The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23


left the Federals charge again and
again, but always to be beaten back.
Did they number twice as many they
could not dislodge the Confederates from
the plateau. Nature made it for the key
of battlefield.
1t is 8 O'Clock, and the fight still
RACES fercely. 1t is 4 O'Clock, and the
Federa,s are still battering at the slopes
of the plateau. Half an hour later the
volleys of musketry suddenly increase
in volume. the artillery redoubles its
/ fire, there is wild cheering all along the
Confederate front. Johnston's troops
have come up from the valley. He
throws them into the battle, and the
Federals are driven back. The Confed-
crates push forward in pursuit, and the
troops who were giving way slowly and
retiring in good order suddenly become
panic stricken.
An army panic is like unto nothing
else in its foolishness, in its madness, liz
that feeling of terror which makes serv-
lie towards of brave men for a few
hours. In 80 minutes from the first
wild shouts of alarm the highways lead
ing back to Centerville were choked
with the shattered, disorganized and
fleeing Federal commands. Here and
there feeble attempts we've made to
check the terrified mob, but each effort
only increased the panic.
What were they fleeing from? Deathi
If SO, almost every man of them had
faced death for hours that day without
dinching. They faced it now, as terri
| fed men discharged their muskets and
threw them into the bitches. as remnants
Of cavalry commands dashed into the
mass, as ieldpieces and limbers and
caissons, drawn by horses which seemed
to have caught the spirit of terror,
turned in from the fields at mad gal
iop and rode down every obstruction,
| Men flee like shadows from plague.
but they know from what they flee.
Rushing into the highways. lighting
each other as they struggled to reach
the van, stumbling, falling. chill OF
fear upon every heart, the army which
had fought SO well and long streamed
into the hamlet of Centerville. There
was no pursuit. There WASH t brigade
in the Confederate amy in condition to
pursue. nor was the extent of the Fed
eral disaster known to Confederate Off
GERS Here was strong position, and
here it was that troops who mad not been
in action were formed across the high
way leading to Washington to check the
| panic stricken tho 1sands. Mounted of
ficers rode into the mob and shouted
commands and appeals. The painting
fugitives paused for moment. but it
was not to listen, not to obey. not to
feel ashamed of their silly fears. 1t was
| to draw long breath and then dash at
the wall of glistening bayonets. The
wall menaced them, the bayonets point
ed at their breasts. but with one mighty
surge the living wave dissolved the
wall, hurled it down, flung the frag
ments to right and left, and the stream
/ of humanity poured on over the hills
| and flowed the faster for its temporary
| check. 1t could not be checked again
nntil it reached the Potomac.
CHAPTER II.
| Let us go back few weeks and con-
/ meet the chain of events.
The thunder of hundred guns had
| been let loose at Charleston, and the
south was rushing to arms. One who
has not witnessed the beginning of war
/ cannot comprehend the insanity of ex-
citement which accompanies the pas
sageof each tateful day. We of the north
were delaying. hoping, trying to make
ourselves believe that war would be
averted. though 10 one could tell how.
| While we were delaying the south was
acting. No man in any southern com
| munify dared talk of peace While the
0et1 1..ised regiments t..9 flatl pa
Jrigades into camp and planned IL cam
:)aign. While the north waited the
south possessed itself of fort after fort.
fhe streets of every city echoed The
tread OF marching men; every village
was aroused by the music OF the fife and
lruhl. That generation knew nothing
of war. Men looked upon the waving
| flags and ripping banners, the march
ing volunteers and the holiday attire and
said to each other:
Then this is war? Men who have
written of war have deceived us. There
is no suffering, no wounded, 70 dead
Let us also join in the march.
But historians had not deceived them
They were deceiving themselves. The
beginning of war is merriment anG
least. The end is marked by thousands
of marble headstoncs bearing the single
word Unknown those and Grape
and tears and desolation. 1t is o'clocE
IN the afternoon of one of those never to
be forgotten spring days of 1861. re
embered now only by gray haired
men and women. The scene is the an
| cient town of Winchester, IN the beau
tifnl Shenandoah valley, the garden
spot OF the Old Dominion. Under cover
of a wooden awning sheltering the front
Of the old store and postoffice two men
are seated at table borrowed some
where for the occasion. Ono of them
weals the uniform of mi captain
the other is i'll citizens s dress and has q
list of names on paper before him
Hear what the captain is saying to the
men crowding up until they stand six
or eight deep before him.
I'VE want 60 more men to Eli up this
company. Within a week we shall be
ordered to the front. We want only
young men and good Elen. Now. then,
you all who want to go to war and see
some fun put your names down on this
paper. You, there, Steve Bfayton, step
up and sign!'
.'How long shall we uns be gone,
captain?''
Il reckon on 60 days"
'Then Ill put down.
"And IT,
''And II
"Say, captain, called young farm
er from the rear rank of the crowd.