Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-10-23

sorted to devices for obtaining the GOV,
eted drug that wonld bring a food OF
crimson to their cheeks were it record.
ed against them now.
This was the state Of affairs when
the battle OF which l speak took place,
where the gallant major won distinc-
ton by means of the circumstance and
the particular type of genius which en-,
abled him to take advantage of and
turn to account calamitous condition
of things
Just at that time they were in Ar
kansas and the fever, malignant at all
times, was holding high carnival. Men
who were accustomed TO the climate
were doggedly desperate and those 10
whom it was comparatively new ex-
perience were in despair, Everybody
was sick and almost everybody was
sullen. In short, it WAS a particularly
inopportune moment to ask for brave
deeds or expect to find heroes.
There was pretty brisk skirmish
going on which merged itself into Il
battle later in the day. The Confeder-
ates were lodging and tiring-or lying
on their according to the orders
given-in a dogged and half-dead con-
dition. They obeyed orders as u ma
chine might-if the machine was pref
~ nearly Worn out. The officer in com
mand tried to rouse them In vain. He
shouted to them of glory but the fever
cursed men had NO yearning to be glo-
rious just then He dashed along the
line and tried TO inspire them with the
idea that the protection Of the homes
of the South from all sorts of dire dis
aster and disgrace rested upon their
shoulders alone The men, shaken
with ague, fixed their thoughts not
upon homes, but upon the empty drug
stores of their beloved land-and felt
that home would be mOckery with
empty quinine bottles.
One officer shouted a brief speech to
the reserves to the effect that this was
to be the turning point Of the war, and
that the success or failure of the Con-
federacy rested upon them and them
alone. The men sat or lay sullenly be-
LOAC anu hp f9pCNfA vi SAAOAA
stirred them. Only the steady, awful
shake of break-bone fever occupied
their minds. INhe C0nfederacy was a
dream. This was reality The Yam
KEGS were far off. Zach man clutched
to his own breast the terrible enemy.
The officers were in despair No one
could win battle with men so in
different and SO sulIen as these.
At last happy thought struck the
major. He dashed along the line with
fresh news from the front. He told the
company officers that which put new
life into them The word was swiftly
passed along the line from man to man
as they lay I'm the reserve line.
The effect was magical. Every man
prepared with that vim and energy
which means success to obey the next
command A battery had for long
| time held for the Northern troops the
vantage ground. Behind that ugly bat
terry were the supply wagons Of the
Federal army. The major had sent out
word that those wagons had just ar
rived, laden with quinine. That was
enough.
When the command was given to
charge not man failed him, not
man was too i'll to reach--Over breast
works and cannOn--the one thing that
all wanted So when the major dashed
out in front with nplifted sword and
shouted: Charge! Charge, boys.
Give the Yankees fits, and charge for
quinine!" his ranks were full and not
man stopped of his own free will I'M
Ill he was in the enemy's rear.
A good many there were who stopped
| short of this, it is true; poor fellows
who needed quiniDe no longer, and only
left the more for the comrades who
captured the battery and gallantly
saved the day. SO says history and
history is right as TO facts. But as to
the motive for this gallant and desper-
ate charge history is silent, and glory,
not quinine, is enormously supposed 10
have been the inspiring stimulus with
which the major in some mysterious
way infused his men ut the last mo
ment