The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-08-28

THERE THEY GOMEZ"
in behind us and over the heads of oul
| comrades facing the south. We stand
at parade rest" and take whatever
comes without wincing. Now and then
bullet finds its billet and a man goes
down, but the STEADY mem" Of the
senior captain prevents anything like
confusion in the lines. Nothing tries
the nerves more than to be under fire
in line without movement, but pride
and discipline are strong factors on a
| battle field.
At the end of half an hour we have
IL men down. Two of them are officers
from the rear line. The fire along the
creek hes grown hotter, but our lines
are holding their own and depending
upon US TO take care of the flank. Of a
Sudden a horseman rides out of the
woods in front of us and inspects our
position through his glass. We only
know that he Is an officer, but his glass
enables him to count every man of us
almost tell the color Of each mans
hair and eyes. he holds his glass upon
us for 60 seconds and then disappears
among the trees.
Attention. calls the senior captain.
and the line dresses in an instant.
Infantry in the woodsF" whispers
each man to his neighbors. well, let
'em comet If they are too many for US,
achievements Will be sent to us. All.
That's business!"
Three guns of a Battery come gallop-
ing up on our right and unlimber, and
a cheer goes along the lines. Shell first
grape and canister next. The guns
will have clear sweep over the field.
There they come and it's cavalry in
stead of Infantry"
STEADY, men! No, talking IN the
ranks! Now, then, not a shot until they
pass that bush down there, and then
shoot TO kiln"
Five hundred cayalrymen ride cat
from under the trees and form up two
lines deep. The three guns open On
6hem at once with shell, but the lines
form and dress under fire with COOL
mes that eXcites admiration. We cannot
hear the order of Draw sabers!'' but
we catch the flash Of steel and draw
81 long breath. The guns cease firing
to load with grape. and the squadron
moves out on front no longer than
our own. The bugles blow "Trot!"I
'Gallop!" -Charge!'~ Here they come.
every trooper whirling his sword about
his head and yelling every Horse at
the top of lis speedr
STEADY, boys! Let 'em get the grape
and canister first! Down with those
muskets on the leftr That's right. Stop
that cheering in the center!' Waltz
Wait! Now give it to 'em!"
Boom! boom! Booml" from the
guns, d0uble-shotted with missiles
which were fired point-blank into the
charging squadron and then a crash of
musketry as every man pulled the trig-
ger at the same instant. Tenfeet TO the
right of me trooper brokethrougho our
line-ten feet to the left & second-but
only to, be shot down by the officers in
the rear. The smoke cloud hangs for
moment to obscure the vision, but we
hear the groans Cd wounded horses-the
thud at hoofs an the soft earth. We
load and fire at will into the cloud, but
presently the wind lifts the smoke and
whiris it away and the order comes to
cease firing.
Where is the body of cavalry which
charged us? A score of horsemen down
on the left-another score away to the
right-a bunch of them just disappear
ing into the woods from whence they
came, their retreat fastened by the
shrieking shells sent after them from
the guns. On our front dozen horses
are limpfng aboUt-thirty others are
down. Six or eight dismounted but I'M
wounded troopers hold up their hands
and come walking in to surrender
16 wounded ones cry out or curse us-22
are lying dead on the grass.
"Well done, boys-that was good
shooting!" said the senior captain.
"Glad to have been of service, sir!" sa-
lutes the battery lieutenant, as he adj
vances.-Detroit Free Press.