The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-01

and officers cursed and swore at the
delay. Down on the left battle was
already opening, and death was sharp
ening his scythe on the stone walls
which men of peace had built up fifty
years before.
Get ready! Fire at willi'
This time a column of five hundred
men, formed eight abreast, as before,
dashed at the bridge with ringing
cheers, and though the first four or
| five ranks went down others lived to
reach the earthwork and to make a
fierce fight for its possession. For ten
minutes there was shot and shout, and
curse and groan, and then the bridge
! was clear again-clear of all but the
was one of the half dozen who started
/ to cheer as the enemy suddenly fell
| back, but Tom interrupted him with:
what yer maxim a cussed fool Of
yerself for?"
we've licked 'em agini"
Licked hell! If this war don't end
/ in less'n three months you won't know
huff to pound sand! The idea Of
your yawpin' and whoopin' over vic
tory when we've lost at least twenty
men, and when we are sartin to be
wiped out, body and butes! Look along
Ben looked I'D and down the lines
4 and shivered as he noted the dead and
wounded who had fallen out. And now
| the enemy developed a force to the
right, another to the left. and the men
/ crept forward to the very brink of
\ the raVine and opened such a hot fire
that no defender of the earthwork
/ this fire a force formed up in. the road
1 for dash across the bridge The
| captain sent an order along the earth
work, and each crouching man made
ready to rise up and fire when the
critical moment came.
Say, this is gettin' to be red hot!'
exclaimed Ben. as the bullets sent the
dirt flying over his head.
/
now" grimly replied Tom. I'VE ar
goin' to git licked on this deal. old
I man
Not licked, but wiped out The or
ders ar to hold the bridge to the last.
/ and our captains the man to do it.
Purity leetle hght-mighty purity. Lots
O. heads will git busted when we rise
up to fire. Never had a bullet through
yer cokernut. did YEP"
Tom did not answer. Just then came
| the order to fire a will. and as the
muskets looked over the earthworks
/ the enemy cheered and dashed for the
/ bridge a third time. Over the rocks
and bushes obstructing the road-over
/ the wounded crying out-over the dead
and over the blood spots-and again
they reached the earthworks and
| fought hand-to-hand.
! Guess they'll stay licked this timel'
growled Ben, as the enemy fell back
after ten minutes fighting.
! oh We dol" sneered Tom, as he
| jabbed his bayOnet into the earthwork
to clear it of blood. Wall, of all the
blamed idiots in Grants army you
take the cake. We've got about ten
men left to hold a division, and We ar
| shoutin' for a vict'ryi'
Now the enemy. maddened by the
delay and resistance, crossed men
above and below the bridge, and they
were soon taking the breastwork in
the rear. The Captain was down-his
lieutenants were down-a corporal had
command of the remnant of the hum
dred men.
as the bullets began to come in from
flank and rear.
Next door to hell!" replied Tom
Face about and see if We can't hit a
barn door"
1--WE dropped a. man every time I've
fired and-and-"
And half an hour later, wounded i'll
arm and shoulder and hip, a powder
stained, dust-covered old veteran APP
lpeared before his Colonel and saluted
and said:
Company F, sir-detaiIed to hold
the bridge above"
sfWel?'
Enemy forced the crossing half an
hour ago, Captain dead-lieutenant
dead-all dead but mel"