The National tribune., 1900-09-06

other mile. l ached in every muscle anc
| joint in my body, my feet were CALLED anC
| bistered, and the almost intolerabie heat
of the past few days had rendered me limI
and almost lifeless. Many of the weaker
ones had already dropped out.
We hastily made for ourselves cup OF
coffee and were soon dragging our tired
limbs over the hard and dusty Maryland
| road. The air was cool and pleasant, but
| the dust stirred up by such a large body
! of moving men rendered it almost suffo
eating Everything pointed to the fact
| that we were going forward to a great
battle: Rumor was persistent to the ef
feet that the enemy was just ahead, and
that before this day should close one OF
the great battles of the war would be be-
gun.
At my side On my left marched Papa
He had shown alarming symptoms OF
downright cOwardice during the past few
days, symptoms which if exhibited by any
one else would have excited in me feel
ings of contempt. But they seemed Sc
natural In Papa" and were so pathetic
that they moved me to intense commisera-
ton. 1t seemed to have just dawned
upon his simple mind what war really
meant, and he felt sure that he was go
ing forward to certain death. The most
of his companions took advantage of the
poor fellows panic to tell him stories of
ltiSoiio VIM Soic Will
presentiments of death and the present.
ments had proved correct. On the other
hand, | had tried to calm and reassure
him, but my efforts had little effect ex-
cept to draw him closer to me.
The day before we had received orders
to march westward to oppose the invading
army, Papa" had received letter from
Mary containing a photograph of herself
and the baby. The picture was that of
very commonplace-looking little woman
holding in her arms smiling and rather
intellisent-looking baby. Papa" spent
hours looking at the picture, and as the
inevitableness of the coming battle i'm
pressed itself on his slow mind almost
bathed il in tears. The expression of his
fear became so abject that | expected that
he would desert, but no such thought
seemed to enter his mind.
The weary hours of the march dragged
themselves out, and at O'Clock we were
halted for breakfast and a short rest. On
all sides were evidences of impending bat
tie: officers riding hither and thither, ar
tillery and ammunition trains moving to
the front, confusion thrice confounded
everywhere. AT 6:30 O'Clock the order
came to Fall in" and in a few minutes
we were again moving forward. So far
as outward appearances went my COM
panion had gained control of his feel
ngs. His begrimed face was not heroic,
but he was outwardly calm. The very
intensity of his feelings seemed to have
burned out.
A few minutes past o'clock we heard
the boom of single gun far to our left,
and an instant later the country for miles
echoed with the thunder of cannon. The
conflict seemed but q short distance in
front of US, but hour after hour passed
away and we did not seem to get percepti-
bly, nearer. Oh, the horrors of that aw-
full march. The sun rose on our left ball
of fire. The air was sitting with heat and
dust. Many brave fellow with despair
written in his face was compelled to drop
out of the ranks. For myself, while de
termined to do my duty and go forward,
| felt that | could almost take the advice
of Jobs wife-curse God and die. My
companion trudged along at my side,
fearful Hooking object by reason of sweat
and CRIME.
And now it was evident that we were
near the end of our march. We were on
ground that had been fought over in the
morning, and on every side were evil
dences of the battle. We saw in the fields
on either side parks of ammunition trains,
field hospitals, ambulances filled with
wounded. slightly wounded men walking
to the rear, and, alas, it must be con-
fessed. deSerters and coffee-coolers. We
had heard for some time a low, peculiar
rumble, which we now recognized as the
sound of musketry. Surely battle was
near at hand.
We were now taken to our right into
the open fields, through a small stream Ia
fearful trial for my CALLED feet.) and UP
TO the brow of hill, where we were or
dered to lie down. The enemy was evi-
IDENTIFY just over the hill, and we could
hear the sharp ping" of the bullets over
our heads. Here We were left in the broil-
ing sun for what seemed an age Papa"
had again broken down and he bemoaned
his fate with bitter tears. | could not
console him; | did not know what to saw.
The movements of large bodies of troops
and of artillery all about us and the hustle
of officers back and forth indicated that
some important movement was about TO
take place. All at once we were called
to our feet by the word of command.
Scarcely had we dressed up when one of
our company, the lightest-hearted Of MS
all. the greatest practical joker and the
best all-round fellow in the regiment.
dropped forward as if he would charge the
enemy alone and unarmed After taking
about dozen steps he wavered and sank