The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-04-03


~. Similar sounds, varying In strength,
came from near and far over the
forest. The bugles called to each
other like brazen gamecoclza The
near thunder of the regimental drums
rolled.
The body of men in the woods rustled.
There was general uplifting of heads.
A murmuring of voices broke upon the
air. In it there was much bass of
grumbling oaths. Strange gods were
addressed In condemnation of the early
hours necessary to correct war. An
officers peremptory tenor rang out and
quickened the stiffened movement of
the men. The tangled limbs unrav-
eled. The corpse-hued faces were
hidden behind fists that twisted slow
ly in the eye-sockets-
The youth sat up and gave vent to
an enormous yawn- ''Thunder!'' he
remarked, petulantly. He rubbed his
eyes, and then putting up his hand
felt carefully Of the bandage over his
wound His friend, perceiving him to
be awake, came from the fire. "Well,
Elem, OF man, how do yeh feel this
mornin'." he demanded
puckered his mouth to q bitter puclzer.
His head in truth felt precisely like
melon, and there was an unpleasant
sensation at his stomach.
''Oh, Lord, feel pretty bad" he
said.
At the fireside, the loud young sol
der watched over his comrades wants
with tenderness and care. He was
very busy marshaling the little black
vagabonds of tin-cups and pouring into
them the steaming .iron-colored mixture
from a small and sooty tin-pail. He
had some fresh meat which he roasted
hurriedly upon a stick. He sat down
then and contemplated the youths ap-
petite with glee.
9TH regiment lost over half tn men
yesterday" he remarked, eventually.
II thought course they was all
dead, but laws, they keep a-comin'
back last night until it seems, after all,
we didn't lose but a few. They'd been
scattered all over, wanderin' around in
the woods, fightin' with other regiments
an everything. Jest like you done"
A suffering Of musketry was always
to be heard Later, the cannon had
entered the dispute. In the fog-flled
air, their voices made thudding
sound. The reverberations were con-
tinual. This part of the world led a
strange, battleful existence.
The youths regiment was marched
to relieve a command that had lain
long in some damp trenches. The men
took positions behind a curving line of
rife-pits that had been turned up, like
large furrow, along the line of woods.
Before them was level stretch, peo-
pied with short, deformed stumps
From the woods beyond came the dull
popping of the skirmishers and piclsets,
firing in the fog. From the right came
the noise of a terrific fracas-
The men cuddled behind the small
embankment and sat in easy attitudes
awaiting their turn: Many had their
backs to the firing.
The youth leaned his breast against
tho brown dirt and peered over at the
woods and up and down the line. Cur
tains of trees interfered with his ways
of vision. He could see the low line of
trenches but for short distance. A
few idle flags were perched on the dirt
bodies with few heads sticking
curiously over the top.
Always the noise of skirmishers came
from the woods on the front and left,
and the din on the right had grown to
frightful proportions. The guns We're
roaring without an instant's pause for
breath. 1t seemed that the cannon had
come from all parts and were engaged
in a stupendous wrangle. 1t became
almost impossible to make sentence
heard Among the men in the rifle
pits, rumors again flew like birds.
However, they were now, for the most
part, croaking creatures who tapped
their wings drearily near to the ground
and refused to rise on any wings of
hope. The mems faces grew doleful
from the interpreting Of many omens-
Tales Of hesitation and uncertainty on
the part Of those high in place, and re-
sponsibility, came to their ears Stories
of disaster were borne in to their minds
with many proofs This din Of mus
kerry on the right, growing like re
leased genie of sound, expressed anf
emphasized the army's plight
Before the gray mists had been total
~ obliterated by the sunrays, the reg
iment was marching in spread col
umn that was retiring carefully through
the woods. The disordered, hurrying
lines Of the enemy could sometimes be
seen down through the groves and
little fields They were yelling, shrill
and exultant
The youths friend had geograph-
ical illusion concerning . stroam, and
he obtained permission to go for some
water. Immediately canteens were
showered upon him "Ffn mine, wiz
yeh7' Bring me some, too, "And
me, too" He departed, ladened The
youth went with his friend Upon
their return they looked over their own
troops, and saw mixed masses slowly
getting into regular form The sum
light made twinkling points of the
bright steel To the rear there was O
glimpse of a distant roadway as it
curved over q slope It was crowded
with retreating infantry. From all the
interviewer forest arose the smoke and
bluster Of the battle. The air was al
ways occupied by blaring.
Near where they stood, shells were
flip Topping and hooting. Occasional
bullets buzzed in the air and spanged |
into tree-trunlrs. Wounded men and
other straRglers were blinking through |
tho woods.
Looking down an aisle Of the grove,
-