Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-07-21
EIGHT ABREAST
Copyright, 1904. by c. B. Lew,s.l

"See and hear 'em, Tom?' queries an
old veteran of his right hand man as
he peers over the top of the earthwork.
aye, Benz is the answer.
Around the bend of the road 200 in
fantry formed up in lines eight abreast.
The width of the road allowed for no
more. With bayonets fixed and mus
kets at the trail they waited for min
ute and then made a dash. From the
center of the earthwork leaped a sheet
of flame third of the way across the
bridge-from the right and left other
sheets of flame. Every musket had a
rest on top Of the earthworks
sight covered a human target. The
head of the advancing column did not
reach the planks of the bridge. 1t
melted away in the midst of the OBJ
structions, to create other Instructions,
and forty men lay dead and wounded
as the smoke lazily drifted down the
stream.
"Purty fair fur what time we was
at it." said Ben as he rose up for look
after reloading.
1--WE ought to got at least twenty
more at SIGH clus shootin'," growled
Tom in reply.
They'll come ag'in, of course?"
Don't be a fool, Bent Dye
think the loss of forty or fifty men
would stop one of our divisions from
gettin' somewhar's? If you feel tired
and sleepy you'd better ask for leave
to go to the rear"
Say, don't want too much Of yer
chin, old man!'
"Oh. yer don't! WAL, We jest tend
to fightin' and dyin' and don't worry
about my chin. Better shet yer eyes
this time and see if We can't damage
some of 'em."
That dash was feeler to develop
the strength defending the bridge and
to see if it was mined for blowing up.
Around the bend of the road they
laughed at the idea of hundred men
holding a division at bay. Further
back the soldiers fretted and fumed,
and officers swore at the delay.
Get ready! Fire at will"'
This time column of 500 men, form
ed eight abreast, as before, dashed at
the bridge with ringing cheers, and
though the first four OF. five ranks went
down others lived to reach the earth
work and to make fierce fight for its
possession. For ten minutes there were
shot and shout and curse and groan,
and then the bridge was clear again,
clear Of all but the dead and wounded.
n nf 10 ha1
dozen who started to cheer as the ene-
my sullenly fell back, but Tom inter-
rupted him with:
What yer maxim cussed fool of
yerself for?"
We've licked 'em ag'inv'
Licked hell. If this war don't end
in less'n three months you won't know
yawpin' and whoopin' over a victory
when we've lost at least twenty men
and when we are sartin to be wiped
out, body and butes! Look along the
l1nes.'
Ben looked up and down the lines
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 hot fire that
no defender Of the earthwork could
lift his head. Under cover of this fire
force formed up in the road for a
dash across the bridge. The captain
sent an order along the earthwork,
and each crouching man made ready
to rise up and fire when the critical
moment came.
Say, this is gettin' to be redhot!"
exclaimed Ben as the bullets sent the
dirt flying over his head.
"Waal, we don't need any ice jest
now," grimly replied Tom. I'VE are
goin' to git licked on this DEAL"
Not licked, but wiped out. The on.
ders are to hold the bridge to the last.
and our captains the man to do it
Purity leetle fight-mighty purity. Lots
O. heads will git busted when we rise
up to fire. Never had bullet through
yer cokernut, did ye?"
Tom did not answer. Just then came
the order to fire at will, and as the
muskets looked over the earthworks
the enemy cheered and dashed for the
bridge 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 time!"
growled Ben as the enemy fell back
after ten minutes fighting.
"Oh, We dol" sneered Tom az he
jabbed his bayonet into the earthwork
to clear it of blood. "Waal, of all the
blamed idiots in Grants army you
take the cake. We've got about ten
men left to hold division, and We are
shoutin' for vict'ryv'
Now, the enemy, maddened by the
delay and resistance, crossed men
above and below the bridge, and they
We're soon taking the breastwork in the
rear. The captain was down, his lieu
tenants were down. A corporal had