The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1897-12-30
~ The Battles Close


George Burton was Studying for The
ministry, when the war broke ont. He in
tended to return to the Theological Sem
nary. II he lived to get back, 80 Captain
CITES Of the Third Il das did not regard
Lis first Iieuteuauts exclamation Us vt oil
profrne
Well, old ie,o y, it certainly smells like
II, How are you Of for waler2
Haven't eyena canteen. Lost it in our
conatetcbarRe Look ont, opt Here
she cometl aud tue lieutenant pulled the
captain closer to the earth on which both
lay.
B hind a hasily-construCted bresst-work
at the base Of Snodgtass hill, the ragged
mnant Of the Third Il Aes hitteued them
selves face down as shell from Bragg
whisked to the earth fifty yards outside
and burst with molten glare and splin
tering rosr.
For sixty hours the men bad no sleep.
10 the past forty eight hours ammunition
had been served fix times, and rations--
not at all Three times this Sabbath
afternoon Of September 90, 1864, Long
streets yeterane, with their hats slouobed
over their faces. like men facing a cutting
wind - had rushed against the hill and
each time Thomas remaining artillery
roAred defiance from the slopes held by
six shattered brigades Of the army OF the
Gum befland,
Two yonng men, lying on their faces,
to the night OF the Ii utensnt varied the
mouotony Of lodging shells playing with
pack Of disrepntably dirty cards 10
lieu Of money they used buttons cut from
the coats OF dead men IN blue and dead
men III gray. Each player had buttons
Of one kind, and as they were evenly
matched in skill they forgot, in their
mimic col test, the deadly struggle going
on to the right, aud laughed AZ If in the
barn at home
Don't go to sleep, boys; tbey'lI be here
seoul
The captains warning was called ont
by the gradual cessation OF the artillery
fire from over the riVer Meanwhile the
guns 90 Snodgrass LiIl were 20 silent as
to lead some Of The MO- to fear the smmu
ri ion was exhausted
Wait, boye, nll the Johbies show up,
and you'll see Pop Thomas amt the man
to keep guns to the front unless he's got
powderto feed 'em, SAID grimy sergeant
beside the two card players, who we're
nos blowing the dust from tho bind
gr's Of tbtir rifles. Altar 90 anxious
wait aud sigh Of relief at the failure o.
the eueny 10 try the red experiment Il
gain, the captain sat up and said to the
think Burton, the worst is over Tor 10 |
dey Thank God, The suD will be down |
foon,
He looks red enough to have washed iD |
The Cbicksmsugs Heliol WHAT'S up iD !
the woods ont thereI asked Burton,
Siuce the fsiIure Of the last charge on |
the eentsr the enemy ad been keeping |
mp close aud persistent attack on the /
rlsht From this point came the ineer
sa1t rosr sni ung Of cannon and rhs, cut
ting through which looming yelIs aud De /
lapt cheers could be beard
Govt you see the black smoke, blend /
ng with the white Oytr th r.r aud the I
Iieuteuant pointed to the woods 10 front.
Yes, bat what Of IN
J. means the woods sre on FIRE, They /
are dry Is punk just think Of IT, espl
ttiak We have 10 all our wounded. /
" uat p-ttrslt 70 the desdf
Not iag, cap; bot the enemy BY God .
There are Il lea't 200 woruded men 10
,fsy suI slnug the edge Of thst tim berl I
10 at lbst splltefed osk shout hun
lred yards 10 the right.
F~F ", Ab1 Ft hOuctd tbFoqgh ny {
,Is-s, that there is young onicer lyilg
souuds1 81 the foot Hs'll crssl IL II
ht Gre cgmr- Gear him, sad the cAptsln.
- he tctstcbed mstcb 90 Lis rusty
.vori se.bbsf1 sud 1T bic pipe.
A lev nit aud wrestLs Of black
.moke dfSped sboa, the bsiked trees sud
irif 81 sc'oss the isce u the setting saa,
8ufryjog TIE tlgbt saskes d q ,rne hex
"a up The powder ar, lesges aud ooiIej
lp the shor'.rIddled black I.cks 10 TIE
ugbt atd len the fire fell snd rose sui
-osrei 10 red rage, uldef the ship Of tie
decreasing ViDd. h1s aai then q shell