. At in
tervals along the hills, covering a front
Of six or seven miles, he has 800 pieces
OF artillery.
Nine-tenths Of the men in blue realize
the situation. An army of $4,000 men,
entrenched in strong position and hop
ing to be attacked are to be grappled
with almost without artillery. AS the
dawn grows brighter we in the streets
of the town look for the key to Lees
center. 1t is Mary's Hill. We can see
it bristling with cannon, but we know
nothing Of that terrible stone wall run
ming along the base of it, and forming
one side Of the roadway.
''It will be Slaughter
SO the officers whisper to each other
as they gather in knots and groups-so
the men boldly and defiantly declare
as they turn their faces again to the
heights
Fall inv' 'Fall in!'' |'Fall inr'
1t is broad day now, and the east is
growing purple with the rising of the
winter sun. We are in line as the sun
shows it's face-as it lights up the STAFF
ford hills on the other side Of the river.
Then the fighting begins afar down on
the left. Franklin is attacking Jackson
down there. They will grapple on the
plains-in the forest-on the hillsides-
and tonight they will count their dead
by the thousands.
Wait Wait! Wait!
1t is 8 O'clock-1O-11-itis noon. The
thunder of the battle below has filled
our ears all these long hours. In our
front the skirmishers have kept up
growing, but there has been no tight
ing. We are sheltered here. When we
move out death will hold high carnival.
Hungry apprehensive-we wait
and wait All! here comes the order
at last! Watch now! Five Confederate
regiments have been posted behind that
stone wall, and the artillery on the hills
has an enfilading fire. 1t is the Second
Corps here in the town. French's oil
vision moves to the front-KimbalPs
brigade takes the van. Then men throw
away knapsacks, haversacks-ey
their canteens-as they move into posi-
ton
Forward now-Kimbal leading-the
other brigades behind-Hancock sup
porting. Up the billy streets-clear Of
the houses-and Kimball dashes at the
hill. Crash! Flame! Roar! With the
suddenness of a thunderclap hundred
cannon open 900 muskets Diaze
Kimball is lost sight Of III the flame
and smoke-brigade after brigade IS
hidden from sight of the supporting
columns. -ten-hfteen minutes
and a wild mob falls back on Hancock
Not one single company has kept IT'S
organization amid the hall-storm or
death. Hancock moves forward into
the fame-advances step by step-stops
falls back, and more than 1900 men
lie dead or desperately wounded on a
front only a quarter of mile wide
Not a man behind that stone wall has
been grazed-not dozen on the hill
side wounded!
"It's slaughter! It's butchery"
shouted a thousand men as they feu
back over the stony road, many Oh them
leaving trails Of blood as they moved,
while the men behind the stone wall
cheered and cheered again.
Now Towards division comes up, and
the disorganized regiments are reform
cd for another attack. Disorganlzed,
but not panic-stricken-not coWed. Men
who limp with their wounds take their
places in the ranks and move up to the
second attack. The broad highWay-the
lanes-the yards and gardens and vii
lage commons are encountered with
dead, and the wounded cry out pitifully
as the ranks sweep past Oh their way to
slaughter. With shout and cheer and
curse the blue ranks dash the graveled
highway as BEFORE and again the hills
are shaken with the thunder of the
guns-again the sheets or fame leap out
from the crest Of the stone wall to
scorch ard wither and destroy. Men
stand in the roadway and lanes and
fields in q logged and suilen way and
await death. Some remain after the
bugles sound retreat"
How many dead and wounded now:
Four thousand and more! Under cover
of the smoke-cloud hanging about
Mary's hill men in gray creep over the
stone wall and hold their canteens to
the lips of the wounded and pity them.
Ask the men Of Cobb's brigade and of
the Twenty fourth North Carolina and
they will tell you that scores of their
canteens was thus emptied.
Now comes a pause. There is fierce
fighting above and below us, but here
there is an ominous silence. Wounded
men come limping down the roadways
come crawling on hands and knees
come praying or cursing, and the plains
above are blue with their burden of
death Officers groWl and mutter.
Privates curse and threaten. No one
believes that we shall be ordered into
that slaughter pen again, but Burn
side is obstinate and determined. Up