The National tribune., 1899-12-21

daWned brightly and warmly, a glad con-
| trast to the weeks of rain through which the
| army had been struggling. 1t seemed an
augury of success. and the army needed all
this to encourage it, for in spite Of the dense
| masses OF men with which the woods We're
| packed in front of the point selected for at
| tack; in spite of the cannon bristling grim
and threatening from every position from
which artillery could be made effective; in
| spite of the memories of past successes which
animated the men and their officers, the
| difficulties of the task before them were ap-
| parent and appalling. The looming sides
OF heneSaw were mighty fort, an i'm
pregnable citadel. The great ridges of red
| mighty walls Of solid masonry, against
which no force could prevail. Before them
| were deep bitches, even more formidable to
the aSSailants, and before these long rows
| OF gagged chevauX-de-friSe Before these
still were hundreds of feet of abatis-trees
felled toward the enemy, and their tops
making continuous ENHANCEMENT
through which it would seem that nothing
but snake or q rabbit could make its way
batteries, forts and baStions broke the long
line of breastWOrks into still heavier forti-
ticatlOnS, which supplied emplacements for
artillery to reinforce the infantry fire with
canister and shrapnel.
Having finished their breakfast. the 20Oth
Ind. piled its blankets and haversacks, and
carrying only guns, cartridge-boxes and
| canteens, formed in column of five lines,
with a front of two companies Capt. Me-
Gillicuddy had command of the front di-
VISION OF two companies, with the Orderly
Sergeant in command OF Co. Q, and ST, with
his squad, augmented by the remaining
eight Tennesseeans, held the right of the
company.
Before them, sitting with easv grace upon
their horses, were the Colonel and his Ad-
jutant, who calmly scanned the short sweep
of ground, which was soon to boil as a
cauldron, with the fires of death, hate and
destruction.
ST leaned on his gun. anxiously studied
the abatiS for some indication of possible
path through it, and watched the rebel regi-
ments swarming down to meet the impend-
ing attack.
Full house over there-the whole family
at home. said Shorty laconically, to break
the oppressive silence which ruled over all.
But by the way the woods are film up
behind us we seem to have some friends
come to meetIn'. There will be a scraunch
when these two crowds come together"
30, God, suddenly burst out Basil Peters,
in loud impasSioned prayer, "be with u.s.
Thy servants, this day of trial an battle
Help us in our need, and lend us the mouty
power o. Thine arm, for hit is in thy cause
that we fout, and Thy inimies that we seek
ter overthrow. Give us the victory, o, God
that righteousness may dwell in the airth,
an we may worship thee with glad hearts,
III.
and the glory, forever. Amen"
The words had come with startling I'M
cXpectedneSS from the lips of man who had
seemed only actuated by thoughts of bloody
revenge. but they appeared forced out of his
heart by the agony of mortal anxiety. The
Colonel and Adjutant in front lifted their
caps and bowed their heads at the sound of
the first words, and joined in the chorus of
fervent Amen which rolled up reverently
from the lips of the men.
Its $780," said the Adjutant, looking at
his watch, and making note in his book.
1--WE should have started a half hour ago."
Gas usual" remarked the Colonel with |
shrug of his shoulders, "some men will start
late, and delay everybody else. / wish the |
signal would come 1t may be our death |
note, but anything is more bearable than
this terrible suspense. We are not inn
proving our chances by giving the rebels |
full warning of what We intend"
There was another long. sickening half |
hour of waiting, in which few words were |
spoken. as the men leaned on their guns, and |
shifted nervously from one foot to the other |
with their intent eyes fixed on their officers |
or the enemy's array.
There goes the battery in front of Grose |
Just O'Clock" said the Adjutant, making |
the note in his book, and carefully replacing |
both book and watch in his pocket. The |
ball opens"
"Attention, battalion" called the sweet. |
silvery, penetrating tones of the Colonel |
Garry, arms! Right shoulder shift
arms! Forward-guide center-March!"
In all Sis army experience, he had never |
seen anything like the storm which burst |
out at that moment. The artillery along |
the whole of Sherman's 8 line beloved with a |
thousand thunders. The whole long slope |
of Kenesaw shook with the roar of the |
rebel cannon, and was vailed i'm |
the clouds of white smoke, with fierce
tongues of lurid lightning As the 20Oth |
Ind reached the edge of the abatis the air |
was full of hurtle of musket-balls and |
which tore the limbs of the trees,
and sent them Screeching amidst the charg-
ing column. The Colonel's horse was
into shreds by shrapnel shell.
and another took off the head of the Ad-
jutant's horse. Covered with blood. both
officers leaped to their feet. waved their
swords. and shouted to the men to press on
The next instant the Adjutant fell
All semblance of a line was lost in groups
fiercely forward as best they
could through the abatis, tearing it aside.
and breaking it by main strength whenever
possible, to clear way. At the head OF one
of these groups ragged ST and Shorty, who
each seemed to have the strength of 10 men
as they tore off the great limbs, broke
branches, and strove to open a way. while
the bullets and canister beat like hail all
around. Close behind were the Colonel