The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-06-25

wei use today, men. Depend on these. .
I raised my eyes and took long looI
around, with sort of conviction that II
was my last chance. The cold of yester-
day had abated, the breeze came softly
from the south and stirred the tree tops
with 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 a strange silence.
Then we heard cannon far to our left
Another and another followed, appar-
emily in q 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 the 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 ours!
Unconditional surrender Arms, ammu-
milton and $4,000 prisonersp Then
broke from all the brigade Union yell
as if 2, 900 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
flew high in air. The next instant guns
fl,a 1,
out orders. All 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. have often
been told that Twas mistaken, but am
positive that saw both officers and men
shed tears. 1t really seemed to me that
joy made every man change his nature.
Our Captain Waterman, usually little
grim and a severe disciplinarian, laugh
ed till the breath failed him. There GER
tainly were tears in the eyes of Major
Fred Arm and Adjutant Cliff Ross. And
the reckless lieutenant who had walked
me with bit of blaSphemy stood silent
with folded arms and a face like
statue. One fact have often laughed
over with the veterans-in ten minutes
nearly ali the men were talking about
the muster ont and giving their opinions
as to the time. Bets were even that we
should ''be at home by corn planting"
and to on the Fourth of July. Cap
tain Bull Smith effusively proposed
a regimental reunion on that day and
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 werel
The brigade was reformed, and we
took the Dover road, gazing as we went
with much curiosity on the effects of
cannon shots in tie timber. We crossed
the rebel breastworks at a full run to
the inspiring double quick of our field
bands; but the sharp pains i'll my lungs
came on, and dropped out of line and
sank to the ground. The whole brigade
and then the division swept by me in
magnificent array, and l soon felt able
to rise and look about. In all directions
We're groups of rebels, some scOwling,
more grimly silent and most good ma
turedly drunk. They had plundered
their commissary as soon as they heard
of the surrender, and every man had
whisky. Along the breastwOrks were
many suggestive sights. Open boxes,
labeled Buck and Ball Cartridges"
were scattered at convenient intervals.
l 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 one place there were many
signs that our shells had struck thickly.
There were much blood and dismOunt
ed cannon and some cOrpses still waiting
the burial party. Most of the faces look
ed strangely peaceful Twas particularly
struck with the appearance of one Mis-
sissippian, 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
those of a Greek statue, and his mag
nifcent physique, long and well shaped
hands, and feet with arched insteps,
combined to prove him man of good
family and culture. A few rods back was
deep hollow, in which the rebels had
taken their wounded horses to be killed,
and the sight of scores of the poor crea-
lures, mangled and bloody, was quite as
depressing as that of the dead soldiers.
A boy of Is or Is approached and
held out his hand, which l took. Both
of US were strangely embarrassed, each
curious to hear the others views and
each hesitatifg TO begin. Something
to drink?' said he, holding cut his can
teen. After you, certainly said L
He winked and smiled as he turned up
the canteen,, and some subtle instinct
made me know his thought. There had
been much foolish talk about poison,
and lie had already heard of our suspi
cions He laughed aloud as l turned the
canteen high, but this changed to sort
of apprehensive gaze as he watched the