Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-07-03

Lduhg uIlbl 81 luc SCOlulllS IuSSIS NON II
ward until it reaches some lowly non
commissioned officer, who gets rid of it
by giving it to q private soldier.
But had no time to absorb this wis
dom during my first charge, for the
major suddenly ordered our captain to
hurry along with such men as he had,
leaving the stragglers to the tender
mercies of the rear guard. 1t seemed
strange that we had not yet closed the
I small distance between us and the
troop ahead Of us, but as we hurried
on we had the melancholy consolation
of learning that ours was not the only
new company whose men had come to
grief through ignorance Of their duties
and by falling out had made many sue
cessive gaps in the column. Not all the
unfortunates were bad riders, but some
of them had pricked their horses with
their sabers during spasmOdic endeav-
Ors to keep these weapons well in hand,
and no self respecting horse could be
expected to be even tempered when
prodded with yard of steel with Il
sharp point at one end and $50 pounds
of Srccnhorn at the other
Such as were left of US went faster
and faster, the horses, becoming ex-
cited, unconsciously taking the gallOp.
This being gait at which a child could
keep the saddle. there was no more
struggling. Assisted by some vigorous
language from the captain, we formed
new sets Of fours and went along in
really handsome style.
When our rush had lasted about
quarter of an hour, began TO wonder
when we would strike the enemy. If
we had already suffered so severely,
what would be left of us after we had
met the foe and been thrown into the
confusion which always befalls cav
Airy party at the instant Of absolute
clash? Well, If it must come, 1t were
better that it should come while we
and our horses were nerved up to fight
ing pitch.
There came q time in our mad rush
when the road led through a bit of
low, damp ground on which there was
no dust so we could look along the col
umn. Dusty though we were, the spec
tacle was really inspiriting, with its
hundreds of flashing sword blades and
its successive guidons-sma flags, one
ut the head of each troop. We ascend
ed gentle slope near the top of which
and perhaps quarter of mile in ad-
vance rode a man with a broad felt
hat and a very small horse. | asked
the lieutenant who he was and was
told:
Hes the reb we're chasing. | s'pose."
What! All that effort to catch one
mana man who was apparently get
ting away? All the scare, the terror,
the wild thoughts, the helplessness,
the disorder, the suffering, merely to
Overtake one man! felt angry enough
TO desert. | lost my temper and ex-
pressed my thoughts so loudly that the
lieutenant overheard me and, looking
angrily at me, said:
'Be quiet, you little fool. There's
no better way of finding their main
body than by chasing man who is
trying to get back to it, Is therep
mo, sir" | replied meekly as a flood
of light descended upon my wits, and
! longed to shrivel within my uniform
SO that ] could not be seen. did not
long have to chew the bitter cud Of
reflection, however, for soon we heard
some shots in the advance. Our pace
was slackened; we became tightly
packed In the road. breaking our for
nation and causing much trampling on
horses hoofs, with the consequent
kicking and swearing. Then down the
column was passed In rapid succession
the orders:
Halt! Dismountw
Were we to fight on foot? Well,
whatever might befall the enemy, l
was sure 1t would be far safer for US.
Then came the orders:
Loosen your saddle girths. Tie your
horses to the fence. Stand by and pre-
vent them from rolling, or your sad
dies will be broken"
What an inglorious conclusion! l
did not dare ask the lieutenant what 1t