Evening journal., 1905-04-20

huoW. Dtllei II rlttl Ditdhtpldtt4
Want somey
"Don't know but I do" said l.
We went into his tent, where he had
a little sack full, and put a good wad
OF them between my two shirts.
Il hate the idee o. bein hit n the
heart" he said "That's too awful"
nodded my assent.
shouldn't like T. have a ball in my
lungs, either" he added. "'Taint
necessary fer a man Z die II he can only
breathe. II a man gifts his leg shot
off an don't lose his head an keeps
drawln' his breath right along smooth
and even, l 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 Il a farce some swore;
some talked Of going home. I went
about quietly. my bosom under It's pad
of feathers. The third day an order
came from headquarters We were to
break camp at 1880 IN the morning and
so 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 bucklod on knapsacks,
shouldered their rifles and fell into line
MuQied I'm 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 l 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 / came
high on hilltop, I'm the bending col
umn, the moonlight fell upon a league
Of bayonets shining above a cloud OF
dust in the valley-a splendid picture,
fading into darkness and mystery.
At dawn we passed a bridge and
halted some three minutes for a bite.
After a 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, rattllng in the timber
like fall Of rocks. Something went
Quivering in me. II seemed as IL my
vitals had gone into a big lump OF jelly
that trembled every step / took. We
/ qulckened our pace: we fletted we com
| planned. The weariness went out Of
our legs; some wanted to run Before
and behind MS men were shouting hot
~, Run, boys; run!"
The cannon roar was now contlnu-
Gus. We could feel the quake Of 1t.
When we came over a low ridge in the
open we could see the smoke Of battle
in the valley. Flashes OF Ere 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 halting In half an
hour we stood waiting In battalions,
the left flank Of the enemy I'm front.
We were to charge at 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 sklrmishers, lying down for
cover between rushes.
"Forwardr was the order. and we
were or, cheering as we ran. Oh. it
was grand sight-our colors flying,
our whole front moving like a blue
wave on a green, immeasurable sea!
And IL had voice like that Of many
waters. Out OF the woods ahead Of us
came a lightning flash. A ring Of
smoke reeled upward. Then came
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 c0lors seemed TO halt and
sway like a 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
bit Of dirt into my eyes. Another
brushed my hat or. and l heard n
wailing death yell behind me The colo
mel rode up, waving a sword.
fGet up an charger he shouted.
On we went cheering loudly, firing as
we ran. Bullets went by me, kissing in
my ears, and kept trying to dodge
them. We dropped again nat on our
faces.
A squadron Of Black Horse cavalry
came rushing ont OF the woods at us.
the riders yelling as they waved their
swords. Fortunately we had not time
to rise. A man near me tried TO get up.
stay DOWN. ! shouted
In a moment learned something new
about horses. They went over us like
a fash. do not think 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 fred a dozen volleys lying there.
The man at my elbow rolled upon me,
writing like a worm in the ere.
'We shall all be killedF' a man shout
ed. Where is the colonelg7
"Dead," said another
''Bettcr retreat said a third.
"Charger' I shouted as loudly as ever
could jumping to my feet and wav-
inc NV cohar oo 4 ,.,,oi,n4 f.-,,-..4