The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-26
CHAPTER XVII.
HOW THE BRIGADE WINS ITS NAME.

ShAfIEh ANlls
HOW THE BRIGADE WINS ITS NAME.
Over at the southwest. half way to that
second grove, in the shelter of which the
rearmost brigade has halted, stands that
little orchard and nearby farmhouse, a
barn or two, with some fences and a de-
crepit wall of jagged rocks. Half way TO
this one peaceful spot, to the right front
of these crouching, staring, incredulous
lads of the "Stonewdll." the threatened
guns are\ laundering, the gray ca%nnoneers
leaping in and out through the billowing
clouds of sulphur smoke. Half way toward
that eastward grove, which conceals most
of the second in column of the blue bril-
gades, this solitary battalion in the feath-
cred black hats and the wake of its Skin
mishers is jauntily proceeding to show its
comrades back on the pike how Bull Run
veterans take a battery. Half way between
the two groves, halted in the road and
watching the scene, are Doubleday's three
battalions, all three not as strong as a
fair-sized regiment. Gibbon, chief of the
second brigade, has led the Black Hats
through the wood, then, hating at the
edge, has bid them go in, their swarthy
little colonel waving his hand in glad ac-
ceptance of the trust-the last salute of
his soldier life. Almost ali of the blue di-
| vision can be seen from the north by the
men of the South; almost nothing of the
gray divisions can be seen from the south
by the men of the North. Gazing through
their binoculars, the Union commander and
staff note not a sign of the foe save these
venturesome batteries, the one here direct
ly to the north. the others slowly trotting
off to the northeast. beyond the range of
Gibbons guns. Yet there are a few mount
ed officers or orderlies squirting swiftly
along that far-away skirt of woods, and
one of these horsemen carries the order
| from Taliaferro, chief of division, to Talia-
ferro, chief of brigade, to move into line
on the right of Baylor-the '~'Stonewall."
Others are darling from Old Jack to Eve
and Taliaferro both with the word to
pitch in.
And one of these riders, galloping down
the line, is little Ladue. brought face to
face, as he dreamed, here on the field of
battle, with the men he had known as a lad
in the West, and, though his heart is throb-
bling hard, his dark eyes are burning with
excitement, mis- "soul in arms and eager for
the fray" something like soldier sympathy
and sorrow stirs him to the core, as, with
aughing confidence, the men of the stone
WALL spring TO their feet. the little red bat
tie flags are lifted on high. and forward
goes the brigade. sweeping in three slender
lines to the low crest in front, as their far
forward s~kirr.ishers leap from the grass
and volley their challenge at the coming
foe. Then Georgia and Louisiana and the
men at the guns hold their breath and
watch to see Virginia send those impudent
Yanks whirling back to the woods, or else
Then, wonder of wonders! So far from
scurrying at sight of the 'Stonewall,' the
flower of Virginia, the boast of the South,
that somber. black-crested line halts short
at sudden word Of command, the rife butts
leap to the shoulders, a crushing volley,
driving point blank up the gentle rise.
sends its storm of murderous lead square
in the "Stonewalrs' face. Down 60 two
battle flags. Down goes Neff, colonel COM
handing the Tbirty-third. Down go dozens
in the foremost rank, and, to the amaze of
Starke and Lawton, the "Stonewall'' fairly
staggers. Forward" is one hoarse-shout-
ed order, "Fire!" another, and with the
skirmishers crouching, crawling, rolling
away to right and left. Virginia blazes at
Wisconsin, now ramming fresh cartridges
into the smoking tubes. and with never a
thought of retreat. So far from sweeping
the field, the "Stonewall' is brought to a
halt and gets another fierce volley, fol-
lowed by rasping fire by file that is far
more effective than the downward aim of
the command, schooled rather to charge
than to shoot. For some unfathomed rea-
son the Virginians stand and fire instead
OF advancing at the double. perhaps be-
cause so many leaders are felled by the first
deadly volleys of those insolent Badgers,
fighting alone and doubtless unconscious of
the unseen odds against them. Taliaferro.
division chief. spurs angrily forward, and
through the thick haze of the battle smoke
his voice can be heard ordering Starke into
line with Baylor, for off to the right and
left, beyond the dense veil through which
the red fires are splitting, men shout of the
coming of other blue lines. Sol Meredith's
Hoosiers, cheering with long-pent enthusi-
asm, in full double rank aligned on their
colors, are sweeping at double quick
straight from the pike at the west of the
grove. Arms at the trail, at the shoulder
or anyhow, all eyes TO the front, all hearts
on the Jump, Indiana is heading straight
for the left of Wisconsin, and in five min
utes more its long front is hidden in it's
own fre-fashing cloud, and it is high time
for young Taliaferro. rushing his Third
brigadesmen round the right rear of the
"Stonewall,' to make a try for that farm
house. Another five minutes, and he and
Meredith are clinched at the corner; an
other brigade is in line for the South. an
other battalion for the Union, and still not
a man has thought OF retreat-save only
the thick stream Of wounded hobbling pain
fully back for the rear. Then Starke, too.
somes swiftly. buoyantly striding over the
low rolling plain. and dips into the smoke
bank that floats from the west. ranging
alongside the '.~Stonewall, just as a third
Yankee regiment. filing from the woods,
: fronts to the left. and with machineliks