Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-27

captured guns. My comrades gathered about me, cheering. but I had no suspicion of what they meant. I thought 1t trib- ute to my wrestling. Men lay thick there back of the guns some dead, some calling faintly for help. The red puddles about them were covered with flies; ants were crawling over their faces. I felt kind of sickness and turned away. What was left of my regiment formed in fours to join the advancing column. Horses were gal loping riderless, rein and stirrup flying, some horribly wounded. One hobbled near me, a front leg gone at the knee. Shells were flying overhead; cannon balls were ricochetting over the level valley. throwing turf in the air, tossing the dead and wounded that lay thick and helpless.
 Some were crumpled like rag, as if the pain of death had withered them in their clothes; some swollen to the girth of horses; some bent backward with arms outsretching like one trying an odd trick; some lay as If listening ea- gerly, an ear close to the ground; some like sleeper, their heads upon their arms; one shrieked loudly. gesturing with bloody hands, Lord God AL mighty. have mercy on me!'
 had come suddenly to a new world, where the lives of men were cheaper than blind puppies. I was new sort of creature and reckless Qf what came, careless of all saw and heard.
 A staff officer stepped up to me as we joined the main body.
 You've been shot, young man." he said. pointing to my left hand.
 Before he could turn felt a rush of air and saw him fly into pieces, some of which hit me as I fell backward. l did not know what had happened; know not now more than that have written. I remember feeling something under me, like stick of wood, bearing hard upon my ribs. I tria6 to roll off 1t, but somehow 1t was tied to me and kept hurting. I put my hand over my hip and felt it there behind me-my own arm! The hand was like that of a dead man-cold and senseless. I pulled 1t from under me, and it lay helpless; it could not lift itself. knew now that I, too, had become one of the bloody horrors of the battle.
 I struggled to my feet, weak and trembling and sick with nausea. I must have been lying there a long time. The firing was now at dis tance. The sun had gone half down the sky. They were picking up the wounded in the near field. A man stood looking at me. Good God" he shouted and then ran away like one afraid. There was a great mass of our men back of me some twenty rods. I staggered toward them, my knees quivering.
 T can never get there," heard my. self whisper.
 thought of my little flask of whis- ky and. pulling the cork with my teeth. drank the half of 1t. That steadied me. and I made better head way. I could hear the soldiers talking as neared them.
 Look a-therew I heard many say ing. See 'em come! My God! Look at 'en on the hill therev' ,-e.
 The words went quickly from mouth to mouth. In a moment I could hear the murmur of thousands. I turned to see what they were looking at. Across the valley there was a long ridge and back of 1t the main position of the southern army. A gray host was pour. ing over it, thousand upon thousand, in close order, debouching into the valley.
 A big force of our men lay between us and them. As looked could see a mighty stir in it. Every man of them seemed to be jumping up in the air. From afar came the sound of bugles calling retreat" the shouting of men. the rumbling of wagons. II grew louder. An officer rode by me hatless and halted. shading his eyes then he rode back hurriedly.
 "Hell has broke loosew he shouted as he passed me.
 The blue coated host was rushing toward us like a food--artiIlery, cav. airy, infantry. wagon train. There was a mighty uproar in the men behind me a quick stir of feet. Terror spread over them like the travelling of fire It shook their tongues. The crowd be gan caving at the edge and jamming at the center. Then it spfead like a swarm of bees shaken of a bush.
 Run. Run for your livesw was 6 cry that rose to heaven.
 Halt. you cowards-' an officer shout 1t was now past o'clock.
 The raw army had been on it's feel since midnight. For hours 1t had beer fighting hunger, a pain in the legs, { quivering sickness at the stomach, { stubborn foe It had turned the ianl of Beauregard: victory was in sight But. To. a new enemy was coming tt the fray. innumerable. unwearied. eagel for battle. The long slope bristled witt his bayonets. Our army looked ana cursed and began letting go. The mer near me were pausing on the brink o awful rout In a moment they wer' of. pellmell. like flock of sheep. Th' earth shook under them. Officers rod' around them. cursing. sesticulating threatening. but nothing could stol them. Half a dozen trees had stood il the center of the rioting mass. Now : few men clung to them-a remnant o