Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-07-27

conceals most OF the second in column
Of the blue brigades, this solitary bat
TALON in the feathered black hats and
the wake of its skirmishers, is jauntily
proceeding to shcw its comrades back
on the pike how Bull Run veterans
take a battery. Half way between the
two groves, halted in the road and
three battalions, all three not as strong
as a fair-sized regiment. Gibbon, chief
of the second brigade, has led the Black
Hats through the wood, then, hating
at the edge has bid them go in, their
swathy little colonel waving his hand
last salute of his soldier life. Almost
all of the blue division can be seen from
the north by the men OF the south;
almost nothing of the gray division
can be seen from the south by the men
OF the north. Gazing through their
binoculars, the union commander and
staff note not a sign of the foe, save
these venturesome batteries, the one
here directly to the north, the others
slowly trotting off to the northeast
beyond the range of Gibbons guns.
Yet there are a few mounted officers
or orderlies squirting swiftly along that
far-away skirt of woods, and one of
these horsemen carries the order from
Taliaferro, chief of division, to Talia-
ferro, chief of brigade, to move into
line on the right of Baylor--the "Stone.
wall" Others are darting from Old
Jack to Ewell and Taliaferro, both,
with the word to pitch in.
And nj Of these riders, ~galloping
down the line, is little Ladue, brought
face to face, as he dreamed, here on
the field of battle with the men he
had known as a lad in the west, and
though his leart is throbbing hard,
his dark eyes rre burning with excite
ment. With laughing confidence, the
men of the "Sronewall" spring to their
feet, the little red battle flags are lifted
on high, and forward goes the brigade,
sweeping in three slender lines to the
low crest in front, as their far-forward
skirmishers leap from the grass ana
volley their challenge at the coming
foe. Then Georgia and Louisiana and
the men at the guns hold their breath
and watch to see Virginia send those
impudent Yanks whirling back to the
woods, or else
Wonder of wonders! So far from
scurrying at sight OF the "Stonewall,"
that sombre, black-crested line halts
short at sudden word of command; q
crashing yolley, driving point blank up
the gentle rise, sends its storm Of lead
square in the ''Stonewall's' lace.
Down go two battle flags. Down goes
Neff, colonel commanding the Thirty
third. Down go dozens in the foremost
rank, and TO the amaze of Starke and
Lawton, the 3Stonewall'' fairly stag.
gers. forward" is one hoarse shout
ed order, "Fire!" another; and with
the skirmishers crouching, crawling,
rolling away to right and left, Virginia
blazes at Wisconsin now ramming fresh
cartridges into the smoking tubes, and
with never a thought of retreat. So
far from sweeping the field the Stone
wall" is brought to, a halt and gets
another fierce volley, followed by rasp-
ing fire by file that is far more effective
than the downward aim of the com
mand, schooled rather to charge than
to shoot. Sol Meredith's Hoosiers arr
sweeping at double quick straight from
the pike at the west Of the grove.
Arms at the trail, at the shoulder o.
anyhow, all eyes to the front, Indiana
is heading straight for the left of Wis
consin, and in five minutes more its
long front is hidden in its own fire.
flashing cloud. Another five minutes
and another brigade is in line for the
south, smother battalion for the union,
and still not a man has thought Of
retreat-save only the thick stream