The National tribune., 1903-02-12
fired, sprang back again, reloaded, and
fred again

fired, sprang back again, reloaded, and
fred again.
1t seemed as if nothing could live before
that laundering siroccO of canister and
shrapnel, belching from those brazen
mouths. Showers of mud and water,
mingled with shreds of garments and frag-
ments Of bodies, filled the air after each
blast. but the rebels closed the gaps in
their ranks, and marched CALAMITY for
ward, the voices of Colonies, sounding
above the awful din, commanding:
"ClOse up, men; close up, there on the
colors. Forward, men-Forwardw
Then came the terrific crash of mus
kerry, as they came within close range of
the rifles of Buell's Brigade.
The rebel wave-it could not be called
line-seemed stunned as when a billOw
strikes a rock. For a moment it halted,
shivered, and recoiled.
Then rose again the shouts of the
COlonels:
''Close up, men; close up, there, on the
colors. Forward, men!-Forward, every
body!'
The rebels responded with the splendid
promptness of veteran soldiers, and plod-
ded doggedly forward against the belch-
ing volcano of death. Steadily they drew
nearer their enemies, and more dreadful
grew the slaughter. At one instant a line
would form as solid as wall. The next
it would seem like a great paling fence
every alternate man having fallen before
the Union musketry. The survivors would
Immediately join together in another solid
wall.
Presently a bank of smoke hid both
Union and rebel, so close were they to-
gether.
"Buell's Brigade amt able so far to
stop them,' said 81, in agony, turning to
look at the progress of the fanking col
umn. 'If they can't they'll surely go to
pieces when the others strike their flank"
The rebel column in the woods was
pushing forward even more rapidly than
to check its progress, and though the
limbs and the brush were obstacles, the
walking was better than over the plowed
burrows. Their skirmishers were already
firing into the exposed flank OF BuelPs
Brigade, and the next minute the whole
swarm raised a fierce yell, and tore
through the woods as if crazy, to fall upon
the doomed brigade. The fire of the
Union musketry and cannon suddenly
place of safety, and the rebel fire crashed
out in vengeful volleys. The rebels were
now getting satisfaction for the terrible
punishment they had been receiving, by
shooting down the fugitives from Buelps
Brigade
81 felt his soul shrivel at the over
whelmingness of the disaster. Not since
Stone River had he seen the glorious old
Fourteenth Corps so crushed and driven
dening; still more so the roar of musketry
and the devilish yells that came from the
woods through which the rebels were pur-
suing the dismembered fragments of the
brigade.
1t seemed utterly hopeless, but that ev-
cry Union soldier over there was being
killed or captured.
To the south of the main road the
troops seemed feverishly employed in pro-
tecting themselves against n similar dis
aster They were cutting down trees,
in rails and chunks, and throwing
up the mud into breastworks.
Then came lull, worse even than the |
terrible tumult, for it indicated that the
rebels had swept everything before them,
all resistance had ceased, and they were
gathering up the spoils of victory.
The boys piled up some more rails and |
chunks on their defenses, and settled down |
desperately for the coming Of the storm |
which would not be long delayed.
'This quiet cannot last very long," said |
81. 1.-THE Twentieth Corps must come up |
soon, and then there will be fresh trouble |
for those rebels"
ut looks as if there may be enough of |
The rebels out there to whip the Twentieth |
Corps, as well as the Fourteenth" respond
I'd Shorty gloomily. IF Joe Johnston has
his whole army here, as Wash Biffles said,
he's got enough to fill up the entire coun-
ny down there to the southwest as full
Is this, and smash the Twentieth Corps,
brigade at time, as it comes stringing
llOng the road"
From mile or more away came Mt last
/ faint rattle of musketry through the
woods. Some rebels whom 81 had noticed
up the trail of the thanking col
INN mt a safe distance. heard it and stop
Jed, listening inquiringfy.
The musketry grew louder. clearer, near
r, more continuous. The skulkers got be-
lind trees and cast backward looks.
Somebody has come up out there-prob-
bly, the Twentieth Corps" said 81, after