The National tribune., 1901-11-28

thiekets-hills-not SO much dust now,
but the sun getting hotter and hotter, and
hotter and hotter getting our thirst.
And Sunday morning. Close up! close
upl
Hear it? Along the southeast horizon
smokes and booms;, Hear it? The can
non roar in the valley below us.
Eight o'clock-seyen miles; O'Clock
10 miles; ford-we cross at double
quick; a bridge-we cross at double-quick;
the sound of cannon and small-arms is
close. in our front.
What is that confusion up on the hill
Smoke and dust and fire.
See them? -Four men with another
and that other. how the red blood streams
from his headl
What are they doing up on the hill
They are dying up on the hill. Why
should they die?
All, me; ah, mel
The 11th is formed at the foot of the
hill; the commander rides to its front.
"Color-bearer-t -twelve-paces-to the
front = March! Battalion = present
Then, with drawn sword, the Colonel
also salutes the fag-and cries. die
by itr'
A mortal cold goes to the marrow of my
bones; my comrades faces are white as
death.
tdt-tdi-IOi--llN- -ibtty uuelS.
"For-ward-guide center-Marchr'
Slowly we move up the hill; the line
sways in curS -; we halt and reform.
We lie down near the crest; shells
burst over us; shells fly with dreadful
kissing beyond US. l raise my head; right
oblique is battery; it is hidden in smoker
again l see the guns and the horses and
the men; they load and fire, load and fire.
a round shot strikes the ground in our
"a IiS-f'iSpS--aop over We
fire at the smoke.
Down nat on your facet Do you hear
the singing in the air? Thopi Johnson
is hit; he runs to the rear, bending over
until his hight is lost.
And now roar like that of q water
fall; / look agaiR-the battery has disap-
peared-but the smoke rises and l see q
long line of men come out of the far-off
woods and burst upon the guns. The
men of the battery flee, and the rebels
swarm among the captured pieces.
Now there are no more kissing shells
or bullets singing. We rise and look-to
our right regiment is marching forward
no music, no drum-marching forward,
flag in the center-ColOnel behind the
center, dismounted-the men march on;
quick time, ight-shoulder-shift; the fee
ing cannoneers find safety behind the reg
iment always marching on. The rebels
at the battery are not in line; some try
to drag away the guns; swords flash in
the hot sun: the rebels reform; they lie
down; and now the regiment is at double
quick with trailed arms: the rebel line
rises and delivers its FIRE.
The smoke swallows everything.
Again see. The rebel line has melted
away. Our own men hold the battery.
They try to turn the guns once more on
the fleeing rebels; and now a rebel bat
terry far TO the left works fast upon the
regiment in disorder. a fresh rebel line
comes from the woods-and rushes for the
Our men give way-they run-the officers
are frantic; all run, all run-and the cav
airy ride from the woods, and ride straight
through our flying mea and strike-and
many of the fugitives fire upon the horse
men, who in turn flee for their lives.
1t is long past noon; the sun is a huge
red shield; the world is smoke. Another
regiment has gone in; the roar of battle
grows; crowds of wounded go by; bat
terry galleps headlong to the rear-the
men madly lash the horses.
at-tal-ion-Attentionr
Our time is upon US; the 11th stands
and forms.
For-ward-8Iarchl'
The dust is so dense that I can see
nothing in the front-but we are moving.
Smith drops; Lewis falls to the rear; the
ranks are thinning: elbows touch 10
longer-ouF pace quickens-a hOrrid i'm
patience seizes ne-through the smoke I
see the cannons-fastef, faster-I see the
rebel line-a tempest breaks in my face
Surrender, you damneG Yankee"