The Lamar register., 1911-11-22

and there the chilled rigure OF sentry
leaning upon his gun. oddly distorted
in form by the enveloping mist
Directly in advance of where we
rested. long hill sloped gently up
ward for perhaps hundred yards. its
crest topped with thick growth OF
young oak-trees. yet seemingly devoid
of underbrush. No troops were
camped in our immediate front. and
feeling curious to ascertain something
of our formation. as well as to ex-
anime the lay of the land between us
and the position occupied by the
enemy, | walked slowly forward. I'M
hindered, until attained the crest.
The fog yet held the secrets of the
valley safely locked within its brown
hand, and could penetrate none of
its mysteries. 1t was like gazing
down from some headland into a ST.
lent, unvexed sea. But directly across
from where | stood apparently along
the summit OF another chain of low
hills similar to those we occupied, I
could perceive the flames Of numerous
/ camp-fires leaping. up into sudden
radiance, while against the brighten
ing sky great flag lazily tapped its
folds to the freshening breeze. Evil
IDENTIFY our opponents were first astir.
and the headquarters of some division
Of the enemy must be across yonder
A l gazed. other fires burst forth to
left and right. as far as the unaided
eye could carry through the gloom.
and l was thus enabled to trace dis
unctly those advanced lines opposing
us. Experience told me their position
must be q strong one. and their force
heavy.
As i turned to mark our own forma-
ton. the roll OF drums rang out.
while the quickening notes of the
reveille sounded down the long lines
Of slumbering men. Life returned. as
II by magic. to those motionless forms.
and almost in a moment all below me
became astir. and could clearly
distinguish the various branches Of
the service, as they stretched away
commingled upon either hand. We
were evidently stationed close to the
centre of our own position. The in,
tervsning ground sloped 30 gently for
ward, while the hill crest was SO
thickly crowned with trees. It looked
an ideal position from which to
advance In line Of attack. Upon my
right there appeared . break In the
solidity Of our line. but even az
noted II. wondering at the oversight.
the dense front Of an infantry column
debouched from q ravine and. march
ing steadily forward. filled the gap.
| could distinctly mark the wearied
manner In which the men composing
1t flung themselves PROSTATE on the
hard ground the moment they were
hslted-doubtless all through the
long hours OF the black night they
had been toiling on to be In time.
Aides were gslloping furiously now
among the scattered commands. The
obscuring fog slowly rose from off
the face Of the valley. but all the
central portion remained yelled from
view. Suddenly. AS | watched. the
brown cloud beneath me was rent
asunder here and there by little splits
OF fire. and II was curious to OBJ
serve how those quick spiteful darts
vista could distinguish no reports.
1t was too far away.-but realized
that the opposing pickets had caught
sight Of each other through the gloom.
Then big gun doomed almost direct
ly opposite me. its flame seeming like
a red-hot knife rending the mist. This
had barely vanished when a sudden
cheer rang out upon my left. and |
turned In time to behold a thin. scat.
tered line Of gray-clad infantrymen
swarm down the steep slope into the
valley. With hats drawn low. and
guns advanced. they plunged at q
run into the mist and disappeared
Our skirmishers had gone in: the ball
had opened.
had tarried long enough: any
moment now might bring boots and
saddles" and II I possessed the slight