Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-06-06
THERE THEY CQME.l"

in behind us and over the heads Of our
comrades facing the south. We stand
at parade rest" and take whatever
comes without wincing. Now and then
bullet finds it's billet and u man goes
down, but the STEADY men!" 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
battle field.
At the end of half an hour we have
II men down. Two of them are officers
from the rear line. The fire along the
creek has 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 woods!" whispers
each man to his neighbors. "Well, let
'em come If they are too many for US,
reinforcements will be sent to us. All!
| That's business!"
Three guns of battery come gallop-
ing up on our right and unlimber, and
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 kill"
Five hundred cavalrymen ride out
from under the trees and form up two
lines deep. The three guns open on
them at once with shell, but the lines
form and dress under fire with a cool,
nes that eXcites admiration. We cannot
hear the order of Draw sabers!" but
we catch the flash of steel and draw
a long breath. The guns cease firing
to load with grape, and the squadron
moves out on n front no longer thar
our own. The bugles blow "Trot!'
"Gallop!" "Charge!" Here they come
every trooper whirling his sword about
his head and yelling-every horse a
the top of his speed!
STEADY, boys! Let''em get the grape
and canister first! Down with thos,
muskets on the left! That's right. StoI
that cheering in the center! Wait
Wait! Now give it to 'em!"
Boom. boom! boom!" from tn,
guns, double-shotted with missiles
which were fired point-blanl into tn,
charging squadron, and then q crash o
musketry as every man pulled the trig
ger at the same instant. Ten feet to tn
right of me trooper broke through ou
line-ten feet to the left q second-bu
only to be shot down by the officers il
the rear. The smoke cloud hangs for
moment to obscure the vision, but w
hear the groans of wounded horses-th
cries and curses of wounded men-th
thud of hoofs on the soft earth. W
), load and fire at will into the cloud, bu
presently the wind lifts the smoke an
whirls it away and the order comes t
cease firing.
Where is the body of cavalry whic
charged US? A score of horsemen dow
= on the left-another score away to th
right-a bunch of them JUS disappear
ing into the woods from whence the
: came, their retreat fastened by til
shrieking shells sent after them froI
=, the guns. On our front dozen horse
are limping about-thirty others al
= =, down. Six or eight dismounted but III
wounded troopers hold up their han6
= and come walking in to surrender
y 16 wounded ones cry out or curse us:
are lying dead on the grass.
: "Wen done, boys-that was goo
u shooting!" said the senior captain.
"Glad to have been of service, sir!" S
lutes the battery lieutenant, as he a,
u vances.-Detroit Free Press.