Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-02-25

house and Ewell lets his wideawakes
go sampling, and takes a hearty sip.
as dark-eyed young aide-de-camp
rides up with dripping cInteen of the
soothing white fluid. Thanks. MIR.
Ladue, says he. That's most refresh
ing. by the way, you know some Oh
these fellows were expecting out yon-
der. don't you?" and the general points
southwark. Ladue follows the gesture
OF his commander. and then. his eyes.
dark, mournful and apprehensive. fix
upon that vehement soldier face.
Wisconsin," he falters Il felt
I knew 1T must come-sometime"
Yes, sir, and John Gibbon COM
mands that brigade now, they say. I've
known MIN for years. To think of his
being there-and he Tar Heel," And
here his kindling eyes turn to where
Trimble's men are stretched upon the
turf-North Carolina closed on Ala
bama.
Coming" They're coming!"
See! are the excited whispers. and
young officers spring forward and peer
over the low crest in front. Poague.
that year-old, yet veteran. gunner. has
hlpped hand to his bugler. and low
and mutiicd Attention." is sounded.
Low and mufiled, it is repeated still
| more family farther off to the east.
where the horses of Wooding and
Carpenter are grazing on the scanty
| turf. and drivers and cannoneers spring
to their posts.
But Old Jack gives no sign. He is
waiting and watching He is there in
| saddle at the edge of the trees. indis-
| unguishable in the gathering gloom.
| He waits until the leading brigade OF
| the long column is clear of the east
ward of the Two groves. He lets il
i go until it drops into the low ground
| about GrovetOn. then mods to Ewe!l
and-the ball begins. Out on a sudden
| from the left of the massed lines.
PoaSne's lean horses and gaunt. sinewy
lgunners spring 70 their WORK. Six black
muzzled barkers are whirled round in
| battery. One-two-three-uu he'll
| lowing, with venEeful spit of flame
1 and sulphur Smohe. the nearest hat
| terry hurls its screaming challenge
1 across the field. and in spite and fury
\ the black shells burst in whistling hail
| over the startled heads of the second
brigade. Out beyond the first battery
/ trot Woodlng and Carpenter forming
4 action front on the slope a little To
the northwest of GroVeton. and so
| three batteries are suddenly hurting
their swift fire upon the now halted
column. Nov see 'em take TO covert"
shout the seasoned ones by the gun
side, as the left half battery echoes the
right, and all the front of Starkes bril-
gade is now covered by flashing guns.
believing in chorus, the men. leaping
In and out to reload. dimly seen
through the billowing battery smoke,
and still, screaming and shrieking the
shells sail high across the rolling earth
sea. See 'em take 10 cover" indeed
Well might they do so. for Just be-
yond the pike the woods lie thick and
unbroken, but. sudden as the shot.
each regiment has "fronted" TO its
left The steel 'ramrods of the fore
most are seen flashing in air The
shrill voice Of Ola Graybeard. spufriIrg
back to his colors. has yelled the order
to load at will. and not until they're
bitten and poured and rammed and
capped does he follow that with Lie
down." The right of their line is
fat on its belly at the edge of the field,
while sparring. lashing and bounding.
cannonoers racing alongside like mad.
n well-handled battery-Gibbon's own.
as Poague and Ewell more than sus-
pect-the beloved of the brigade out
on the field, comes front into line"
at breakneck pace. whirls without
hating its bronze beauties about, and
In another moment the loud-ringins
light twelves" are out-bellowing The
trio OF batteries blazing there northwest
Oh Groveton, sweeping their sections
with spherical case" Five, ten, FIJI.
| teen minutes the duel of death goes on.
Gibbons gunners are all regulars, lords
OF their trade, and old Ewell sees it
and knows it. Timber up, Poague!
Back all of you! They are too heavy
tor oCr guns" is the order, and Paul
Ladue spurs to carry it. Out of the
way, gentlemen gunners! It's onr
time now, goes the word from Starke's
eager ranks, and SO on down the long
: line Into their saddles leap the field,
stan and commanders. The sun has
gone down; the dusk is at hand; the
night must not come until that stub
= born brigade has been swept from the
5 earth. Who shall do il, Ewell or Talia-
) ferro?
From the westward now, from the
far right flank, a daring battery whips
, | out on the field and unlimbers where
its guns can enfilade Gibbons tri-
| umphant boomers, and young Talia-
ferro's little brigade till now held in
rear, goes stridinS off behind its fell
lows, and so on TO the extreme right
as though in support. And still it is
a battle of guns and gunners, for Jack
| son holds his hounds in leash, down
charged" at heel, crouched at the edge
| of the woods.
And then comes the surprise of the
!, day, the event OF the hour, the marvel
of the campaign. Even as Ewell and
| Taliaferro are deciding that the mo-
: ment has come for attack, 10! to the
amaze of the men of the StonewalI
2 | brigade, still the extreme right of the
: line, there is a CLINT of steel in the OPP
poSite grove and a dark column bursts