Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-07-05
WHEN BOYS WERE men.
BY JOHN HABBERTON.
Author of 'sHelen's Babies" ''GeOrge Wash
ingtOn,'' Etc.

brush" Mention Of 1t never got Into
the newspapers. There were thou
sands like it, except for the falling
bridge, during the war. the results be-
ing too small or gradual to be part OF
the history which was being made by
some great engagements which pro
portionately were not so bloody. Per
haps the story Of this one will explain
to some people why old soldiers when
chatting together about the war talk
much of the march and camp. but very
little about fighting.
The fight at the bridge was the Sc
verest engagement in which our com
pany had ever participated, so l ought
to have been so absorbed by it as
to be insensible to anything but my
duty as a soldier. am glad to say
that | loaded. aimed and fired as care.
fully as if-oh. as if it were the first
day of the "open season. for quail In
the woods and fields near Summerton,
| Nevertheless | frequently detected my
self in the act of looking about me to
see what other men were doing. | saw
Cloyne loading and firing rs placidly
and smilingly rs If he were merely
making out bills at the Summerton
lumber yard. Mick McTwyny was
handling his carbne as energetically
as if it were a coffee mill. yet in his
excitement he was discharging 1t In
the direction Of the sun. the tree tops
and his own toes. as II the enemy were
atoms Of the surrounding air and could
be easily hit by man with his eyes
shut. Meanwhile he was volubly ours
ing his platoon ir English and Irish,
with some assistance from the verbi-
age Of the holy Scriptures and the vo'
cabulary Of the Bowery, for not firing
more rapidly and carefully.
LOOK at that little dhivil Brainard!'
he shouted He's putin rebs into pur.
gatory as fast as If he was walkin' to
Sunday school in Summerton."
Brainard: The sound Of his name
startled me and caused guilty pang
as my having been concerned only for
my own life impressed me. l looked
quickly about for him and just in time
to see him roll sidewse from behind a
fallen log. his face as white as the pa
per on which am writing. Killed?
No. he moved. hurried to his side
and asked him where he was hit.
I'm the heart Jack. but twas not the
enemy that hit me. Twas Mick Nc
Twyny's tongue. Great heaven! I've
vowed my life hundred times to the
saving Of men-you know was study
ing for the ministry But now I'm try
ing to kill men. It's all-but why
aren't you firing? See that red beard
ed face sticking out from behind tree
on the other side Of the creek? No, no!
Don't you fire at him! Here goes!
Bralnard's lips closed so tight that
l could not see their dividing line. so |
looked toward the Confederate with
red beard, and a second after Bralnard
fired | saw the red bearded man clap
hand to his shoulder. Then the
angles of his elbows and knees indicat-
ed that he had gone out of action and
sat down behind his tree.
at that instant Drainard himself had
strip of skin and u bit Of flesh taken
from his cheek by shot from the
otlc: side, but he did not know of it
till the light was over. was recalled
to Il sense of duty by Cloyne. who
drawcd
"What are you lounging for. Jack?
This isn't Sunday school picnic"
Quickly 1 covered my confusion by
regaining the cover | had left. but l
was still curious to know what other
men were doing. The Balaklava vet
erans were side by side on the ground
and as flat as the head Of a snake
about to coil. though they did not seem
intent OH striking. Not far to my right
stood Phil Hamilton. handsome and
composed as usual. but in apparent
trouble with his pistol. He looked so
superb. with his clear cut face. erect
figure and broad shoulders. that for a
moment wished my cousin May
might see him. Then was glad she
could not, for did not Rrainard love
May. and was not Brainard my dear
! est friend?
Still. pistols are made only to shoot
| with. and the moment of battle is the
| time to use them. so | hurried over to
| Hamilton and said:
Take my pistol and give me yours.
Mine is in perfect order. and. rs