Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-19


we're laughed at as they went to the
rear.
watch the captain! Watch the
caDtainl" whispered the Company b
men at frequent intervals during the
afternoon, and Capt. Bligh reaIized
that his every move was under crltI-
cism. "a
AS the lines of battle were formed
he became pale-faced, and there was
tremor in his voice as he spoke. AS
q shell screamed over the head OF the
regiment he looked furtively about
him. but shut his teeth hard. The
cries of the wounded men and the
sight of blood made him stagger, put
he pulled himself together after thaI
one betrayal of weakness.
ole amt goin' to funk" said one
veteran to another as they watched
the captain. Nj, ,, 20
marked the other, but you wait I'LL
to-morrer! He hain't got a burned
bit of sand to carry a face IKE that'
but he's got pride. 20,
whats pride got to do with II
"a mighty lot. He'll shoot HIM
self rather than run away. How ye
feelin yerself?" -,
Same as you-durned homeslck.
Bah! l don't mind il"
yer a liar. We all mind it, though
we've bin there before. I'm kinder
sorry fur the captain, but mebDe ne II
git a hold of himself to-morrer. Durn
all this fghtin'! Why can't 1oIKs slI
together and talk things over anu
settle them that way? what aye
think of to-morrer?" 49,
"Hell to pay all along here, and IL $
dollars to cents that you git knocked
over"
same to you. Let's hev smoke:
That night the men slept on their
arms. and after the darkness had COME
down there was no more trlng. IL
any other man in Company waR
awake Can't. Bligh did not know IT,
he Law for hours looking up at the
stars and fighting with himself the
events of the afternoon had proven 10
him that he was lacking IN courage
It was hard to admit 1t, put II was
true. He had wanted to seek the cover
Of wall-to fling himself down III d
ditch-to turn his back on MS COIL
pany and fly to t5aGuGGfdf3r: he hao SUI
fered with fesr hAasAhaA he vas WeaA
and exhausted. Yes, he Lacked couT1
ave but he had pride. Pride VIII
compel a man to halt when lear Is car
wing him away. In one sense PIiue
is the superior of courage. AL Iilu,
riobt fine CAPTAIN rose up and walked
about. and after awhile he came upon
fbe cornoral whom he had talked with
Lofore the army moved. He reused
the man from sound sleep ana wills
pered to him: +b;s
Corporal, were you watching nle Ills
afternoon?"
"Not much" was the reply. .,
.Did did I seem to be upset!
Somewhat nervous, sir; but that was
20 no counted on. 1t would be better
if you could sleep" -,
~ can't sleep-I can't sleep! groan-
ed tbe captain. "Do you know, corpo-
raj. that am coward? ..,,
Good God, but you don't mean 1t.
Eyes. l do. was on the point OF run
ming away several times this afternoon:
We shall have a battle tomorrow, ana
I'm afraid of myself. If | could only
get killed at the very opening OF the
fight"
But cheer up, sir. You are no cow
ard. It's Just the strain on the nerves
It is always so in the first battle"
NO. corporal-no," sighed the cap
tain. as he sadly shook his head. well,
you go to sleep again if you can. It's
my last night on earth, and can't close
my eyes
But who can say you'll even be
scratched tomorrow" protested the
corporal.
Let me tell you something.
I haven't the courage to go through a
battle which may last for hours. l
shall want to run away at once. Then
l. shall DO this
After he pulled his revolver from its
holster and just put the muzzle to his
temple, and for half minute the men
looked into each others eyes and Meth
er breathed. Then the corporal gasped:
Its awful, sir-its just awful"
But I'll do it," said the captain, as
he rose up and moved away.
The sun was scarcely above the tree
tops next morning when the battle
and rolled down along the front as you
have seen a great wave run
ming along breakwater. In
a quarter Of an hour from
the first crash OF musketry the center
was fighting for its life The men of
Company 3, who had said to each other
the afternoon before, Watch the cap
tain" gave him no thought on this
morning They saw the battle lines of
the enemy marching out one after an
ter another TO attack them, and they
waited with bated breath for the first
shock. Only the corporal had his eyes
on Capt. Bligh. AS the men reused up
from sleep and took a hasty bite, the
captain moved among them. As the
order came to form battle lines he re-
peated them. he was pale-faced. but
he held himself erect and his lips were
compressed.
at will be ten minutes more OF this
waiting. said the corporal, to him
self, as he looked across the fields at
the tTamping lines. IF he can hold
out for ten minutes he win pull
through the battle"
Tramp, Tramp Tramp, A host
of men in gray. with flags ripping
in the morning breeze and lines dress
ed as if on parade. moved across the
barren fields with stern-set faces.
Along the lines in blue the men lay
in thousands behind the breasetwork of
rails and dirt. with every musket at
the full cock and every finger on the
trigger.
God, but how pale he is" whis-
-ared rho cornorol &c he fr-ned his