Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-10-25
NEAR TO THE BATTLE
SCENES IN RICHMOND DURING THE
NEARBY ENGAGEMENTS.

Agony of Women and Children In Dread
of the Result-Thc Rally For the Fray.
Return From the Field of the Dead and
wounded-The Horrors of War.
What magnificent cyclorama it would
make if some artist could depict upon can
vas tho streets of Richmond as they ap-
peared ON the day of any of the great bat
ties that were fought in the near vicinity
of the city What an opportunity to por-
tray the human emotions and passions
which possessed them on such thrilling oc-
casions At all times during those four
eventful years the citizens of Richmond
were brave, but in crises like these they
were grand, schooled in the horrors and
dangers of war, like veterans they We're
not to be demOralized at its near approach.
They were appalled,, not cast down.
With a quiet determination to do or die
and to defend the city to the last, they met
these great emergencies with n splendid
| courage.
Why all this hurrying to and fro, hither
and thither, of officers, booted and spur
red, with sabcrs clanking, followed by
mounted orderlics? These people have
witnessed it too often; they understand its
significance. The "long rolf begins to
beat, buglcs to sound, the city is aroused.
A battle is imminent, Couriers are coming
and going, commands are forming, the
reserves are being hurried to the front. AS
they march through the streets flags are
flying, the martial strains of Dixie" fill
the air, the excitement of battle is on ev-
cry face. The sidewalks, windows and
doorways arc thronged with women and
children, who wave their handkerChiefs
and cheer the troops as they pass. They
cheer and cry and pray, and still they bid
them go, begging God to protect and de-
fend them and bring them back viCtors
from the fight. The quick step of the in
fantry, the galloping of the cayalry and
the rumbling of the swiftly moving artil-
lery lend excitement and interest to tho
scene.
Far down the streets and out of the city
the rapidly moving columns go. Then
there is lull. The women and children
still stand, gazing after them. Distant
firing tells them the battle has opened.
They are oppressed with mental strain,
anxiety, excitement and anguish that arc
agonizing; they forget about the danger
loved ones are now engaged in mortal
combat.
The cannonading becomes more fire.
QuCnt. 1t comes nearer and nearer. Loud
or and louder grow the pcalS of artillery,
until it seems to be inccsSant. The battle
is now raging, and too well they know
what it all means and what a fearful har
vest the dread reaper will CLEAN, and how
l., i =.
Their loved ones are there in the midst of
it, some in the forefront of battle. Oh,
how they cry and pray and beseech God
to defend them! Hours pass, and still the
storm and thunder of contending armies
rcverbcratc through the streets of the city
and goes eChOing up the James. Every
fresh courier as he dashcs by from the
font is halted for news How goes tho
fight? thousands Of infantry are now en-
gagged in the terrible conflict, The con-
tinuous lire of InuskCtry seems like the
rage and roar Of some mighty Niagara.
Our men must be charging them.
At last the storm begins to lull, tho fir
ing is less frequent, the sound is more dis.
tant-faint and fainter and more desultory.
A courier from General Leo as he passes
at hcadlong speed cries out the glad news,
"Thc victory il ours
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