The Republican., 1899-10-12

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senior colonel down to the frightened
teamsters, knew that if we could hofo
our own until reenforcements came up
we should be in luck. A retreat would
not have lost prestige under the cir
cumstance. 1t was with feeling be-
yond surprise, therefore, when we
found ourselves massed for an attack
Wen fight, of course" l heard our
captain saying to our first lieutenant,
''but we'll get licked out of our boots
inside of an hour. If we had double
our strength we couldn't carry their
position. It's going to be slaughter
for sure"
And the second sergeant of our COM
pany turned to the first corporal and
growled:
Say. now, but have you got faIH-
lily back home?'
Yes, and what of it?'
Then you say good-by to wife and
children and ask the Lord to forgive
your sins.'
Cant we lick emp"
''Bosh. Well be piled up in front of
'em like corG-woodl"
The brigadier had plan, andit was
soon developed. The Third regiment
was on the left flank, just opposite the
enemy's strongest position. The cen
ter of the federal force was moved
forward and then ordered back. The
right flank was advanced u. Ger
long-range fire for few minutes, and
then withdrawn. Then an aide came
galloping up to Col. Bell and saluted
and said:
'Compliments of Gen. Blank, and
you will move forward and turn the
enemy's right. Let your men go in
with the bayonet."
The Third to move forward alone!"
whispered Col. Bell, in astonishment.
Alone and at once!"
But it cannot-cannot-"
"Alone and at once!"
Not five men in our regiment heard
the words, but all understood them
The hour of revenge had come to the
brigadier. He hadn't driven Col. Bell
to resign, but he would strike him here,
and the blow should hit the whole regi-
ment as well. There were groans and
jeers from the men, and the officers
shook hands and said:
"Good-by to you! This is wipe
out for the old Third"
"Attention!" shouted our colonel
from the head of the line. Forward
guide center-march!"
Inever saw so many pale faces among
the officers, but | think 1T was due
more to Indignation than fear. The
sergeants growled, the corporals
cursed, and here and there a private
broke into laugh or song in reckless
way. We moved over the old meadow
at common-time, increased it to quick
as the first bullets began to sing, and
then with cheer brought our mus
kets down to the charge and dashed
forward with whoop. The angels of
Heaven must have saddened over the
slaughter. We had no earthly show.
Grape and canister and bullet rained
into US from behind entertainments un-
til the men in gray stayed their hands
out of pity and let a beggarly third of
the regiment limp back out of the
hell. An hour later we knew how we
had suffered.
'The colonel, the major, five captains,
seven lieutenants and 320 men lett back
there!" was the report.
And for what? As the fragment of
us huddled together and wondered how
God had spared US to get back alive,
the brigadier rode along our front at
a gallop. He had no hand-wave for us
no word in praise. His eyes looked
straight in front of him, glistening
with the eXultation of revenge, and
there was a cruel, crafty smile play
ing over his mouth at intervals. He
had been called a cheat and a swim
dler. The man who used the words lay
dead on the edge of the woods, and
around him were the dead of his regi-
ment-hundreds of dead.
You murderer" shouted hundred
men at the brigadier as he rode.
You cursed fiend!" shouted another
hundred.
'Why don't some one shoot him in
the back?' sobbed a captain who had
lost half his company.
But the brigadier smiled and rode
on. In his official report he would say:
THE Third regiment was sent in on
the left flank, but not being properly
led or held up to their work, accom-
plished nothing, and suffered heavy
loss. am sorry to say that among the
killed was the gallant Col. Bell, who
has heretofore displayed the greatest
judgment and gallantry!"
He Knew Best.
James," she said, as she broke away