The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-01-07
Ghe ARMY KICKER


for years-way pack to the days when
as young men both loved the same
girl.
One DAY the two companies were de-
tailed to reach and hold two gaps In
the mountains five miles away. Com
pany B was sent on to cover the
mouth of Green Cove gap, which vas
really the post of danger. At Smokers
gap, taken by the other company, the
trail was so narrow and rough that no
body of troops could be sent through it.
At the cove there was a road over
which divisions had marched, and their
uns and wagons had followed.
Company G cache its position, roll
ed powders together for a breastwork.
and the men in blue stationed behind it.
A corporal and two men were sent up
the gap a hundred yards to take posi-
ton as vedettes. n as they sat down
On a rock one of the privates said:
Look here, Corp. 1t seems to me
that there is a sight of foolin' around
In this old army of ours. What are
they expectin' us to do here"
Flight, mebbe," replied the corporal
as he lighted his pipe
Yes, that's just like General Grant.
Here we are, about ninety strong, and
he expects us to hold this gap agin 10.
600 Johnny fighters. I'm no hand to
kick, but
Then what you kicking forT" de-
manded the corporal. You are the
worst old GROWER in the company.
You'd kick If they offered you your
discharge tomorrow."
Look here, corporal, o don't know
enough to walk under a GOV shed when
it's rainin' outdoors, but mebbe l can
drive an idea into your skull Here
we are, aim wef"
w amt anywhere else"
"Then that's settled Down there is
Company D, two miles away. We are
to hold one gap-they the other. They
won't see d cussed Johnny down there,
while vel have a thousand on US be-
fore that old brass watch of yours says
it's II O'Clock noon Can Iess'n a hun
dred men lick 10.OOO?"
I've heard of such things" placidly
replied the corporal.
ooh. you havei We can lick no 1O,-
900, nor yet 500, but the pint l want to
make is that Company D won't move
a foot to back us. That internal Cap
tain Harper will see us all wiped out
before he'll give an order"
Nobody wants him to back US. Wen
do our own lighting and get the glory
of it. Say. Bill, Genera Grant give
me a little p'inter for you the other
day. He said if you'd cut your hair.
wash you feet and stop kicking he'd
make d brig~dier of you right Off"
"Waal, he might do a heap wuss," re-
piled the private as he opened his
haversack to get a bite to eat. You
Jest mind. however, what | said about
Captain Harper. l can fight and kick.
too. and you needn't be afraid of my
runnin' aw"y, but when the sun goes
down tonight there ont be no more
of Company D."
Half an hour passed way, and then
the three vedetteS caught sight of a
dozen C~onfederates making their way
down the gap. There was every rea-
son to believe that a large force was
behind them.
Il old you they'd be comm down
this gap,'' growled the kicker as he
made. ready with his musket. There's
a whole regiment behind them ~feIlers,
and We'll be chawed up in ten minits."
Il sort o hin we'd better fall back
answered the corporal. They are com
ing down the gap sure enough, and
they'll be right on top of us next thing
Come on"
The C~onfederates marching Town tbs
gap numbered a full regiment. and five
minutes after the. retreat of the VI
dettes Company @ was fighting for its
life. Captain White saw at once that
he was vastly o~utnumbered and hat
he must be REINFORCED. and. though it
went against the grain to do it, he sent
off a messenger to Captain Harper.
Tell him l have no men to spare AMI
that he must hold his position to the
last man." was the word that came
back.
The men of Company G were told of
the message. and after a moment of
cursing they W their hats and
cheered. Tney could not hope to hold
the position a quarter of an hour long
er, but they would obey orders and
die there. The Confederates had doz-
ems of men killed as they charged the
rocky breastwork, but they came agaiE
and again and always reaped an ad-
vantage
They finally brought up a neldpiece,
and the men who had been fighting
with a faint glimmer of hupe now
groaned out in despair. Three or four
solid shot tore the breastwork to
pieces. and the remnant of the surviv-
ors could only hug the ground and
continue to fire. There were calls for
surrender. but no orders to retreat By
and by the Confederates formed up
again and made another dash. and this
time they carried the gap.
"It was purity f%ghtin'," explained the
wounded kicker to his comrades In
ether companies that ut2ht at the