The National tribune., 1899-10-26

Ddb . tilC ilcciIitui DtSiOy ociu
ST, pricking up his ears. That's 'Atten-
ton Git. your traps together, boys.
Assembly IL come next"
Good gracious" gasped ALI Russell,
coming out from behind the bushes, they
don't expect us to do any moro fighting
to-day, do they"
"Very likely" said Shorty, helping Pete
Skidm6re on with his blanket-roll "The
job amt done till it is done, and there's
lots o. rebels over there yit who need lickin'.
Nows the best time to finish it. This
amt nothin' to Stone River and Chicka-
Better fill it before we start. Take mine,
too. Don't go any further'n that first
spring there, for / don't want to take no
chances on losin' you agin."
The cannonading in the distance grew
fiercer, and regiments could be seen rushing
yells came from the hill-tops, and We're
answered by volleys and deep-toned cheers
Another bugle-call rang out from Bri-
gade Headquarters.
Fall in, Co. O." sharply commanded
the Orderly-Sergeant.
With shiver Of apprehension, with a
nervous memory Of the bitter hours just
past, with the sight before their eyes of
the scarcely-cold dead, the remainder Of
the company fell in with sadly-shrunken
ranks.
Orderly, we need some more cartridges" I"
suggested Shorty.
1--WE been thinking Of that" replied the
Orderly, "and wondering where to go for
them"
a saw some boxes of Enfields up there
toward the battery" said ST. The rebels
left 'em. They'll fit our guns, and them
English cartridges is Just as good as ours.
pike over and get them, quick, before
the other fellows drop on to EN-" said the
Orderly.
Gracious! going to shoot the rebels
with their own bullets" remarked Monty,
who had nearly recovered, and came up
pluckily to take his place in the ranks;
Isn't that great medicine! How should
like to pop one into that fellow that belted
me with that boWlder."
Hello, Monty" called Shorty jovially
TO drive out the sad thoughts. Got that
kink out O. your backbone? Bully boy:
You've got the right kind OF nerve. You'll
be man before your mother yet"
"Yes, and I'm here, too. and don't you
forget it," said Alf Russell, not to be out
done by Monty nor unnoticed. BY rights,
ought to be in the hospital"
BY tights, | ought to be Jigadier-
could git Abe Lincoln to take that view
of it. Here, fill up your cartridge-box:
You'll need lots of 'em, if you're only goin'
to shoot to crease your rebels, as that feller
did YOU"
1t was not brilliant pleasantly. but it
served. 1t set them to thinking OF some
thing else. They hastily filled their car
tridge-b boxes, adjusted their blankets, and
when the bugle sounded forward they
started with something of their original
nerve.
The regiment moved off at the head Of the
brigade, and after march OF mile or so
came out upon hill from which they could
see one Of our batteries having an unequal
fight with several of rebel batteries in
fort far to its front. Our cannoneers Were
standing up bravely to their work, but the
rebel shells were bursting about them in
wild storm of crashing. deafening explo..
sions, and hurtling, shrieking masses OF
iron. The sharp crack of their own rifles
was at times drowned by the ear-splithng
din Of the bursting shells.
"Goodness!' murmured Monty Scruggs,
with colorleSs lips, as the regiment came
line Of caissons at the bottom of the hill.
"Pm so glad / didn't enlist in the artillery.
l don't see how anybody up there can live a
minute"
"Yes, it would seem as if those artillery
boys are earnin' their S1S month about
Shorty. There ought to be some other
batteries loafin around somewhere that
should join i'm
The boys leaned on their muskets and
watched the awful spectacle with dazed
eyes. 1t seemed far more terrible even than
lIlc tliouSi tlOs iihu Juoe
been.
The battery was one Of the oldest and best
in the army, and its 'fre discipline" was
superb.
The Captain stood on little elevation to
the rear and somewhat apart, intently
studying the rebel line through his field
glasses. After few words OF direction as
to the pointing Of the guns, and the COM
mand, Begin firing" ne had given no
orders, scarcely spoken. He could not
have been heard in that terrible turmoil.
He had simply brought his terrible engine
of destruction-the engine upon which he
and his men had lavished years of laborious
drilling and training position, and set
it going.
What the result would be fate alone
would determine That was matter that
neither he nor his men regarded. If it de-
stroyed or. crippled its opponents it was
simply doing the work for which it had been
created. II its opponents destroyed it, that
was a contingency to be accepted. 1t was
there to endure that fate if SO ordered.