The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-03-18

There were whispered exchanges OF con-
fdence and requests as to what this OF
that one wanted done in case of death. A
few of the men took out of their pockets
spent and fiattened bullets and other
curiosities, picked up the day before,
and threw them away, as if to Tighten
themselves for a running charge. Sew
eral officers and some men made hurried
notes in their memorandum books as to
the disposal of their corpses and effects,
and two or three of the minor officers
went behind the line, tapping our bayo-
nets and saying: ''These are the things
Wen use today, men. Depend on these.
/ raised my eyes and took a long look
around, with a sort of conviction that it
was my last chance. The cold of yester-
day had abated, the breeze came softly
from the south and stirred the tree tops
with a beauty of motion Ihad never be-
fore appreciated, while the clouds broke
and glided away, with silvery lining,
and the rising sun shone through the riffs
in glorious majesty. How beautiful this
earth did look-too beautiful to leave!
And still there was q strange silence.
Then we heard cannon far to our left.
Another and another followed, appar-
emily in a series down the line toward
US. ''She's begun again, men, " said our
captain. But no; there was silence again.
Then we heard a faint cheering far
away to ne left. Nearer and nearer and
louder it came, with each return pro-
longed till at last the Eleventh Indiana
and Eighth Missouri took it up and
made the forest ring. The next minute
Lew Wallace came riding around the
point Of the hill, and, bearing down on
us, shouted: Fort Donelson is oursl
Unconditional surrender, Arms, ammu-
milton and IA, 900 prisoners!' Then
broke from all the brigade "a Union yell
as if (, 1000 Threats were one. Every man
realized on the instant that we had
helped win the first great victory Of the
war. Swords were waved and blue caps
few high in air. The next instant guns
were dropped and the ranks broke with
out orders. AL discipline was ignored.
Officers and men wrung each others
hands and even Rugged each other and
gave way to demonstrations of joy.
And yet the shouting was not SO
strange as the weeping. I have often
been told that twas mistaken, but l am
positive that l saw both officers and men
shed tears. It really seemed to me that
JOY made every man change his nature.
Our Captain Waterman, usually a little
grim and a severe disciplinarian, laugh
ed till the breath failed him. There GER
tainly were tears Ill the eyes of Major
Fred Arm and Adjutant Cliff Ross. And
the reckless lieutenant who had walked
me with a bit of blasphemy stood silent
with folded arms and q face like a
statue. One fact / have often laughed
over with the veterans-in ten minutes
nearly all the men were talking about
the muster out and giving their opinions
a TO the time. Bets were even that we
should "be at home by corn planting
and 2 to / on the Fourth of July. Cap
tain Bull" Smith effusively proposed
a regimental reunion on that day and a
grand military celebration at Terre
Haute, where our regiment was organ
lied. There was much disputing as to
whether this was our last battle, but the
weight of opinion was that the regiment
would see some more service. What
fools we were!
The brigade was reformed, and we
took the Dover road, gazing as we went
with much curiosity on the effects OF
cannon shots in the timber. We crossed
the rebel b~reastworks at a full run to
the inspiring double quick of our field
bands; but the sharp pains in my lungs
came on, and I dropped out Of line and
sank to the ground. The whole brigade
ard then the division swept by me in
magnificent array, and I soon felt able
to rise and look about. In all directions
were groups of rebels, some scowling,
more grimly silent and most good ma
turedly drunk. They had p~lundered
their commissary as soon as they heard
of the surrender, and every man had
whisky. Along the breastworks were
many suggestive sights. ODen boxes,
labeled Buck and Ball Cartridges"
were scattered at convenient intervals.
/ dissected one, and found it made Of
three buckshot bound on the end of a
common musket ball; hence the name,
and hence, too, the peculiar wounds
some of our men had received the day
before. AT place there were many
signs that our shells had struck thickly.
There'we much blood and a dismount-
ed cannon and some orpses still waiting
the burial party. Most of the faces look
ed strangely peaceful. Twas particularly
struck with the appearance of one Mis-
sissippian, a very tall and handsome
man, lying On his back on a small
mound. His deep blue eyes were half
open, his finely cut features were like