The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-06-05
CHAPTER XI.
THE BATTLE.

my master, ana prepare IOr Ihe enc
N.Y. Most of the other men were up,
and the camp cooks had breakfast ready,
bread, meat and coffee. | threw off my
blanket and began to eat with the 9th
ers.
It was the misty region between
night and day, but the scouts had come
in, telling us that the British would
soon be at hand, and by the time the
breakfast had been dispatched the rim
of the sun appeared in the east, and the
day was coming. Then the general
formed the lire of battle, and each Of Us
took his appointed place
On the first rise of the slope stood the
South Carolina and Georgia militia, the
raw troops, in line about sixth Of
mile long, under the command of the
iron nerved Pickens. They were ex-
pected to give way before the charge of
the enemy, but Pickens was ordered to
hold them in line until they could de-
liver at least two volleys with the pre-
cision in firing which all these farmer
boys possessed. Then they We're to retire
behind the veteran regulars, under How
ard, who were on the second slope 80
yards in their rear. An equal distance
behind the second rise sat we cavalry
men on our horses, commanded to pull
on our reins and wait the moment upon
which the fate Of the battle should turn.
Thus stood our little army, awaiting
the rush Of the battle which, as | have
said, was to be one Of the most impor
tant and decisive Of our war. | stroked
Old Puts neck and bade him be cool,
but he was as calm as l and needed no
such encouragement The man on my
left, Dick Patterson. Marylander, sud-
denly whispered:
Don t you hear that faint rumbling
noise, Phil? That's the hoof beats of
cavalry. .
silence there" called the colonel
No one spoke again; but, bending my
ear forward, could hear the far drum
of the horses hoofs, and knew that the
English army was coming. Old Put
raised his head and snufed the air. \
red CLEAN appeared upon the horizon
and broadened rapidly. A thrill and
deep nur7nur ran the length and breadth
Of our army
.'Oh, if those militiamen will only
stand until the general bids them re-
tire!'' groaned the colonel
That he believed they woald not
knew, since it is a hard thing for new
men to stand the rush Of seasoned
army superior in numbers and equip
ment.
The sun was just swinging clear of
the earth and betokened a brilliant
morning, yet it was cold with the raw
damp that often creeps into a South
Carolina winter, and l for one wished
that the men could see a little more Of
the day and loosen their muscles little
better before they fought
The whole British army now appear
ed in the plain, cavalry, infantry and
feldpieces in a great red square |
could plainly see the officers giving
their orders, and knew that the attack
would come il a few minutes.
ELEVEN hundred of them and no raw
troops, y said Colonel Washington. eve
know that exactly from our scouts |
think our cavalry will have something
to do today
One officer, in the gayest Of uniforms,
| took to be the barbarian Tarleton, the
British leader whom we hated most OF
all, for, with all his soldierly qualities,
he was a barbarian, as most CT his
brother British officers themselves say
| wanted to see the faces of those
farmer boys down there on the slope
who were to receive the first and fercest
rush of the enemy and to check it. |
knew that many Of them We're white to
the eyes. but their backs were toward
me, and could not see.
They don appear to move, . whls-
pered Patterson Their line locks as
firm as if it were made Of iron.
Like untempered iron, guess, |
repIied break like glass at the first
shot .
a bugle sounded in the front OF the
British lines, and its notes, loud and
mellow, came to Us, but from our ranks
rose only the heavy breathing and the
shuflling of men and horses.
The trumpet call was followed By
cheer from mere than q thousand
throats, and then the British rushed
upon US. The brass feldpieces on their
tanks opened with the thunder that be-
tokens the artillery, and mingled with
their roar We're the rattle of the small
arms. the throb of the drums and the
clamorous hoof beats of their numerous
cavalry.
The face Of their red line blazed with
fire, their red uniforms glowing through
it like bloody gleam. while the pol
ished bayonets flashed in front.
'9They are firing too soon and coming
too fast, Z" said Colonel Washington.
''By God, look at those militiamen!
They are standing like the Aassachu,
setts farmers at Bunker Hill. .
1t was so. The raw line OF plowboys
never wavered 1t bent nowhere and
was still as straight and strong as an