The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-10-14

senior colonel down to the frightened
transfers, knew that il we could hold
our own until requirements 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 masse: for an attack.
We'll fight, of course" heard our
captain saying to our first lieutenant,
''but we'll get licked out of our boots
inside of an hour. Ii 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 FAM
lily back homer"
Eyes, and what of it?"
"Then you say good-by to wife and
children and ask the Lord to forgive
your sins!"
Cant we lick 'em?"
"Bosh! Well be piled up in front of
'em like cord-wood"
The brigadier had plan, and it 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, kept under
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then withdrawn.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 establishment.
"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 a 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 I think 1t was due
more to Indignation than fear. The
sergeants growled, the corporais
cursed, and here and there private
broke into laugh or song in a 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 advertisements I'M
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.
1.-THE colonel, the major, FIVE captains
seven lieutenants and 800 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 al
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, anC
there was a cruel, crafty smile play
ing over his mouth at intervals. He
had been called a cheat and swim
dler. The man who used the words lay
dead on the edge of the woods, ant
around him were the dead of his regi
ment-hundreds of dead.
"You murderer" shouted a hundred
men at the brigadier as he rode.
you cursed tiend!" shouted another
hundred.
"Why don't some one shoot him il
the back?" sobbed captain who hat
lost half his company.
But the brigadier smiled and rode
on. In his official report he would say
THE Third regiment was sent in OF
the left flank, but not being properl,
led or held up to their work, accom-
plished nothing, and suffered a heavy
loss. am sorry to say that among thu
killed was the gallant Col. Bell, whc
has heretofore displayed the creates
judgment and gallantry!"