Evening star., 1901-02-23

maSSed under Sherman in the lines OF the
old Tennessee. Well may the gloom deep
en- in the eyes of the great keAuckan,
holding Braggs imperied center on the
ridge, for in the foremost lines of Wood
and Sheridan. in five eager battalions, the
flag of his own state waves side by side
with that of the Union. 1t is indeed brother
against brother this day,
Seven-leagued boots are these worn bro
gans in the Cumberland's array. The stride
has heightened quickened, and at the roar
of the rebel guns on the heights and the
shrek of the coming she'll, first one man,
then another-first one battalion, then an
other-the march becomes a dog trot; quick
time changes to the double, and then, as
the breastWorks blaze with sudden fire
and the Enfield lead comes kissing through
the lines, up goes mighty shout that
browns every order, even sound of bugle,
and in furious, tumultuous charge, cheering
as they dart and leap and run, straight at
the works at the foot Of the slope go the
men of the blue brigades. Over the para
pet rails they pour, leaping the shallow
trenches, blazing at the backs of the sour
ry1ng foe, seizfng the laggards; raging and
scowing at their own officers who, riding
furiously up and down their front, check
the wild pursuit, drive back the leaders
and struggle hard and Loyalty to carry out
the order given Halt at the trenches
till further ORDERS
But the blood of the two corps-4th and
14th-is boiling within them Halt is a
hard word when so much can be won. In
Sher1dans center are two battalions that
falrly raced for the prize and leaned side
by side into the trenches, Enyart's and
lPrtde's-Kentucky and Ohio-and it has
taken all their leaders could do to check
| their way. Bob. dismounted by a frag-
ment of shell that tore the tendons from
his chargers leg, strides up and down his
painting line, speaking soothingly to his
long-legged kinsfolk, while his tall adiutant
faces the colors at the center and forbids
| the sergeants to bulge. 1t is Norman
Holt's first charge with his own regiment.
and his heart is high as the ridge before
limits crest only 500 yards away.
Just to their left, on the flank Of a COM
rade brigade. battalion Of Badgers has
been brought to unwilling halt, their ad-
jutant. too, in front of the colors, their
field officers. like many another along the
line leaping from saddle for now that their
own are out of the way. the southern rifle
men all along the crest blaze down at the
defenseless foe. and with trail mates
kicking high in air. Eight 12s" and six
Founders In rude redoubts drive plugging
hre OF case and canister tearing down the
hillside. Thick and fast the iron hail beats
on the unsheltered hosts-four splendid di-
Visions full panoplied, eager and raging
lor close combat, held back in the moment
| OF triumph. Man after man in the ranks
wonders at the order, deems 1t a blunder,
The very bayonet seems to have its brain.
to realize the utter cruelty of that halt.
II ordered to charge at all it should have
been to charge home. Then, pell-melI with
the pursued. they could have rushed mn
| the slope, unscathed by southern lead for
the guns dared not shoot for fear. of now
the muZzles of a sheltered line IL permitted
to advance at all, Sheridan and his staff.
dismounted are back Of a little hut that
| gives scant cover from the storm, and
Sheridan Is shaking his fist. Here, there
and everywhere along the brigades men roll
over in the grasp Of death. The halt Is
simply murderous. the sacrifice too much
| to ask OF mortal man, and again the wild
murmur and mutter goes maddening along
| the line. By heaven! must the Army of
! the Cumberland forever be placed in the
| wrong? Must its lot be ever to suffer and
never to do? Enyart Is raging In rear of
his men. Pride is damning the Emmets-
| who won't lie still. Gaffney is waddling up
and down in front of his wing cursing the
| fatesf In his choicest vernacular, and Nor
man Holt Is kneeling by the side of his
| stricken colorbearer, for an Enfield has
bored into the tall sergeant's lungs and
| the silken folds are deiuged with blood
before their rescuer can bear them aloft
There Is something electric in the sight of
their sudden lifting. Men are SO eager for
q signal-for an excuse Of any kind that as
| the flag swings forward SO surges the line.
| Backward they will not go-anywhere bet
| ter than that-for there on Orchard Knob
stands the stern commander who declared
| them demoralized.
Forty yards forward there Is partial
| shelter under the steep, and so, as Norman
rises up rises the rank, and all on a sud-
den from dozen points along the captured
works. In squads. then In companies men
| begin to forge ahead. some merely for shell
| ter. but more full bent for attack, and be-
l fore the generals can begin to realize what
| Is coming. Thinking Bayonets" has taken
command for the time, and in spite of all
| orders the Cumberland has sprung to the
! charge For a moment hoarse shoutings
| are heard. 'Halt! haltr ''Go back, therel
| Lie down, there!" but only for moment.
Buckeye and Badger have started a race.