Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-12-02

cd the louder grew the roar of wars grim
cry. Daylight was coming and his heart
beat high as he strove to reach the front.
70 he absent when the grand charge was
made meant isgrace-perhaps death.
And now to his mind came the words of
his chief:
think what it means to be absent
when your comrades are engaged in bat
tie"
He urged on his weary horse and utter
ed II prayer that he might he there on
time. For what? Possibly death from Il
rebel bullet.
The morning of Jan. 3 found the forces
engaged in deadly battle. Breckenridge
made fierce and desperate assault, but
it proved ill-judged, and he was hurled
back with fearful loss. In vain the Con
fcderate forces rallied and pressed for
ward again and again. only to be rcpulsed
by the hot fire from the Union barricades
and rifle pits. Rosecrans and Sheridan
on the left were hurting shot and shell
into the main body of the enemy, while
Davis and Johnson, swinging in from the
right. moved down the half-formed rebel
left under Breckinridge. The battle
wnged with fearful loss on both sides, and
slowly but surely the rebel defense gave
way and Polk was forced behind Stone
river. During ull in the battle a
mounted officer rode hastily to Gen. Rose
Grams and reported the desertion of a
brigade commander and three other Off
GERS in tho face OF battle.
''What are their nnmes?" Gen. Rose
Grams demanded. with vague fear tug
ging ut his heart.
The officer ran over the list and CON
cluded with: Lieutenant Henry of the
til Ohio"
For an instant the chief bowed his
head.
My fault" he muttered to himself in
sorrow, "and yet | felt in my heart he
would return in time" Then hard look
swept over his face, and, turning to the
officer. he said stiifly: 1--WE will attend to
that a little later, if we live
He turned his attention then to the bat
tlefeld. with its hurrying, scurrying hosts
on blue and gray. Suddenly his attention
became rveted to the left of the line.
Charging down the slope into the very
jaws of death it seemed was one Of Sher-
idan's regiments. evidently bent on sweep
ing down the rebel wall that had stood
invinclble for hours. Inc attack was
planned so suddenly and put into execu-
ton with such dispatch that the rebel
skirmish lines barely had time to fall back
and take up position to withstand the
shock when the rushing, screaming horde
was upon them A thrill ran through the
old warrior on the hill and for an instant
he closed his eyes. Another instant and
the crash must come. AS he opened his
eyes again a sheet of vivid fire shot from
the rebel line. then was borne to his ears
the dull crash of volley after volley and
he dimly saw the Union ranks thinned out
by the storm of hail. The advance was
checked. The Union line staggered and
stopped.
Out from the shivering, crouching front
rode gallant young officer who. with his
saber swinging wildly over his head,
struck down half a dozen muskets leveled
to work his end, then turned in his saddle
and waved his men on to renewed effort.
1t was daring thing to do and Rose
Grams marveled at the mans recklessness.
The move put new life into the broken
ranks. As If by magic they formed again.
and with hoarse yell Of rage moved rap
idly on the living breastworks and swung