The National tribune., 1898-07-07

with his right a stream of blood gushe
through his fingers from the buIlet-ho,e, ant
he falls hcadlong Walter and the rest stoo,
to pick him up, but a Captain of company
III the ine-of-battle yelis:
Here; hurry up, for Gods sake, and gel
ont OF the road so we can fire. We are
tired Of being shot down without chance tc
answer back"
They obey and run. As they pass the regi-
ment's flank they hear tile Captains voice
ring out above the noise like the notes of a
braZen trumpet:
Ready -
The men have long anticipated this, and
are standing at ready"
"Aim,"
Eight hundred muskets instantly point
into the dark woods.
a. Fire :"
Every weapon cracks almost Mt the same
instant. Limbs and bark fly off the trees in
front. FOR minute net n shot comes back
from the enemy. Walter thinks that fearful
blast must have swept them off the face of
the earth, but this delus;on lasts but q few
seconds. The enemy's fire begins again-a
little light at first. tEen suddenly assuming
It's former proportions.
linen two pieces of artillery speak ont
sharply from bthind with shot that goes
crashing through the trees and plunge into
the mass OF smoke behind with what seems
TO Walter must lie irresistible effect This
wakes up some guns on the other side.
which send shots back that hurtle through
the limbs with deaiening crashes, but end by
gong far beyond the line without hurting
anybody. Some shells come next, and scat
ter confusion and death in all directions.
Line officers wave their swords and shout
incessantly; mounted officers gallon in all
directions crying orders and words of en-
enlargement. The artillery pounds away
with rhythmic stroke as regular as the
beats OF a mctvonome. The men in the ranks
are silent. They are too intent upon their
work to waste anything in yelling or gesticu-
iation. All their powers are concentrated in
the grim labor Of loading and firing with all
possible haste their faces black as those
of negros from the smearing of cartridges
they tear in the teeth.
The rebel fire grows so hot that it makes a
gap III the ranks, and many turn to run
The officers nip the d IS order in the bud, and
with oaths, adjurations and encouragements
restore the line.
SO it goes on for long half hour-it seems
n year to Walter-when the rebel fire ceases
almost as suddenly as it began. They're
falling back. The Union line presses after
When 1T comes to where the rebels stood it
finds the dead and dying lying thickIv upop
the ground. The usual debris of a battlefield
guns, blankets, hats and knapsacks-are
scattered all around Many of tie wounded
fear they will receive no quarter and beg
pitcously for it,
Walters ana Karl's hearts are touched by
the misery OF Il boy of their own age. whose
thigh has been broken by a bullet. They
put knapsack under his head, give him
drink from canteen, and then run on to their
company
half mile farther they come upon the
enemy again, who have been reinforced from
Columbus struggle-a repetition of the
hrst, only brieier-takes place, and the enemy
slowly retifes into thicket Of felIed trees.
win which their camp is surrounded The
night Is renewed, with our men attacking
hercely from three sides.
Many OF our brave officers fall as thew are
urSingon their commands and the destruction
OF llie is fearful on both sides. The rebel
artillery across the river begins to take part
In the action, and throws heavy shells that
tear up the trees terribly. The whole of
laylor's battery is brought into action and
opens such fierce cross-frc upon the rebels
that they cannot endure it, in addition TO the
musketry-fre that is already CALLING them.
They relinquish the defense and hastily re-
treat through their abatis and through their
camp to the edge of the bank, over which
they plunge for refuge from the IRE that con-
tinually follows them.
ihe boys on the center and right of the
line see the 7th Iowa and 22d III. ON the
ieit, come dashing through the fallen timber,