The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-01-05
than th.t Of jabbing spurs into his
horse once in awhile.


I'VE must be attacked from the rear.
now the cavalry is going to the 'front.'"
Cant trust the fools for sense less
they're given horse apiece to help
out" Speak low, boys. you'll frighten
the cavalry" 'See q dead cavalEyman
and look around for an honest sutler."
Army volunteer jibes are sometimes
pithy. never polite.
But the dreary, stumbling march
over the worn mud roads that day was
interrupted by longer halt than
usual, and then the splitting of musket-
ry in front told that something was
happening which promised to break the
monotopy.
"Howly smoke!" said red-haired
Irish private. unslinging a smoke-and.
grease-defiled skillet which had been
tapping against his back since day
light, there's goin' to be foight pur-
ty soon, fellers!"
Back galloped an aide-de-camp. a
dandy boy. afraid of nothing but sour
generals and lame horses, and yelled
something TO our colonel. Down went
half dozen panels of the rail fence on
the left OF the road, and the leading
company jumped through the gap the
column following. The regiment.
through and in the field, swung diagon-
ally "left into line" and the rear COM
panies shed everything but guns as
they ran forward faster than mere
double-qu,ck.
AS the line was at right angles TO the
road and going toward the cedars at
the top of the field, bang! bang! came
from the top Of the slope, and we saw
through the trees few mounted men
riding away like mad. A few shots
were wasted after them, and we were
where they had fred from.
Tho ridge sloped down the other side.
and in the valley, rising to higher
ground opposite, our skirmishers were
already ot work. 1t was rather jolly TO
get few minutes halt here. and to see
the detached puffs Of smoke way down
below. while we ourselves were safe
and sound
Looks pooty to see fellows shootin'
when you don't have to take 1t yerself,
don't it?"
"You bet; but the way things look,
some luclier fellows will soon be watch.
ing us giving exhibitions down there
ourselves. and thnt won't be so nice.
eh."
Bugies were calling, aids gafloping,
mounted officers passing back Of the
lines, while the men were bringing
cartridges to the front Of their belts,
re-tyins shoes, and generally getting
ready for the "fuse." A little fun was
passing here and there as a recruit was
chaff>d or some country wag made
Joke. Officers repressed this and looked
serious.
Forward" and of the men started
down the slope, trying with Indifferent
success to keep the line, broken 20 fre-
qusntly by stumps and dead trunks and
small guliies. We passed where the
skirmishe4s were shooting-the firing
sounding heavier from our right Two
men had TO be stepped around; one
dead, fiat on his back. hands clenched
one knee drawn up, and sghtless eye
balls staring at the clouds. Hes got
his mediciLe." The other was compos-
sdly waiting for some ono to help him
to tho rear. He had managed to ban
dage clums.ly his shin, and his hands
and clothes were bloody.
whats up. bossT
"Cu.xed rebel liked to blowed the
whole leg OF me. Don't guess caught
1t anywhere else-leastways. don't feel
it. Watch out for 'em. They're wicked
this morning" And we stumbled on
and left him.
Right across our front rumbled a bat
terry Of brass held pieces on dead run,
uphill as it was. The horses, with bowed
heads, dashed into a gallop, seemed to
jerk the pieces forward At each stride,
and .he guns careened and bounced so
that 1t was a miracle how the artillery
men kept their seats on the caissons.
semething like a cheer went UP from
cur line. for II was regular battery,
and volunteer infantry feel toward reg
ulsr artillery As big man With his fists
feels toward small man with pistol
" uO CViucV oVNI oh " - siuC III . oiO~s
Just - va reached the top Of the
slope We caught it. From the fence on
the line OF tho timber ahead . vollsy was
poured into u. In On instant every
man was down. .Sou,e couldn't get up
Until thsy wsrs iift>d. A Hdsriess
horse, cra.sd with fear, Salloped, tail
in the air, right through us a. we rose
firing and went at the fence. Everyone
was firing now mostly too high, and the
"Johnniss" behind the fence gave rs
good ~ they go<-thst's certain.
There was NO time 70 spare to count
noses yea, even IL the smoke allowed It.
Officer. swore and waved their swords.
men yelled and went ahead blindly,
until tho fence was reached, and few
desperate devils who wouldn't 60 back
dubbed or jabbed with the bayonet un-
till they quit fgh ting and-we had car
lied the position in spite Of the furious
and stubborn opposition they had given
rs. We were victors.