The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-10-01

While being formed in line of battle
with our backs to the woods, the renown-
ed Antietam on our left and the fields OF
huge corn in the valley below, we had
clear vista Of the clover field beyond and
why my attention was attracted from tue
awful battle hanging over, | have often
wondered. But it was attracted in an
other direction, and the attraction was
herd Of live farm stock, which had been
quietly pasturing on the lu1uriant growth
of clover which the field contained, which
soon after was clotted all over with human
gore. Methinks that the famous old acre
age became the most fertile in the world.
This herd of cattle consisted OF mare and
colt. three or four horned cattle and
small flock of sheep | said that they had
been quietly grazing, hut at this luncture
they seemed in hewildered state 1hey
had been aroused by the thunder OF can
non and the screeching and bursting OF
shells which were being hurled at long
intervals. The battle proper had not as
yet been opened at this point. Part OF the
herd seemed to be gazing with awful fear
in our direction, and the other part with
heads up, were looking Iebelward. Ihell
animal curiosities seemed to be excited to
their uttermost tension, When we were
ordered forward down across the moved
field, which sloped gently toward the corn
field. we still had clear view OF the pas
ture field, and at this point the enemy
opened with fury. The cattle were IN
direct line of the fire of both great armies,
and the poor brutes were doomed. They
got the shot, shell and bullets from both
ides. At the first volley the mare reeed
and fell, the cattle were staggering and
going down in huddle, the sheep were
tumbling in all directions, but the little
colt galloped away to the other side OF the
field. And half an hour after | saw the
little thing running near our battle line,
its little mouth wide open as if crying with
fear. The little quadruped galloped on up
the line and in passing stumbled and fell
over the PROSTATE form OF wounded
horse, hut got to its feet again and
scampered away up to the right, and l am
sure that found the same little colt the
next day with its intestines lying by Its
side, nearly mile to the right OF where
had last seen it alive. A solid shot from
one of our artillery guns had swept through
its side.
And now, am sure many readers will
wonder how | know that the ball which
killed the colt was from our gun and not the
enemys. And to be entirely explicit in
my narrative l will say because its in
testines were swept rebelward l give
this singular little instance to show the
popularity of many minor events which
pass into oblivion if not written up by the
generally those who wore golden shoulder
straps and who were invariably far in the
background in time of battle, and con-
sequently were not in a position to catch
the hundreds Of interesting little things
while the fighters, who we're the rank and
file of the army, were there in the hottest
OF the terrible agonies Of strife. They tell
their readers that earth's noblest hero was
the gallant chieftain, who led his army to
victory. But tell mine that the noblest
Of them all was the private soldier. He
who amidst the whir of the bullet, the
whirlwind of the charge, the awful thunder
of cannon, the terrifying scream Of bursting
shells, the agonizng pleadngs of the
wounded for water, and the mournful
groanings Of the dying, whomarched through
she blood Of their comrades, all the way, as
it were, clear up to the lannon's mouth
on the enemy's ramparts and there offered
up his precious life, living sacrifice for
his country.
And now we will 90 back to the battle,
For the lighting is still terrific. Memory
pictures all the terrible scenes of that
eventful day 36 years ago, Just as wildly
as though it was September, 1913, instead OF
September, II. See the swaying to and
fro OF the line Of battle, charging to the
A"i S'''S Va tiC ploouy ClONbT Uelu, DaSSlDp
over and around the sheep and cattle, Of
which have written, then backing all the
way to the corn field again And still the
gallant boys in gray charge and fall back,
then come again, almost near enough to
engage in hand to hand battle. Now.
am only writing of just what | saw in
front Of our immediate brigade, which was
the clover field, for my readers already
know that the battle ragged for several
miles, and there were many other fields all
crimsoned by the rich blood Of the Ameri.
can soldier of both great armies. And in
the near future shall be permitted to pass
over many of these lurid fields, all OF
which we're fertile in the extreme and
would have delighted the heart Of any old
Cecil farmer.
Memory recalls the advance Of the line
OF men in blue across the meadow east Of
dle Roulette mansion. They reach the
spacious barn, which divides the line Of
men as rock parts the current Of a river,
nowinp around IL l7t ,nitinu bevond