Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-07-05

n behind either line of earth
Y! works sought to shelter
"a themselves alike from the
burning heat and the bullets
of the enemy. They did not
know which they dreaded the more.
My. now hot it is said Helm, tax.
ing off his cap and wiping his forehead.
Yes, but if you were to stick your
head up above the earthwork there
you'd find it Il good deal hotter" said
Willard.
"rhe Yankee sharpsho"tcrs, you
mcan." replied Helm. "Thcrc's fell
low over there a little bit to our right
who never misses. lie clipped off my
finest lock of hair. the one my sweet
heart mt nome used to say became me
so well, and made rcd strca!; right
acrnSs the top Of my head. Say. how
that fellow can shoot
Helm puckcrcd up his LIS and emit
ted low whistle of admiration. Then
his eyes wandered to IL" C,SnIntled
gun lying midway between tn" lines,
its wheels shot off. its caisSon smashed
to pieces but its mighty brorlz" barrel
intact anu TtiuN dSiih lpl u'l'h anu
destruction if mounted once more.
Its pity we can't get that gum
said Helm. Put new wheels on 1t,
give it Il caisson. and 1t would be
wonler."
"rhcrr's no doubt of it." said Will
lard. but how to get it, that's the rub,
and it's hothcring us Johnnits just as
much as it is the Yankees over there"
These two divisions of the hostile
armies had been face to face for days,
neither able to advance and both refns'
ing f. retreat Three days before one
side had run forward great gun in Il
bold attempt to break through the lin"
of the crcmy. but the guns squad WAS
anuihilatcd almost instantly by the
rifle fire. and the gun itself was dis
mounted by the shells of a sheltered
battery. The victors did not dare so
forth to secure the splendid gun. know
ing that they in their turn would be
swept out of existence by hostile fire
SO there it lay midway between them,
/ neither side able to secure it and both
covcting it with all the ardor of vet
Grams.
Helm doTcd his cap and wiped his
hot face once more. "fIow the sun
burns" he repeated.
$50 it does" said Willard, but be-
licvc they've gone to sleep over there
in the Yankee lines
Gone to sleep! Gone to Sleep cx-
claimed Helm Scornfully. You just
stick your head above the carthwork
and the sharpshooter down there lit
tie to the right will show you whether
or not they've gone to Sleep
'I'vc q good notion to do it, said
Willard.
"Scc here now. Willard" exclaimed
Helm. Don't You be Il fool. | know
it's silly of h,e. but value your worth
less life. | don't want to lose Il friend.
How would you know, anyway, wheth-
or they are asleep or not if you got
killed? If you are bent on it, why
don't you put your cap on your ram
rod and stick it Just above the IMrapet?
Then you'll see if our friend the sharp
shooter isn't awake"
Willard lifted the cap on the ram
rod Il few inches above the carthwOrk.
where it would look from the hostile
line like human head thrust up care
lCsSly. Not Il sound came from the
northern carthwGrk. No rifle cracked;
there was no flicker of smoke.
"They'rr asleep" repeated Willard.
land I'll prove it. Here goes my real
/ head"
He thrust his face above the earth
work and stood there staring ut the
mort hcrn lines. He was in plain view
brow, eyes. every feature. Usually
ut such Il sight the whole northern
carthwork would have famed into fire
with the zeal of the sharpsh0oters.
Now the dead silence of the morning
was unhrokcn Not rifle muZzle- WAS
thrust into view.
Helm was amazed. What does 1t
mean. Blly?' he said TO Willard.
The low. mellow note of Il trumpet
came from the northern lines. 1t WAS
a signal, a musical note breathing of
peace. and its soft echoes floatcd far
away. repeating themselves among the
Iunny hills.
"Thcy want to talk to u.s.. exclaimed
Helm. 81 wonder what's up"
The soft note of the trumpet came
again. and then an officer in the uni
form of colonel appeared on the
northern carthwOrk. waving a small
white flag. a southern colonel rose up
near Helm and Willard to respond and
lifted Il signal to advance.
/ The nurthcrncr lcapcd down boldly
and came Across the open space be-
tween the two lines that had been apt
3 ly named "The Plain of Death" AS
he advanced he passed the fallen gun,
halted there n moment. Slr0kcd the pol
ished barrel and then walked en-.
/ After the first signal both cnrthworks
were lined with hr"drcdS of heads.
| They popped up suddenly. and every
pair of eyes GaZed curio"Sly AT the
northern colonel who walked 50 lightly
across Thu Plain of Death" and on all
their heads the sun bllzrd down.
"a fine follow" said Helm tn Willard,
noddiny toward tn" northern colonel
who had crossed THE Plain of Death"
the southern colonel advancing to meet
him Ticy salutcd politely. and the
! southern colo Gel stood waiting and in