The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-05-19

the hot lead singing around his ears and
kicking up the dust about his feet. Two
dead and three wounded men had been
left behind. Eaton Barnes lay on the
broad of his back, half-stupefied by the
shock of the bullet, when some one lift
ed him up, gave his body half-twist,
and before he could understand matters
he was back across the bridge and CAL
houn Barnes was saying:
"Drat his hide; jest saved him cause
he's the meanest man and the biggest
liar in the regiment!"
ooh! 1t was you, eh!" muttered the
wounded man. ''I'd like to know what
right critter like you has to jump III
and drag me around! I'll jest thank
you to mind your own bizness after
this!"
From that time on we knew that the
twins had the highest respect and es-
TEEN for each other, and that quarrel
and wrangling was simply cover to
hide their real feelings. Eaton Barnes
lay in the hospital for many weeks, and
hardly day passed that Calhoun didn't
say to some member of the company:
''Do you know, l jest believe that
miserable critter stood right there and
held out his leg in hopes to git shot and
have an easy time in the hospital? 1t
would have served him right if the bull
let had shattered the bone and the leg
had had to come off. I've stood heap
of sass from the feller, and if he ever
comes back to the company shall have
to turn to and give him an awful
lickin'!"
And in the hospital at Washington
Eaton Barnes never let slip an oppor-
tunity of saying to the comrades around
| him:
"If it hadn't ben for the crltter next
to me I'd have got off all right. He
amt got no sand, you know, and had
to keep bracin' him up or he'd have run
away. I'll lick him outer his butes
when git back to old company "B."
Three months later, as Grant swept
down on the wilderness to hunt for his
old adversary, the Third regiment was
on the left center and one of those on
the advance line. Shoulder to shoulder
the twins forced their way through the
thickets and over the bogs, and as they
advanced Eaton Barnes took occasion
to say:
'Mebbe you don't know where we are
headed for? From the way your tongue
is hangin' out seems you think you're
on coon-hunt."
Don't give me none O your chin!"
replied Calhoun. ''lf you run away I'll
shoot you in the back!"
| 'If run it will be to catch you'll"
Don't you dare call me liar!"
eff I don't lick you to-morrer then
hope to die!"
Five minutes later all the men in the
line were down on their faces and blaz-
ing away at the enemy SO hidden by
the foliage that they seemed like spec
ters in gray fitting about. Presently
there was rush, and the blue lines
were pushed back. There was another
rush, and the gray lines had to give way.
The dead rested in the rank growth
the wounded clung to plant and bush
and cried out in terror at the loneliness
of such battle field.
Good God! What place to die in a"
exclaimed Eaton Barnes during a lull
in the firing.
"Oh, you're gettin' creepy, eh!"
sneered Calhoun, as he turned.
"No more than you are! Lord, but
never saw a soldier with such a white
face as you are carryin', and you cant
keep your chin still!"
"Just mind your own chin; it Is
wobblin' like loose wheel. III make
you eat dirt after this fight is over!"
You'll never see the day you can dc
i'll"
attention, company B! Left oblique
-march!"
1t was move to reinforce part o1
the hard-pressed line, and after advanc
ing ten rods company found itself ir
a slaughter-trap. The fire of the con
federates on that short front was sim
ply terrific. Their bullets flew like th'
snow-flakes of winter, and bush ant
plant and young tree were cut and river
and splintered as if lightning hat
played among them. The federals wer'
outnumbered, but they would not fal
back. For quarter of an hour the fir
was returned, even by men who wer'
wounded twice and thrice, and NOR
than one veteran went to earth cheer
ing his comrades on. OF suddel
Eaton Barnes dropped his musket
threw up his hands and pitched head
long.
Got it, eh!" exclaimed Calhoun
Barnes as he whirled about. 'I've allu
said you could stop bullet as well a
haystack, and here's proof of it. Say
old man-?''
But he did not finish. A bulle
plowed into his breast, and he reeled-
staggered-dropped his musket an
} sank down beside his chum.
''W-what is it?" asked the latter.
"I'm hit, too! Where's your hand
old man?"
"Here-here! So we are to die here
Say, Barnes, amt mad at you, AM
; never was!"
"And 1 amt mad at you. alway
. liked you. 1t was just my way, yo'
know"