The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-10-06

brought OUT ulushCtS W an "''-i
We caught sight of the enemy for the
first time. W. had become soldiers TO
march. fight and XII. Ii was TO be look
ed upon as matter of business, as
well rs a patriotic duty. The sooner
the strength Of the enemy was exhaust
cd the sooner we would have peace.
We thought that every man in COM
pany &c" bad the same fecling-to XIII
but we had not been long at the front
when we found an exception. \ score
Of skirmishers were ordered down in
front of the regiment TO feel the
strength of the enemy in the fringe OF
bushes along n creek. Ambrose Davis
was One Of ua. He was man OF 30
a plain, every day man who had laid
down the tools Of mechanic TO take
UP the musket of soldier. He was not
given 70 enthusiasm. but he was an ODE
dent soldier and the best shot In the
company. As we clambcred over the
fence ana took "Opcn ORDER on the
broad field which dipped down to the
creek, the enemy In the fringe had a
dead rest on every man. War with
them also meant XII. TO kill one Of
half a million men means little, and yet
1t means Kill. Zip. Pingl Zip! 1t was
not firing 10y filc-it was not firing by
volleys into battle line half hidden
in the smoke, but every bullet that came
pngng was meant for an individual
soldier.
We crouchcl down and ran forward.
We zlg-zagged To right and left. We
took the shelter of every knoll. brush
and stump. The enemy had to develop
his strength TO check us. In front of
Davis was an opening in the fringe
a spot where farm road crossed the
creek. The enemy to the right and left
of this road was using the bank of the
stream as q brcastwork and we We're
firing a good deal nj random. An officer
suddenly appeared IN the center of this
opening. and raising a pair of glasses
70 his eyes he took Il cool survey Of the
regiment far back of us on the Hill. He
was within pistol shot of Davis and
he must have known it, and yet he
stood there as cool and calm as you
please to take his chance. 1t was
sheer bravado. -Four Of our twenty had
been killed, and the enemy was Seek
ing the lives of the rest. | was to the
right of Davis and could have almost
hit the officer with a stone; the man
on his left had just as fair n target.
He was not our game" however-he
belonged to Davis. We saw our com
rade thrust forward a barrel of his
musket and bring his eye down to the
sights. Then we watched the officer to
See him throw up his hands and fall.
Thirty seconds passed away, and we
glanced back at Davis. He had lifted
his head and was looking at the officer
over his gun. AT the end of a quarter
of a minute he dropped It again. 1t
was his duty to kill, but this was kill
Ing in cold blood. and he had 10 have
O few seconds to nerve himself up
Back went our eyes TO the officer. He
was slowly sweeping the glasses
across front Of half mile, and
wondered If he would drop them as
the bullet struck him. or whether his
fingers would clutch and hold them the
tighter. My heart came crowdng into
my throat az | watched and as the Sec
onds passed. and at length heard the
man on Davis left shouting at him:
"Shoot Shoot! Why the devil don't
you drop that officerY
| turned 10 look at Davis, and as
did so he Slowed the muzzle of his gun
90 the right and fired into the bushes.
A few seconds later the officer lowered
his glasses, and swinging them in his
hand and perhaps cumming a tune,
he slowly disappeared into the bushes.
Later in the day, when Davis singular
action had been reported, the captain
said 10 him:
Davis. can't believe you are q cow
ard, because you went down on the
you had an enemy fairly under your
gun, and an officer at that, why didn't
you bring him down"
Il was going TO, sir, but IL
couldn't" was the reply.
"But they We're shooting at you TO
KILL"
Yes, I know"
The captain could hardly reprimand
q man for not killing an enemy as he
would have shot down a rabbit. and
there was no one 10 hint that Davis
lacked courage. The incident was for
gotten after O little, and such was the
soldiery conduct Of the man that he
was made corporal. When the enemy
withdrew behind the works at York
town to bar McClellan's road to Rich
mond he covered his wings with
sharpshooters, and our officers were
their special target one day, as three
companies Of us were dragging up some