The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11

again approach. Our dauntIess heroes
retire to their trenches. ON come
the gaudily dressed New York Zouaves
with yells like savages, and savages
they were in all except disregard for
personal safety Like all bad men
they were apparently reckless. but i'm
fact were towards. Little did they
think that, like the sacrifices of an
cient times, they were bedecked and
ornamented for the slaughter. A few.
vollies throw them into disorder. They
glory in the work of killing. but be-
ing killed is a very different thing.
They could gloat with fiendish salts
faction over the blood of others; but
their coward hearts cannot bear the
idea of having their own veins drain
ed Many have been the helpless and
unarmed victims that have fallen be-
meath their assassin strokes. But here
there are two sides to the question.
While they would deal death to others,
their craven spirits cannot bear the
thought of having the compliment re-
turned The whistling of bullets has
no music for their ears, though they
could listen enraptured to the dying
means of the unoffending, slain for
purposes of robbery or revenge.
In vain their Colonel, Waldrop, tries
TO rally them. Elevating himself
with naked sword in hand, he curses
them for towards and tries to shame
and exasperate them into bravery
Fool that he was, not to know that
true Valor dwell not in the bosoms of
thieves and murderers. Fool that he
was, not to know that such bosoms are
insensible to shame. While waving his
sword and heaping curses upon his
flying scoundrels a ball from a North
4 St
upon the ground. Those of his COM
mand able to run, ply their legs with
might and main, scattered in all di-
rections, and infusing their terror into
others. They had physical force, but
no true valor: the depraved are never
brave. They are but beasts, and like
all beasts they shrink instinctively
from danger, with a wild horror in
which all reason, all manliness, all
possession is lost.
Meantime one of the HowitZers has
been rendered useless, on another part
of the line. by the breaking of a wire
In the vent. Some hundreds of Yam
KEGS bravely rush upon the harmle less
piece and capture it. What a glorious
deed! How renowned must they be
in history! Have they not fearlessly
rushed upon a piece of metal, that
will not shoot and dauntlessly laid
them for yelling and shouting over the
thought of the undying fame that
must now forever couple their names
with those of the renowned heroes of
history?
n Short lived graduation! As bounds
the lion upon the more ignoble beasts
that are feasting upon the unresisting
carcass provided for them by the valor
of another so springs Capt. Bridgers
- M u
Guards, upon the jubilant Yankees. AS
fee the meaner animals with reckless
fright, so fee these valiant captors of
the inoffensiye gun. A charge at them
Is all--upOn them requires a fleetness
Of courage superior to that of fear
something rarely found. The gIeam of
bayonets was disgusting TO their sight,
and they turned their backs to avoid
seeing it. leaving behind them the
prize for which they had expended so
much breath in noisy shouts But few
of our men had been struck, and not
d single one disabled.
Very soon it was perceived that the
Yankees were effecting a Judgment in
an old house, from which they could
very much annoy us. Capt. Bridgcrs
called for volunteers to set fire TO the
house. Five men sprang forward,
young Henry L. Wyatt the foremost
among them each with a brand in his
hand They make a dash for the
house, and young Wyatt falls, struck
i'm the forehead by a ball Scarcely is
he upon the ground before his slayer
is shot down, and. the Yankees speedi
~ cvacuate the house. Again re-
pulsed. there is halt in the battle
storm.
Colonel Hill rides along his lines,
his face beaming with pride and joy,
and is greeted with cheers. Every
soldier feels himself a hero. That ma
tural dread which all must feel when
going into battle, has worn off, and
now they feel invincible. The laugh
and joke go round, and all are merry.
Many of the dead have been borne off,
but they can see many still lying
where they fell, and they know their
arms have been felt.
In about half an hour the enemy
again advances, from different direc-
ton, having made a considerable cir
cult, with the intention of thanking
our men and getting i'm their rear.
But their columns plunge into a deep
moress, and they can neither advance
nor retreat Now does the carnival
Of death hold high revel i'm their
ranks. In range of our marksmen,
they fall by scores, some sinking into
the Shiny mud and water, the only
grave they will ever know. . All that
can, struggle back, and make haste
to put themselves out of reach of our
guns. Like frightened sheep they
scamper off, and infect their comrades
with their own terror. A hasty, dis
orderly, and disgraceful retreat COM
menCeS, our cannon accelerating
their steps. Our men leap from their
Notifications, and pursue the flying foe
for several miles. The retreat becomes
route, and our victory is complete.
Thus was hurled back in blood and
shame the glittering hosts of Yankee
chivalry! that went forth so proudly
to capture that handful of ragged
rebels" How must old Beast Butler
have felt when he saw his troops re-
turning crest-fellen, whipped! Doubt
less if there had been a defenceless
woman near him he would have in
suited her and felt as proud, of it as
ohis Puritan forefathers did of burn
ing old women for witches, and pun
ishing harmless Baptists and Qakers
for worshipping God according to the
dictates of their own consciences.
Our entire loss was one killed and
seven slightly wounded; that of the
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