The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-10

Look here. Corp. but it seems to me
that there is damned sight of fooling
around in this old army of ours. What
are they expecting us to do here?
Fight, mebbe," replied the corporal,
as he lighted his pipe.
Yes, that's just like General Grant.
Here we are, about 80 strong, and he
expects us to hold this Gap agin ten
thousand Johnny fighters. I'm no hand
Then what the devil you kicking
for?" demanded the corporal. You are
the worst old grOwler in the company.
You'd kick if they offered you your
r discharge tomorrow
What am L kickin' for?' repeated
the man, as he bristled up and began
to feel sure he had a grievance. Look
here, corporal, you don't know enough
to walk under a cOWshed when it's
raining out doors, but mebbe 1 can
drive an idea into your skull Here We
are, amt We2"
I'VE amt anywhere else
Then that's settled Down there is
company D, two miles away We are
to hold one gap-they the other. They
won't see a cussed Johnny down there,
while Wen have a thousand on US be-
fore that old brass watch O. yours says
it's u o'clock noon Can less'n hun
dred men lick ten thOusand?"
I've heard of such things" placidly
replied the corporal.
"Oh, you havei Mebbe you're alsos
heard that your uncle was your grand-'
nor yet five hundred, but the pint l
want to make is that company D won't
move a burned foot TO back US That
Internal Capt. Harper will see US all
wiped out before he'll give an order"
Nobody wants him to back us. Wen
do our own fighting and get the glory
of it. Say, Bill, General Grant give me
a little pinter for you the OTTER day.
He said if you'd cut your hair, wash
your feet and stop kicking he'd make
brigadier of you right off"
Wall, he might do a heap wuss'
replied the private, as he opened his
haversack to get bite to eat You
Jest mind. however. what 1 said about
Captain Harper. L can fight and kick.
too and you needn't be afraid of my
running away, but when the sun goes
down tonight there won't be no more
of company c."
Half an hour passed away. and then
the three videttes caught sight of a
dozen Confederates making their way
down the Gap. There was every rea-
son to believe that large force was
behind them.
L told you they'd be comm down
this Capt. growled the kicker as he
made ready with his musket. There's
a whole regiment behind them fellers
and We'll be chawed uD in ten minits."
Il sort o think we'd better fall
back answered the corporal. They
are coming down the Gap sure enough
and they'll be right on top of US next
thing. Come on"
I
the Gap numbered a full regiment, and
five minutes after the retreat of the
vfdettes Company G was fighting for
lite life. Captain White saw at once
that he was vastly outnumbered and
that he must be reinforced. and.
though it went against the grain to do
it. he sent off a messenger to Captain
Harper
Tell him 1 have no men to spare,
and that he must hold his position to
the last man." was the word that
came back.
The men of Company C were told
of the message, and after a moment |
cheered- They could not hope TO hold /
the position a quarter of hour /
longer, but they would obey orders l
and die there. The Confederates had /
dozens of men killed as they charged |
the rocky breastwork, but they came /
again and again and always reaped an /
advantage.
They finally brought UP a field piece |
and the men who had been fighting |
with a faint glimmer of hope now |
groaned out in despair. Three or four
solid shot tore the breastwork to /
vivors could only hug the ground and |
continue to fire. There were calls for |
surrender but no orders to retreat |
BY and by the Confederates formed /
UP again and made another dash, and /
this time they carried the gap.
att was purity fghtin'.' explained !
the wounded kicker to his comrades in /
other companies that night at the |
camp. I'VE kept shootin' and shoot |
IN, but they kept comm thicker and |
thicker, and almost every man we lost |
was shot in the head as he raised |
above the breastworks to FIRE one /
by one our men went down, and when