Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-10

WIND swept aside the fog Of batt1e.
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
troop next mine wheeled suddenly, .
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.
ant-Colonel tode 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. 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
ueld their line steady as granite, clos
ing up silently the ragged gaps torn
by plunging balls.
Captain" sale Colgate, riding to
where sat my horse. you will see
that the paper l gave you reaches
home safe if I fail to come out of
this?"
reached over and gripped his hand
hard.
at will be the first thing shall
remember, Jack" 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.
denly 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 run. Where but
q brief moment before the plain ap.
peared deserted, it was now fairly
alive with soldiery, the sun cleaning
on fixed bayonets, and faces aglow
with the ardor Of surprise. Some one
had blundered! The thin. unsup
ported line OF gray infantry directly
in our front closed up their shattered
ranks hastily IN desperate effort tc
stay the rush. We could see them jam.
ming their muskets for volley fire,
and then, with clash and clatter that
drowned all other sounds, battery OF
six black guns came flying madly past
US, every horse on the run, dashed
into frenzy by his wild rider. With
carriage and caisson leaping at every
jump, the half-naked, smoke-begrimed
cannoneers clinging to their seats like
monkeys, they dashed recklessly for.
ward. swung about into position. and
almost before the muzzles had been
we'll pointed. were hurting canister
into that blue, victorious advance
How those gallant fellows worked !!
their guns leaping into air at each
discharge, their movements = clock.
work! Tense. eager, expectanI every
hand among US hard gripped on sabre
ly could not be delayed. while from
end to end, down the full length OF
our straining line, rang out the yell
Of exultant pride.
STEADY. men; steady there, lads!"
called the old Colonel, sternly. his Owl
eyes filled with tears. "Our turn will
come
Torn, rent, shattered, bleeding,
treading upon the dead and mangled
in rows. those iron men in blue came
on. They were as demons laughing at
death. No rain of lead, no hail OF
canister. no certainty Of destruction
could check now the fierce impetus
Of that forward rush. God knows it
was magnificent; the supreme effort
Of men intoxicated with the enthusi.
asm of war! Even where we were
we could see and feel the giant power
In those grim ranks Of steel-the tat.
tered flags, the stern, set faces, the
deep-toned chorus Of GLORY, glory,
hallelujah," that echoed to their tread.
Those men meant to win or die, and
they rolled on as Cromwell's Iron.
sides at Marston Moor. Twice they
staggered, when the mad volleys
ploughed ragged red lanes through
them. but only to rally and press
sternly on. They struck that crouch.
ing gray line Of infantry, fairly buried
it with their dense blue folds. and.
with one fierce hurrah Of triumph.
closed down upon the guns. Even as