The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-01-14

said Ben as he rose up for a look after re-
loading.
"We ought to got at least 20 more at
slch clus shootin, growled Tom in reply.
"They II come ag'in, of course?"
Don't be id fool, Ben. Dye think
the loss of 40 or so men would stop one of
our divisions from gittin somewharsY If
you feel tired and sleepy, you'd better ask
fur leave to go to the rear
Say, l don't want too much of yer
chin, old mani"
"Oh, you DON'T Waal, you jest tend to
6ghtin and dyin and don't worry about
my chin. Better shet yer eyes this time
and see if you can't damage some Of EN-"
That dash was feeler to develop the
strength defending the bridge and to see
if it was mined for blowing up. Around
the bend of the road they laughed at the
idea of 100 men holding division at bay.
Farther back the soldiers fretted and
fumed and officers cursed and swore at the
delay. Down on the left the battle was
already opening, and Death was sharpen
ing his scythe on the stone walls which
men of peace had built up so years before
'Get ready Fire at willp'
This time a column of 500 men, formed
eight abreast as before, dashed at the
bridge with ringing cheers, and though
the first four or five ranks went down 9TH
ers lived to reach the earthwork and to
make fierce fight for its possession. For
ten minutes there were shot and shout and
curse and groan, and then the bridge was
clear again-clear of all but the dead and
wounded. The veteran Ben was one of
the half dozen who started to cheer as the
enemy sullenly fell back, but Tom inter
rupted him with
what yer maxim cussed fool of yer
self furY"
"We've licked 'em az I'M"
Clicked hell If this war don't end in
less'n three months, ye won't know
huff to pound sand The idea of yer
yawpin and whoopin over victory when
we've lost at least 90 men and when we
are sartin to be wiped out body and butes !
Look along the linesW
Ben looked up and down the lines and
| shivered as he noted the dead and wound
ed who had fallen out And now the enc
my deployed force to the right, another
to the left, al | the men crept forward to
the very brink of the ravine and opened
such hot fire that no defender of the
earthwork could lift his head. Under cover
of this fire force formed up in the road
for dash across the bridge. The captain
sent an order along the earthwork, and
each crouchlng man made ready to rise
up and fire when the critical moment
came
Say, this is gettin to be redhotp' ex-
claimed Ben as the bullets sent the dirt
flying over his head.
"Waal, we don't need any ice Jest now !"
grimly replied Tom.
"We are goin to git licked on this deal,
old man."
"Not licked, but wiped out. The orders
are to hold the bridge to the last, and our
captains the man to do it. Purity leetle
fight-mighty purity. Lots of heads will
git busted when we arise up to fire. Never
had a bullet through yer cokernut, did
yer"
Ben did not answer Just then came
the order to fire at will, and as the mus
kets looked over the earthwork the enemy
cheered and dashed for the bridge third
time. Over the rocks and bushes obstruct-
ing the road, over the wounded, crying
out, over the dead and over the blood
spots, and again they reached the earth
work and fought hand to hand.
"Guess they'll stay licked this time, y
growled Ben as the enemy fell back after
ten minutes fighting
ooh, we do" sneered Tom as he jabbed
his bayonet into the earthwork to clear II
of the blood. WAL of all the blamed
idiots in Grants army ye take the cake
We've got aDout ten men left to hold di
vision, and Je are countin on vict'ry."
"Then why don't we retreat?"
Gag in orders, We old shell back. Here's
whar we die and over thar is whar they i
bury us. ="
Now the enemy, maddened by the delay
and resistance, crossed men above and be
low the bridge, and they were soon taking
the breastwOrk in rear. The captain wal
down, his lieutenants were down-a cor
poral had command of the remnant of tn,
hundred mel.
"What dye call this?" asked Ben as thu
bullets began to come in from flank an(
rear.
Next door to hell " replied Tom. "Fac,
about and see if We can't hit a barn door.
1--we dropped man every time Nv,
fired, and-and'-
, SCOT yer dose, chP WAL, told ye
would be a wipe out. Sorry fur ye, oil
man, but war would be picnic il nobod.
: was killed Guess I'm the only one left
and Ill go back and report"
And half pm hour later, wounded in tn
arm and shoulder and hip, a powde
, stained, dust covered old veteran appearet
2 before his cCiOnpl and salute1 and said
Company F, sir, Detailed to hold tn
r bridge above"
} "WellY"
4 ENEMY forced the crossing half al
, hour ago. Captain dead, lieutenants dea'
. all dead but mel"
1 The Worship of Athletics.
! Both boys and mon when they hay