Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-10-28

plumbers. In front OF the division
marching at will over the dusty road,
is an advance guard to clear the way;
in front of the advance few cavalry
men. The latter are the first to make
the turn of the highway, and note the
distractions and the earthwork at the
north end. They smile in derision.
In front of them are 100 men; behind
them five brigades. There will be a
rush down the narrow road with its
walls of clay, over the bridge, over the
earthwork, score of dead or wounded
friends and foes, and the specter of
death will hardly have been halted on
its march.
"See and hear EN-. T9m?" queries an
old veteran of his right-hand man as he
peers over the top of the earthwork.
AYE, Ben" is the answer.
"How many?"
"a division at least
"And what are we going to do?"
die here. of course! Didn't the cap
tain say we were to hold the bridge to
the last?"
"But, d-n it, it amt fair show, =
protested Ben. Who's fightin 80 to
end expectin to come out on top?'
Nobody. We are comm out in the
trenches with two feet of earth to cover
us up. Feel shaky, old MANI
mum. but it amt fair show"
sBetter save yer breath. We amt
lookin for fair shows jest now Lordy'
but what a chance to swipe 1t to EN-!
They are formin up around TIE bend'
and we'll hev it redhot in about a
min-it!"
Around the bend of the road 200 in
fantry formed up in lines eight abreast
The width Of the road allowed for no
more. With bayonets fixed and mus
kets at the trail they waited for a
minute and then made dash. From
the center of the earthwork leaped
sheet of fame a third of the way across
the bridegroom the right and left
other sheets of fame Every musket
hau a rest on top of the earthwork-
every sight coveted a human target.
The head of the advancing column did
not reach the planks of the bridge.
1t melted away in the midst OF the OBJ
structions, to create other obStruc-
tions, and forty men lay dead and
wounded as the smoke lazily drifted
away from the stream.
Purity fair fur, what time we was
at it," said Ben as he rose up for look
after reloading.
I'VE ought to got at least twenty
more at sich close shootin'," growled
Tom in reply.
They'll come ag'in, of course?"
Don't be a id fool, Ben. Dye
think the loss of forty or fifty men
would stop one Of our divisions from
gittin somewhars? II you feel tired
and sleepy, you'd better ask fur leave
to go to the rear
Say don't want too much of yer
chin, old man"
ooh, you don't! WAL, you jest tend
to fghtin and dyin and don't worry
about my chin Better shet your eyes
this time and see if you can't damage
some of EN-"
That dash was feeler to develop the
strength defending the bridge and see
if ii was mined for blowing up.
Around the bend of the road they
laughed at the idea of 100 men holding
a division at bay. Farther back the
soldiers fretted and fumed and officers
cursed and swore at the delay. Down
on the left the battle was already open
ing. and Death was sharpening his
scythe on the stone walls which men
of peace had built UP fifty years before.
Get ready! Fire at Will"
This time column Of 500 men,
formed eight abreast as before. dashed
at the bridge with ringing cheers and
though the first four or five ranks went
T0pFTrN nEyyTT