Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-27

We aCeTe grdppun9 hap ana WtJn. that trembled every step took. We quickened our pace; we fretted; we con- plained. The weariness went out of our legs: some wanted to run. Before and behind us men were shouting hot ly. Run, boys; rum"
 The cannon roar was now continu- ous. We could feel the quake of It. When we came over 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 Going at double quick, we began loos- ening blankets and haversacks, tossing them into heaps along the line of march without halting. In half an hour we stood waiting in battalions, the left flank of the enemy in front. We were to charge at a run. Halfway across the valley we were to break into companies and, advancing, spread into platoons and squads and at last in to line of skirmishers, lying down for cover between ruSneS.
 "Forward.' was the order, and we were off, cheering as we ran. Oh, it was q grand sight-our colOrs flying, our whole front moving like blue wave on green. immeasurable sea! And it had voice like that of many waters. Out of the woods ahead of us came lightning flash. A ring of smoke reeled upward. Then came a 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 q bit of dirt into my eyes. Another brushed my hat of. and I heard a wailing death yell behind me The colo mel rode up, waving sword.
 Get up an charger he shouted.
 On we went. cheering loudly. firing as we ran. Bullets went by me, hissing in my ears. and I kept trying to dodge them. We dropped again fiat on our l faces.
 A squadron of Black Horse cavalry came rushing out of the woods at us, the riders yelling as they waved their swords. Fortunately we had not time 1 to rise. A man near me tried to get up. Stay down. shouted.
 ] Tn a moment learned something new about horses. They went over us like flash. I do not think a man was trampled Our own cavalry kept them busy as soon as they had passed. | Of the many who had started there was only a ragged remnant near me We fired a dozen volleys lying there The man at my elbow rolled upon me. writhing like n worm in the fire.
 We shall all he killed-' man shout ed Where is the colonel:'
 i Dead" said another.
 Better retreat" said a third.
 Charge shouted as loudly as ever I could. jumping to my feet and way | ing my saber as I rushed forward. l '-Chlrge-'
 ! II was the one thing needed They | followed me. In a moment we had [ hurried ourselves upon the gray line. thr,Isting with sword and bayonet- They broke before us. some running. some fighting deSnerately.
 ] A man threw a long knife at me out Of sling. Instinctively I caught the ! weapOn as if it had been ball hot of [ the l.at Tn doing So I dropped my i saIDeT and was cut across the fingers He came at me fercely. clubbing lis gun-a rawbonesi. swarthy giant. broad as a barn door. caught the bar ] rel as it came down He tried to wrench if away. but I held firmly Then he began to push up to me I let him cone and in a moment we were grap- bling hip and thigh He was a power E fIl man but that was my kind of war f fare It gave rac comfort when I feIt the grip of his hands let him tUc a | ji1y and then caught him with the old hip lock and he went under me 90 hard l could hear the crack of his bones