Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-07-11

| ~
We qrere graphing hip and thigh.
the dead and wounded that lay thick
and helpless.
| Some We're 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 outstretching like one trying an
odd trick; some lay as if listening ca
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 mev'
| had come suddenly to new world,
where the lives of men were cheaper
than blind puppies. was new sort
Of creature and reckless of 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 rush of
air and saw him fly into pieces, some
Of which hit me as fell backward.
did not know what had happened; I
know not now more than that + have
written. remember feeling something
under me, like stick of wood, bearing
hard upon my ribs. tried to roll off 1t,
but somehow It was tied to me and
kept hurting. put my hand over my
hip and felt It there behind me-my
own arml 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
l, 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
lance. The sun had gone half down
the sky. They We're picking up the
wounded in the near field. A mar
stood looking at me. "Good Godr he
shouted and then ran away like one
afraid. There was great mass OF
our men back Of me some twenty rods
I staggered toward them, my knees
quivering.
~ 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 it, That
steadied ME, and made better head.
way. I could hear the soldiers talking
as neared them.
"Look a-therer' l heard many say.
ing. See 'em come! My God! Look
at 'em on the hill there!
The words went quickly from mouth
to mouth. In moment could hear
the murlnur of thousands. 1 turned to
see what they were looking at. Across
the valley there was long ridge and
back Of it 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 1 could see
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 loose!" he shouted as
he passed me.
The blue coated host was rushing
toward us like food-artillery, cav
airy, infantry, wagon train. There was
mighty uproar in the men behind me
quick stir of feet. Terror spread
over them like the travelling of fire
1t shook their tongues. The crowd be
gan caving at the edge and jamminl
at the center. Then it spread like {
swarm of bees shaken off bush.
run! Run for your livesm was {
cry that rose to heaven.
"Halt, you cowardsg' an officer shout
ed.
It was now past 8 o'clock.
The raw army had been on its fee
since midnight. For hours it had beer
fighting hunger, pain in the legs, {
Quivering sickness at the stomach, (
stubborn foe. 1t had turned the flanl
of Beauregard; victory was in sight
But, 10, new enemy was coming tt
the fray, innumerable, unwearied, cage
for battle! The long slope bristled will
his bayonets. Our army looked ant
cursed and began letting go. The mel
near me were, pausing on the brink o.
awful rout. In moment they wer,
off, pellmell,. like flock Of sheep. TIL,
earth shook under them. Officers rodt
around them, cursing, gesticulating
threatening, but nothing could stol
them. Half dozen trees had stood il
the center of the rioting mass. Now {
few men chung TO them-a remnant Of
the monster that had torn away.
But the greater host was now coming
The thunder of its many feet was neal
me; cloud Of dust hung over it. A
squadron of cavalry came rushing by
and broke into the fleeing mass. Heavy
horses, cut free from artillery, came gal
Looping after them, straps flying owe
foanly tanks. Two riders chung to tn,
back of each. lashing with whip ant
rein. The ruck of wagons came aftel
them, wheels rafting. horses running
voices shrilling in wild boot Of terror
It makes me tremble even now, a.