The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1898-02-17

ed the louder grew the roar of wars grim
cry. Daylight was coming and his heart
beat high as he strove to reach the front
TO be absent when the grand charge was
made meant disgrace-perhaps DEATH
And now to his mind came the words of
his chief:
Think what it means to be absent
when your comrades are engaged in bat
tle."
He urged on his weary horse and utter
ed prayer that he might be there on
time. For what? Possibly death from a
rebel bullet.
The morning Of Jan. 3 found the forces
engaged in deadly battle. Breckenridge.
made fierce and desperate assault, but
it proved ill-judged, and he was hurled
back with fearful loss. In vain the Con-
federate forces rallied and pressed for
ward again and again, only to be repulsed
by the hot fire from the Union barricades
and rife pits. Rosecrans and Sheridan
on the left were hurting shot and shell
into the main body Of the enemy, while
Davis and johnson, swinging in from the
right, moved down the halfformed rebel
left under Breckenridge. The battle
waged with fearful loss on both sides, and
slowly but surely the rebel defense gave
way and Polk was forced behind Stone
river. During a lull in the battle a
mounted officer rode hastily to Gen. Rose
Grams and reported the desertion Of a
brigade commander and three other Off
GERS in the face Of battle.
what are their names?" Gen. Rose
Grams demanded, with a vague fear tug
ging at his heart.
The officer ran over the list and con-
cluded with: Lieutenant Henry of the
til Ohio
For an instant the chief bowed his
head.
"My fault" he muttered to himself in
sorrow, "and yet l felt in my heart he
would return in time" Then a hard look
swept over his face, and, turning to the
officer, he said stifly: I'VE will attend to
that little later, if we live"
He turned his attention then to the bat
tlefield, with its hurrying, scurrying hosts
of blue and gray. Suddenly his attention
| became riveted to the left of the line.
Charging down the slope into the very
| laws of death itseemed was one of Sher-
| idan's regiments, evidently bent on sweep
| ing down the rebel wall that had stood
| inyincible for hours. The attack was
planned SO suddenly and put into execu-
| ton with such dispatch that the rebel
skirmish lines barely had time to fall back
and take up position to Withstand the
shock when the rushing, screaming horde
was upon them. A thrill ran through the
old warrior on the hill and for an instant
he closed his eyes, Another instant and
the crash must come. As he opened his
| eyes again q sheet of vivid fire shot from
the rebel line, then was borne to his ears
| the dull crash Of volley after volley and
he dimly saw the Union ranks thinned out
by the storm Of hail. The advance was
checked. The Union line staggered and
/ stopped.
| Out from the shivering, crouching front
| rode gallant yeung officer who. with his
| saber swinging wildly over his head,
struck down half dozen muskets leveled
to work his end, then turned in his saddle
and waved his men on to renewed effort.
It was a daring thing to do and Rose
Grams marveled at the mans recklessness.
! The move put new life into the broken
ranks. As II by magic they formed again,
and with hoarse yell Of rage moved rap
idly q the living breastWorks and swung