The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-09-06

the night attack. Here and there, down
the line, l heard man cough, but no
other sound broke the stiffness.
Suddenly, right behind me. caught
the sound of a boyish voice whimpering
and crying. Amazed beyond expression
1 turned and saw Johnny Bates. He
was crying like baby. When stern
ly ordered him to stop, he burst out
worse than ever. apparently overcome
by uncomfortable fear. He begged me
most pitifully to allow him to leave the
line, claiming that he could not possibly
stay there; and that he was i'll. weak,
trembling like leaf and utterly una
BILE to perform his duty as a soldier.
1t never occurred to me to pity the
boy; on the contrary, l blazad out at
him with all the vigor Of man fairly
beside himself with indignation and an
GER told him that IL he did not stop
his blubbering instantly l would have
him shot like cowardly puppy. That
threat, or my manner, perhaps both.
had the effect of quietiag him. In half
an hour or so word came that the alarm
was false and we were ordered back to
our quarters.
The next day sent for Bates to
come to my tent. When he entered his
face was full of shame and repentance.
That softened me somewhat, and de-
termined to lead him on to a frank
expression Of his feelings. Let 1t be
sufficient to say that fear of the ex-
pected battle had wholly Unnamed
him and turned him into a baby. He
did not believe that he was coward,
but he had found 1t impossible TO sub
due his fear as he stood there in the
darkness waiting for the fire of the
enemy's guns.
l really felt CORY for the boy, but
for the sake of discipline had to pun
! ish him and did so In the presence of
the company. 1 don't mean that ]
thrashed him as a school teacher does
q refractory pupil, but l imposed a
task that carried some degree of ig-
nominy With 1t.
A week passed, and we had not yet
had the conflict that we had been ex-
pecting. Then, one evening. between
supper time and "taps," orders came
for us to be ready to move against the
enemy early the next morning. Well,
we moved" got into one of the
hottest battles that were ever fought
Before our part of the line the en-
envy had thrown up breastworks Of
earth, and from behind them they
poured volley after volley into our
ranks. Suddenly the colonel of our
regiment rode forward and, rising In
his stirrups, cried out in tones that
every man Of us heard:
Charge, men, and take those works y
His manner and his words thrilled
US as If they had been charged with
electricity, and we rushed forward Will
q yell that made the surrounding woods
ring again. Just as We started, thu
color-bearer of our regiment was shot
iown, and the flag went down with him
A dozen men sprang forward to raise
1t again, but a slight, boyish figure was
the first to reach the spot. Throwing
his gun aside. he grasped the Flagstaff
raised the colors once more to thu
breeze and pressed heroically to thu
front of the line.
1t was our little soldier, Johnn.
Bates, and his gallant act sent thrill
of indescribable enthusiasm along on
line.
| Johnny Bates was the first to seal
the brcastwor.zs Of the enemy, and whe
he planted the colors there, 1t was I
announce our victory Chicago Dali
News