The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-26

back in Pelham's arms, ito die, and
so young! What will mother say?sMy
mother! 1t will kill her. You, TOO.
my Captain he added sobbing, you,
too. will be sorry for the poor Jean, Will
YOU not? / followed you from Ala
bama--I have fought with you in so
many battles!-and one day-hold! l
die with that in my heart, my captain!
one day you said to me. Brave,
Jean! Yes, you said that-did you
notI And half rising from the earth,
the boy threw back his head, and chung
with both arms around Pelham's neck.
You called me brave--it Is enough.
he murmured Tell my mother
fought like good soldier, oh. my cap
tafn!-thaS you were satiShed with
Jean!--he dies loving you--the brave
of braves--his dear, his only friend!
When you go back to our home in Ala
bama, tell them all that Jean fought
under you and did his duty. Brave,
lean, you said. 20 my God, / suffer
so-but-and--I die-in your arms, my
captain!" The head Afell back, and the
pale lips uttered their last sigh. But
even in death. the boys arms chung
around Pelhams neck--his face rested
on his bosom. Pelham gently unclasped
the cold arms of the boy. and laid the
stiffening form upon the grass. His
face was wet with tears, and when some
of the men spoke TO him, he waved
them off with his hand. For some mo-
ments he stood gazing into the fire,
from which his glance TURNED toward
the body of Jean. Poor boy"' he MUIR
INJURED. passing his hand across his
eyes; 'he loved me. There was no
body braverr' There he stopped, but
In few moments he had mastered his
emotion, and turned to me. 1 deliv-
cred my message, and, after giving
directions for the burial of Jean, Pei
ham called for his horse. Poor Jeanw
l heard him murmur again, what can
l say to his mother when 1 go back to
Alabama" All at once he went to
where the body of the young cannoneer
was lying, and, STOPPING down. cut off
a lock of his light curly hair, and
carefully placed 1t in his breast pocket.
1T Will be something" he said. And
he mounted his horse and rode with me
back to Jackson's headquarters.
The Battle Scene.
turning to an officer. he said cool
ly. Double shot all the guns with
canister. As he spoke the enemy.
VINO had rapidly reformed their line.
charged straight upon the pieces. Pei
nam sat his horse, looking coollv at
the dark column as it swept upon him.
ne ala not move a muscle, but his
teeth We're clenched beneath the thin
lips, and the blue eyes blazed.
The enemy were suffered to advance
within less than hundred yards of
the guns, when Pelham rose in his
stirrups, and his ringing voice shout
ed; Fire.? The ground shook; the
huge cloud for an instant obscured
the scene, then as 1t drifted the Fed
eral ranks were seen to break in dis
order and retreat, leaving the ground
strewed with their dead. "Alrirhtr
said Pelham coolly. Reload with can
ister. The cannoneers sprang to their
pieces and they were soon ready
again. But the enemy did not seem
W1lilhg TO renew the charge. They
dlsmounted the heavy line of sharn-
shooters, advanced, and taking every
species Of cover. were evidently pre-
pairing to close in upon the guns. The
bullets now began to fly thick and
fast Pelham sat his horse motionless:
and gazing at the advancing line.
They will make rush directly" he
thing. I don't understand. What As
lt?- The reply came from our rear.
Suddenly loud cheer was heard d.
rectly in the rear of bur guns. and
regiment, which the enemy had sent
through clump of woods, charged at
tull gallop. Action rear" Pelham
shouted, darting to his guns; and two
pieces were whirled about and opened
upon the charging column. The fire
raked the enemy with deadly effect,
and they wavered for an instant. Then
they reformed. and came on again
headlong. At the same moment the line
of sharpshooters in front charged at
a run, right up to the muzzles Of the
guns. We were Surrounded, and from
that moment the fight became desper-
ate. Pelham was everywhere, cheer
ing on the men, with his drawn saber
flashing I'M the last rays of sunlight
and as that blood-red light steamed on
his slender figure. and countenance all
ablaze with the fire of battle, his ap-
pearance was grand. The boy artil-
lerist was in his proper sphere-fight-
ing MS guns to the very muzzle, de-
termined to die where he stood or drive
the enemy back. More than one of
the dismounted Federal cavalry charg
ed up to the mouths of the pieces and
were hurled back, torn to pieces with
shell or canister; and as each deadly
discharge swept their enemies back,
tho cannonneers uttered triumphant
shouts in which might be discerned
the fierce joy of fighting which these
veritable war dogs experienced. Sud
denly above the thunder of the guns
resounded the loud imperial Marseil-
laise, some with a species of ferocious
roar by the men of the Napoleon de-
tachment' as they worked the guns,
driving back the charge upon the rear.
There was something the voices OF
these men inexpressably defiant and
determined 1.-The martial chorus rang
out splendid and triumphant. Above
them. on his horse, lowered the form
of Pelham, and his voice made the