Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-04-21
The Rebel Yell.

once Of Company E of the 25th Wis
consin. has handed to me copy OF
the Times-Union of Jacksonville,
Florida In it there is an article
taken from the Pensacola Journal
about the rebel yell," which some
of our grizzled old fellows can stin
hear, in imagination. 1t is bit of
graphic description and we'll worth
reading. Here it is:
The Story.
The venerable widow of Admiral
Raphael Semmes, at a confederate
reunion in Memphis, expressed a de.
sire to hear the rebel yell. To give
an idea of it, and to show how i'm
possible it is to reproduce it now,
Kellar Anderson. himself, a gallant
member of the Fifth Kentucky in
fantry. of the Orphan brigade. wrote
this "reminiscences:
There is a southern mother who
says she wants to hear the rebel
yell once more.
THE announcement transforms,
and in an instant | find myself act
ing the humble part of file clos
er to Company /, Fifth Kentucky in
fantry, with pieces at the right Shout
der, the brigade in right column
With the active, strong, enthusiastic
stride of the trained soldier, they
hold the double-quick over rocks
logs, gullies, underground. hill and
vale, until amid the foliage of the
trees above them the hurting shell
and Kissing shot from the enemys
field gave notice that in retreating
they have missed the way. Yet
there is no command to halt Di~
rect ON unchanged course, this bat
tie SCARED and glory-mantled bat
TALON of Kentucky youths continues.
AS they reach the open woods, in
clarion tones comes the order, Change
front, forward on first company etc
The order executed, found them form
ed on ground recently occupied b.
a battalion of their foes and few of
these had left their position. The
ba talon of Kentuckians were in
battle array where once they were.
but now the ground was almost lit
orally covered with the federal dead
the entire length of our regiment OF
700 men. Men, did l say? Soldiers
is the word; there were few men
among them, they being youth but
soldiers indeed. The increasing spat,
whirl. and hiss of the minnie balls
hurrying by left no doubt of the
fact among these soldiers. They are
about to enter the action again. and
forward is the order. Steady. men,
steady: hold your fire; not shot
without orders. 1t is hard to stand
but you must not return it. We have
friends in om front yet. They are
being hard pressed, and their am
munition is almost expended. but
they are of our proudest and best,
aud Humphreys Mississippians will
hold that ridge while they hive a
cartridge
1T is nearing sunset and after two
days of fearful carnage-one of the
best contested battles of the times
the enemy has been driven pell-
nell from many parts of the field.
Our losses are numbered ny thou
sands, and We are now advancing in
battle array. the little red flag with
blue cross dancing gally in the air
over heads of those who were there
70 defend it. The last rays of the
setting sun had kissed the autumn
foliage when we stepped into open
ground and found that we were paid
amid the wreck of what a few short
minutes ago had been a superb six
gun battery. The uniforms of the
dead artillerymen and the gaily cap
aris oned bodies of the many dead
horses proclaimed this destruction
the work of our friends. We TOOL,
upon the dead. pull our cartridge
boxes a little more TO the front. and
| resolve once more to face the des-
truction we are now entering The
sulphurous smoke has increased I'M
Ill almost sitting. Only fifty Yards
OF space separate us from the gal
liant Mississippians we are there TO
support; they have chung TO the
"dge with a death-like grip. but
their last car.ridge has been fired
at the enemy aud their support be
/ ing at band, those sturdy sold 'ers Of
Longstreet's corps are ordered TO
retire
S simultaneously the support was
ordered forward AS ,he NIiSsippians
Iretted, the deep-volumed shouts OF
itha enemy told us palmer than words
that the enemy thought thew had
routed us An. how differently we
regarded the situation, II they could
have seen them as we-haltire.
sneelng living down ranging Them
selves in columns &C files behiJid the
large trees to enable Us TO get a.
/ the enemy with an unbrCken front
each MAJ as we passed throwing
lean high into the oyeFhsnging foli-
age in honor OF our preseEce--then.
1 / imagine. their shouts would have
been suppressed. steady in the cen
er, Hold year fra Hold the col
ors back We are clear Of our
frierds now; only tha enemy IS In
Z front. and We meet face ia fzee on