The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-02-19

think it the most wonderful of the war.
can see it all now as l saw it 20 years
ago.
Il can see those shadowy forms NOV.
ing quietly through the timber away
over to the left; they are so plain that
you ought to be able to see them too.
There are only a few of them in sight
now, but I'll bet there are more back of
them. See them working towards the
edge of the timber, lodging from tree
to tree, crawling through the grass and
running across the more open spaces
Cap. them fellows mean trouble"
BY the time this Stage of the story
was reached the Old soldier had be.
come oblivious to III presence. He was
fighting the battle over again. seeing
the things and saying the things he die
20 years before.
Cap, see that? See that smoke:
That's a line of skirmishers opening
fire on us. Better raise them muzzles
4 little. Johnny; you're fa,iin' short.
Cap! Cap. See there! | told yoU
there was more a-comin'. See that sec
ond line back in there? They NEAR
business. Cap, bet they do. See them
| skirmishers comir' out. Them fellows
in the center is crawling further out.
See that little rush on the right? What
you say, Cap? Don't think they'll do us
any harm? Why, man, I'll bet they come
at us clear across that meadow. But
then, Cap. they're only infantry"
See that Skirmish line a film up
Comm in from the main body. Come
on, Johnnies; we're a-waitin' for you
Them bullets is gcttin' a little closer.
Cap. Must of raised the sights a bit.
Zip! That I'm went too high. just
about Il thousand yards there, Johnny;
thatN catch us.
Way on the left there, Cap. See! An.
other company goin' in. The center OF
that lines crawled up 80 yards in ten
minutes. Hurry up, Johnny; it'll be
dark before you get here if you don't
move faster.
Whats that You say, Cap? Lieut..
Fraser hit. Blast their ornery hides.
I'll pay 'em for that before this days
ever, I'll bet. Wonder if the old man II
let us charge EN-? They're comm on
a little further. Cap. There's one of
them in that grass along the creek
Some one down there is \ troop is after
that fellow. See him fire. There he
goes again. and. by the great Harry, he
got him. There, Johnny; there's a les
son in shootin' for you. Them fellows
in old y know how to crack 'em out
ITS a shame, Cap, not to charge on
'em. Maybe the old mans waitin' to
get EN- all together. Good idea. too,
that is. See old Col. Hank down there,
Cap. See him watchin' EN-. Believe
he's got most the same idea | have
about chargin' 'em. My. but I'll bet
he'd like TO send the old til across
that meadow after EN-.
Good. There goes an orderly. !
bet he's got an order for the old til
to charge. Them Johnnies seem to be
inclined to do the same thing :hem-
selves. See them linin' up. Told you,
Cap. they was comm after us.
There goes little Billy on :he bugle,
boys. Listen an see what he's tellin'
us.
"'Mount!' Onto them prancin' steeds
Of yours. We're goin' after them John
MES. Wen settle your score for you,
lieutenant, ever if they didn't hurt you
much. We're comm, Johnnies, better
run.
Forward. guide center, march,
Hear what little Billy says IN that
bugIe. boys. Steady there in the CEN
ter. Dress TO the right. Next it'll be
trot. and then gallop. and then
"'Trot!' There it is. ! told you. boys.
The next will come just outside the
timber in a minute. Them Johnnies
don't know what's after them. or they'd
be getting back into the woods.
"'GaIlop!' Keep the line there. boys.
It's bayonets we're goin' against, boys.
Sabers against bayonets. Little Billy
will be speakin' that last command in a
minute now.
Charge, Charge. Charge Billy,
you're a jewel. Watch for the ditch,
boys. Jump it,. Over you go; there,