Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-07-11
Of them bet,-ecn nv two shirts.

necessary Ter man t die II he can only
breathe. If man gifts his leg shot
off an don't lose his head an keeps
DRAWN his breath right along smooth
and even. don't see why he can't
live"
Taps sounded. We went asleep with
our boots on, but nothing happened.
Three days and nights we waited.
Some called 1t farce; some swore;
some talked of going home. I went
about quietly, my bosom under its pad
of feathers. The third day an order
came from headquarters. We were to
break camp at 1 80 in the morning and
go down the pike after Beauregard. In
the dead Of the night the drums sound
ed. rose, half asleep, and heard the
long roll far and near. shivered in
the cold night air as / made ready; the
boys about me buckled on knapsacks,
shouldered their rifles and fell into line.
Muffied in darkness there was an odd
silence in the great caravan forming
rapidly and waiting for the word to
move. At each command to move for
ward could hear only the rub Of
leather, the click, click Of rifle rings,
the stir Of the stubble, the snorting Of
horses. When we had marched an hour
or SO could hear the faint rumble Of
wagons far in the rear. AS I came
high on a hilltop, in the bending col
umn, the moonlight fell upon a league
Of bayonets shining above cloud Of
dust in the valley-a splendid picture,
fading into darkness and mystery.
At dawn we passed q bridge and
halted some three minutes for q bite.
After little march we left the turn
pike, with Hunters column bearing
westward on crossroad that led us
into thick woods. AS the sunlight sank
In the high tree tops the first great bat
tie Of the war began. Away to the left
Of us cannon shook the earth, hurting
its boom into the still air. The sound
rushed over us, rafting in the timber
like fall Of rocks. Something went
Quivering in me. It seemed as II my
vitals had gone into big lump Of jelly
that trembled every step I took. We
Quickened our pace; we fretted 1--WE COM
planned. The WEAKNESS went out of
our legs; some wanted to run. Before
and behind us men were shouting hot
", run, boys; run!"
The cannon roar was now continu.
Gus. We could feel the quake of It
When we came over a low ridge in the
open we could see the. smoke of battle
In the valley. Flashes of fire and hoods
Of smoke leaped out of the far thick.
cts to the left of us as cannon roared
Going at double quick, we began loos-
ening blankets and haversacks, tossing
them into heaps along the line OF
march without halung. In half an
hour we stood waiting in battalions,
the left flank of the enemy in front
We were to charge at run. Halfway
across the valley we We're to break
into companies and, advancing spread
into platoons and squads and at last In.
to line Of skirmlshers, lying down fo1
cover between rushes.
"Forward!'' was the order, and we
were off, cheering as we ran. Oh, II
was a grand sight-our colors flying
our whole front moving like q blue
wave on green, unreasonable sea
And it had q voice like that Of many
waters. Out Of the woods ahead Of us
came d lightning flash. A ring OF
smoke reeled upward. Then came 9
deafening crash Of thunders, one upon
another, and the scream Of shells over
head. Something stabbed into our col
umn right beside me. Many went
headlong, crying out as they fell. Sud
denly the colors seemed to halt and
sway like tree top in the wind. Then
down they went, squad and colors, and
we spread to pass them. At the order
we halted and laid down and fired vol
ley after volley at the gray coats in
the edge of the thicket. A bullet struck
In the grass ahead Of me, throwing 8
bit Of dirt into my eyes. Another
brushed my hat off, and heard q
wailing death yell behind me. The colo
mel rode up. waving sword.
"Get up an charger he shouted.
On we went, cheering loudly. firing Of
we ran. Bullets went by me, kissing II
my ears, and kept trying to dodge
them. We dropped again fiat on oul
faces.
A squadron Of Black Horse cavalry
came rushing out of the woods at us
the riders yelling as they waved theil
swords. Fortunately we had not tim.
to rise. A man near me tried to get up
"Stay DOWN. shouted.
In moment learned something new
about horses. They went over us lik,
q flash. I do not think man wal
trampled. Our own cavalry kept then
busy as soon as they had passed.
OF the many who had started there
was only ragged remnant near me
We fred a dozen volleys lying there
The man Mt my elbow rolled upon me
writing like worm in the fire.
eve shall all be killed." man shout
ed. Where is the colonel?"
'Dead," said another.
Better retreat" said third.
Charge" shouted as loudly as eve
could, jumping to my feet and wav
ing my saber as l rushed forward
"Charge"
It was the one thing needed. The,
followed me. In moment we hal
hurled ourselves upon the gray line
thrusting with sword and bayonet
They broke before us, some running
some fighting desperately.
! A man threw long knife at me GU
OF sling. Instinctively caught tn,
weapon as If it had been ball hot of
the bat. In doing SO I dropped m,
saber and was cut across the fingers
He came at me fiercely, clubbing hi