St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-02-01
W. G. KENTZEL, Editor.

Il
his way through the dense crowd with
quite disregard of his usual lazy, good
manners. I'VE want to see this thing,
Dick" followed closely, and we soon
had fine view Of tie open field.
There was just then lull In the prog
ress of the sham battle, preparatory to
an attack on the right. A line of Skin
mishers were lying along the edge of .
ditch behind some turze bushes and
small underbrush; the infantry COM
mands were being whesled around into
position; some aides were gallopin9
| across toward a group Of officers in the
distance. and the guns Of the light ar
tilery commands were moving up Al
a support on the one side. an attacking
force on the other. The opposing force
was partly hidden by o heavy line OF
trees. and we could just distinguish
line Of moving infantry BY the gliut Of
the sun on their bayonets.
Lord. mani" said Stapleton, pushing
lis hat back and watching intently; ~if
had command of these troops would
fall back to that angle you see yondsr
and order the attack to be made ON this
side. Those administers are badly
posted. Don't you see how effective a
| sudden rush down that road could be
made? Why, the boys could cross over
the open at . double quick. charge on
their flank and get under cover 1t the
woods before that artillery supporting
column could come up. II these blue
coats were Smiths corps and my old
New York 18th, wouldn't they charge
prettily down on the rebs!"
"JIold up" ! said. "What are you
talking about? Those boys are not
your 18th, Of Smiths corps, but rather
think they could charge just as effect
icely. In fact, you remember when
Smiths and Hancock's corps, your New
York 18th included, made those as
saults on our lines before Petersburg
there were only at first 2,200 men until
we came up. Kershaw's division of
Andcrson's corps. You were 10000
strong then, and Beauregard only had
10000 to oppose you then, and yet he
held you in check pretty effectively"
Temporarily" answered Stapletnn,
with an ill-tempered. ugly air, bat We
dislodged you that night and took Jour
of your batteries, you remember"
"Notmuch of feat" retorted sharp
". Those lines we were occupying,
to be properly manned, required . force
OF $4,000 men. When you took thoss
batteries you had been reinforced by
Warren's corps, and you were $4,000
men. / wouldn't boast Of what you a..
complished those three days il were
you"
1T was tall fighting, that's fact"
said Staplcton after pause. shifting
his position to see where the troops
were moving to. I'VE lost more than
10000 men in those assaults. But we
would have carried your lines the next
day, all the same, if Beauregard had
not withdrawn during the night. You
fellows were d. glad to get behind
those brcastworks further back"
"Yes, and you fellows were glad not
to be again ordered up in an assault to
be slaughtered"
There we paused. while the bugle gave |
some commands to the troops to move |
mp.
"Dick, old mar" said Stapleton. mop
ping his forehead, while nervously |
chewed the end Of my cigar in q dry
smoke. ''Come, let up on that"
We agreed not to 60 back to those |
great old fighting days.
look there! First-rate! Pretty |
goodl, Go it. boys!"
The linz hod S3oeha11 for,.,ovxa ana -
spirited engagement cnsued. The crack |
Of the sharpshooters' rifles was distinct |
above the volleys of the infantry, and
the artillery swept over the field. while |
the handsome Louisiana field artillery |
wheeled round in position on the other |
side to confront it.
"Hurrah!" shouted.
Look ut that company" said Sta
pleton, with eager impatience. What
a fool thing to do! Why. they'll be cut |
to pieces. Oh. II those boys were under
mel"
''Good!" I shouted, as the artillerT
dashed up in fine shape, unlimbered and
took possession. Fire. boys! Give it
to them!"
Then Stapleton and looked at each
other and laughed.
'Come on" said. lets 60 back to
dinner. Stapleton, you are an awful
fool for man Of your years"
"Yes." acquiesced Stapleton. I'm
as big an ass as you are, Dick. The idea
Of getting excited. over . sham fight
and wanting to maui each other. be-
cause 80 years ago Smiths corps and tho
18th New York were repulsed with some
others by Kershaw's division and few
measley cenfederates-
''Shut up!" said. rubbing my rheu-
matic knees. 81 hope Watson will give
us some of that Yquem you are SO fond
of for dinner. and that you will have an
attack Of the gout tomorrow. A fell
low like you don't deserve to live. You
should havo been. numbered among
your 10 900 dead md wounded.
''shut np!. said stapleton. IN. Q.
Times-nemocrat. -.
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