The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-25

thought in all their breasts was of ref
uge behind its numbers. We reached a
| little brook and plunged across it in
such a huddled mass that the water
flew up in shower, and then in an in
slant all of us were on the other side.
There we paused a moment. A great
man on a great white horse stood
across the path.
[ shall never forget the look of that
man as he sat there on his horse before
us, horse and man alike motionIess, and
the eyes of each seeming to blaze with
IRE, as if they were one and the same
being. Every line of his large, strong
| features showed in the dazzling sun
light, and I remember that l noticed
even then, although I had seen him
many times before, how massive and
powerful was the jaw and how clear
and penetrating the eye. His hand
! larger than the average mans, and
grasping the bride rein, lay upon his
| horses neck.
1t was General Washington, the COM
mander in chief.
The horse did not move, the rider was
motionless in the saddle: he merely sat
! there regarding US with that calm. Jelly
cold gaze which he knew so well how
to assume and which we feared more
/ than bullets.
/ We recoiIed as if the enemy were be-
/ fore US and not behind us. and for the
moment we forgot the fire that had
! driven us on. Then he spoke:
| May I ask what this regiment is do
ing?" he said
| His tones We're calm. icily cold. like
/ his look. but full of scorn. We heard
/ them distinctly amid the cracking fire
from the British. although he had not
/ seemed to raise his voice, We made no
/ reply, merely looking at one another,
each waiting for some other to speak.
! May 1 ask what this regiment is do
ing?" he repeated, but in louder voice.
and then he continued: is this the reg
iment that I commended after Prince
I ton in the presence Of the whole army
for extraordinary gallantry in the face
of the enemy. Is this the regiment that
showed even greater bravery at Ger
mantown?''
! There was a cry in the rear of our
huddled crowd. The fire Of the enemy
! had grown hotter and had come closer.
/ 1t was scorching terribly. and the reg
iment. by an abrupt convulsive move
ment. heaved forward directly toward
the general The fight was about to
continue in spite OF him
But ne rode suddenly toward US. MS
face red with wrath. and he shouted IN
a voice that rose far above the crash Of
the British Husketry; Where is your
colonel? Where is Colonel Carru-
thers?"
The colonel is killed. He fell early
in the attack" replied some one.
And his body-where is it? What
have YOU done with it," shouted the
general
1t is back yonder." 7 replied,
among the bushes on the hillside. He
was left where he fell
DO you mean 10 say that you have
abandoned your coloneIs body TO the
enemy?" shouted the general to the
whole regiment rather than TO me.
Does any American regiment abandon
its officers. dead or alive. in such
manner A retreat before superior
numbers can De pardoaed. but not thaJl
So great 3 disgrace cannot be endured
Go back and bring away your coloneFs
bodyI"
His voice was large. Ike everything
else about him. and its tones rolled
among Us like thunder The men wav-
cred and turned feeting glances toward
the enemy They thought OF the body
Of our beloved colonel lying back there