The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-12-28

Of that forward rush. God knows Il
was magnificent; the supreme effort
OF men intoxicated with the enthusi
asm Of warl 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 Cromwelrs 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 a.
they blotted them from sight. an aide.
hatless and bleeding. his horse
wounded and staggering from weak
ness, tore down toward us along the
crest. A hundred feet away his
mount fell headlong. but on foot and
dying he reached our front
Colonel Carter" he painted, press
ing one hand upon his breast to keep
back the yelling blood. charge, and
hold that battery Lltil we can bring
infantry to your support"
No man among US doubted the full
meaning OF tive were to save the
army! The very horses seemed to
feel a sense of relief, hands clinched
more tightly on taut reins to hold
them in check; under the old battered
hats the eyes of the troopers gleame'l
hungrily.
"Virginians!" and the old Colone!a
voice rang like clarion down the
breathless line. there is where you
die! Follow mel"
Slowly, like some mighty mountain
torrent gaming force, we rode forth
, = a walk. each trooper lined to pre-
cision OF review, yet instinctively TAX
ing distance for sword play. Hallway
down the slight slope our line broke
into { shar.I trot, then, as the thrilling
rotes of the charge sounded above u.s.
We swept forward in wild. impetuous
tumult.
Who can tell the story Of those
seconds that so swiftly followed
! Surely not one who saw but the vivid
flash Of steel, the agonized faces, the
flame Of belching fire. recall the
frenzied leap of my horse as we
struck the line ere 1t could form i2to
square; the blows dealt savagely to
right and left; the blaze of a volley
.corching our faces; the look OF the
big infantryman | rode down; the
sudden thrust that saved me from q
levelled gun: the quick swerving oi
our horses az they came In contact
with the cannon; the shouts of rage;
the blowa; tho sc-eSTs of pain; TIE
white face CT Colgate ;A he reelet
an fell. These are all x my men
ory, blurred, commingled. Ndistinct
yet distressful as any nightmSc. In
some way. how know not, rCE'tIed
that we had hurled them back. s>Gt
tered them by ou~ first fierce blef%;
that the guns T.Sre once RNN1a Ti;SA ;
that fifty G!smounted troofNTS were
tugging desperately at their 9Fheeis
Then that dctSe blue mass %Frsed
forward once again, engulfed ts in
its deadly folds. End viii steel sHd
bullet sword lJS clHs%5&d -AAySStD
ploughcd through our blIsken ranks
rending us in twain. fairly t~,tothering
u. by sheet force of numbers saw
tie old Colo1Fl plunge head-dGFN 81 into
+. ruck benEfs.th the horses <eet;
the Major "id;:g stone dead ig his
saddle, a sEH~s1 red stain - the
centre of his forehead; then Hunter
of E, went dow7 screaming. and
knew l was the fenior captain let
| About me scarce q hundred men baE
| tied like demons fc. their lives in ttt
! midst of the guns. Even as | glanced
aside at them, shiel1ing my head will
uplifted sabre from the blows rainel
upon me. the color fergeant flunL VI
his hand, and grasTM his saddle porp
mel to keep from 'slling Out of his
opening fingers | viatched the spru
tered staff, lifted it high up. una
the rent folds of IT, old flag caugt'
the dull glow of tn sunlight.
"-th VirgiLia!" shouted. Rally
OF the colors!"
l could see ther" coming-all tha'
was left of them-s,Ehting their wa!
through the press, tleaving the mas
with their blows e. the Prov of {
skip cut the sea. With one vicious
jab of the spur ed them. tbiI
wedge of tempered Eray steel. batter
ing, gouging, rendil:S a passage int
that solid blue wa&< Inch by inch
foot by foot. yard " yard. slashint
madly with our broksn sabres. battling
as men crazed VITA lust Of blood
our very horses fighting for us witt
teeth and hoofs, VIZ ploughed lant
of death through ";ozen files. Thez
the vast mass closSd in upon US
rolled completely oTsr us. There wa!
a flash, a vision II frenzied faces
and / knew no mocT.