Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-04-16

CHAPTER XIII.
THE NINETEENTH OF SEPTEMBER
Seldom has an army been in more
critical position than tho Army Of the
Cumberland at this juncture. The Con
fedcrates ovcrlapped the Union from:
on the north by half dozen miles, and
between Confederates and the Chatta.
nooga road leading from what was both
the Union left and rear into Chattanoo-
ga there We're only small bodies Of cav
airy. Bragg had but to overwhelm
these, cross the Chickamauga and march
few miles westward to seize this road
and throw himself between his enemy
and that enemy's base-Chattanooga IL
was his intention to cross Reeds bridge
by S o'clock In the morning with one
column, and Alexander's bridge, few
miles above, at the same hour, the two
columns TO join and seize the coveted
road. attack Crittenden's left, while o
third Confederate column. crossing at
Dalton's ford. would attack him in
front Crittenden once crushed under
these combined forces, rs it was expect
eel he would be 10y noon, the whole Con-
federate army was 10 overwhelm Thorn
as, still ten miles distant, leaving Nc
Cook, 90 miles away, TO be finished
later on.
There was nothing on the left to pre-
vent the execution Of this attractive
plan but the two bodies Of cavalry at
Reed and Alexander's bridges. Eight
o'clock camc. and they were not over
wholmed. The sun stood high over the
valley of the Chickamauga. and still
the Confederates had not crossed at
either of these two points. The defend
ers of the bridges We're swarm Of hor-
nets flying in their enemies faces, with
many an effective sting. AT noon they
were still stingipg. II was not till 3
o'clock in the afternoon that the de.
forced TO give way, and those at Reeds
bridge only retired on learning that the
other had been captured by tho enemy.
So tho morning and the afternoon pass.
ed, and when evening fell but 5000
Confederates had been thrown across
What was 10 have been executed on
Friday, the 18th Of September. must
be deferred till the next day. Will il
then BE- too late?
The moon is lighting up the field, tho
woods, the SUBMITS Of the two ridges
inclosing the valley Of the Chickamaugs
and 100. 900 soldiers The air is cold
and crisp. and myriads Of campflres are
scattered over the valley rs reflection
Of the starry heavens upon the bosom of
lake. All night the moon CLEANS upon
the steel Of tho two slcepless armies
the Confederates pushing across the
Chickamauga. the Unionists marching
10 cover their unprotected left Many a
soldier casts his eye up into the serene
heavens and remarks the queen OF night
looking down upon him, so pale, so
cold. so dead, rs II in mockerv Of his
own animate being and prophetic OF
what may come for him ON the morrow.
From the southwark comes the tramp
Of dust covered men III blue. At their
head rides one who before the sun twice
sets is TO take first rank among the he
roes OF Chickamauga. Thomas Is leading
his men from distant point far beyond
Crittenden to the exposed left and rear,
TO the Chattanooga road-the road COM
manding tho line of communication OF
the Army of the Cumberland. Ii must
DO forced march, for the time Is short
and the distance is great
From the eastward the Confederates
are pushing across the Chickamauga.
Every available passage is occupied, but
there is little left Of the bridges, and It
Is slow and hazardous work at the
iords. Large bodies Of men are like
streams. They flow easily across open
countries. but become choked in narrow
ways. Yet the work goes on. Ii is n
long night-long for these men wading
through water or standing in the chilly
hours past midnight in wet clothing. IL
is an eventful night, for if they get
across in sufficient force, and the way
is still unblocked as yesterday, the fate
Of the Union army is sealed.
At midnight Maynard lay under a
tree trying to catch some sleep. The ex-
ertion of the day would have brought it,
for he was exhausted, but his position
as 10 the army with which he had no
place was burning him like hot iron.
A few days before, and he would have
been leading his brigade through these
stirring scenes. Now he was not even q
private soldier He was an outcast, n
wretch too detestable for the respect
even Of menial cooks and strikers, Of
teamsters, of the grasping horde Of ar
my followers, whose object was to cheat
the soldier and rob the dead.
The moon, finding a convenient open
ing in the boughs above him, looked at
him in a way that in a measure quietcd
him. What an absence OF turmoil on
her surfaced No guns roar i'll her val
leys; no armies contend for the posses
sion of her ringed ridges. The thought
for a moment chased away his desire
for oblivion. He shuddered at her moth
ingness. The scenes through which he
was passing seemed far preferable. He
was in the midst Of mans coveted ac-
ton. While that lasted he could not for
long be plunged in despair. Thank heav-
en-, he was permitted to seek solace III
such turmoil. such roaring Of guns and
yelling Of men as had come and were
coming.
Toward morning his thoughts became
less intense, less clear. The sounds
coming from q troop of horses picketed
near became more and more confused
The snores Of men resting after day
of hard fighting lost their vigor. The
branches above him twined indistinctly.
He slept.
He was awakened by the sound OF
gun. 1t was broad day. He started mp
and listened. Then came another dull
boom, then another, and in few min
utes there was the rapid firing OF bat
tie on the left Surely that is not the
little body of cavalry in whose ranks he
had fought the day before.
Mounting, he rode toward it through
partly wooded, partly open country.
The fields were gray, but tho woods
were still green. Then there was the
odor of the morning in the country and
the chirping of birds hunting for theiI
breakfast. 1t would not be long before
that perfume must give way to the
smell of gunpowder, before the chirpine
of the birds would be drowned by tht
sounds of musketry and artillery.
Meeting an aid-de-camp riding a'