The Lamar register., 1911-11-22
VINO came In with US last nisntr'


nodded.
"Oh, his mule bolted at the first
shot over yonder. and the little fellow
is after It. He's down the field there
somewhere"
How time dragged! The battery to
left of us went into action. and began
firing rapidlys we could mark the
black figures of the cannoneers at tho
nearer guns. outlined against the sky
over the crest, as they moved quick
ly back and forth. Twice they bore
motionless bodies to the rear. and laid
them down tenderly beyond the fierce
zone of fire. Then the heavier pieces
of artillery farther down the line
burst into thunder, and we silently
watched a large force Of infantry
move slowly past us up the long slope
until they halted in line Of battle just
behind its summit, the advanced files
lying flat upon their faces and peer
ing over. But no orders came for US.
Nearly noon by the red sun hiding
behind the drifting powder cloud. The
ever-deepening roar OF ceaseless con-
test had moved westward down the
valley, when an aide wheeled his
smoking horse in front of the Colonel.
spoke dozen hasty words. pointed
impetuously to the left, and dashed
off down the line. The men leaped
to their feet in eager expectancy. and
as the Fall in. fall in there. lads"
echoed joyously from lip to lip. the
kindling eyes and rapid movements
voiced Enthusiastically the soldier spirit.
We moved westward down the long.
oare slope In the sunshine. through a
nalf-dozen deserted. desolate fields,
and along a narrow, rocky defile lead
ing into a deep revine. At the mouth
Of the ravine We came forth into the
broad valley. and halted. Just in
front Of US. scarcely a half-mile dis
tant. were the fighting lines. partially
enveloped in dense smoke. out from
which broke patches of blue or gray.
as charge succeeded charge. or the
wind swept aside the fog Of battle.
The firing was one continuous crash,
while plunging bullets. overreaching
their mark. began to chug into our
own ranks. dealing death impartially
to horse and man. The captain OF the
look of surprise upon his face, and
fell backward into the arms Of one of
his men; with an intense scream of
agony. almost human, the horse OF my
first sergeant reared and came over.
crushing the rider before he could
loosen foot from stirrup. the Lieuten-
antColonel rode slowly past US to the
rear. his face deathly white. one arm,
dripping blood. dangling helpless at
his side. This was the hardest work
OF war, that silent agony which tried
men in helpless bondage to unyielding
discipline. l glanced anxiously along
the front of my troop. but they re-
CURED no word from me: with tightly
set lips. and pale. stern faces. they
acid their line steady as granite. clos
i1g up silently the ragged gaps torn
by plunging balls.
Captain" sai< Colgate. riding to
where l sat my horse. you will see
that the paper ! gave you reaches
home safe II I fail to come out of
this?"
reached over and gripped his hand
Lard.
1T will be the first thing l shall
remember. Jack" l answered earnest
ly. But We may have It easy enough
after ALT seems to be an infantry
affair."
He shook his head gravely.
NO" he said. pointing forward.
they will need Us now"
As he spoke It seemed as though
the sharp firing upon both sides sud
Genly ceased by mutual consent. The
terrible roar Of small arms, which had
mingled with the continuous thunder
of great guns. died away into an In
termittent rafting Of musketry. and
as the heavy smoke slowly drifted up
ward In great white cloud, We could
plainly distinguish the advancing
Federal lines. three ranks deep.
stretching to left and right in one
vast. impenetrable blue wall, sweep
ing toward Us upon q run. Where but
brief moment before the plain ap-
peared deserted. It was now fairly
alive with soldisry. the sun cleaning
on fixed bayonsts. and faces aglow
with the ardor of surprise Some one
had blundersd! The thin. unsup-
ported line Of gray infantry directly
L.. g. -