Middletown transcript., 1911-12-23
CHAPTER xxlI.


eluding that first fierce baptism Of
fire at Manassas-no action in which
l ever participated should remain so
clearly photographed upon memory al
this last desperate struggle for su'
premacy In the Shenandoah. Every
minute detail of the conflict, at
least 30 far as I chanced to be a
personal participant, rises before me
a. / write, and ! doubt not / could
trace to-day each step taken upon that
stricken field.
The reveille had not sounded when
first awoke AID, rolling from my
blanket, looked about me, Already =
faint, dim line Of gray, heralding the
dawn, was growing clearly defined in
the east, and making manifest those
heavy fog-banks which, hanging dank
and low, obscured the valley. The
tired men of my troop were yet lying
upon the ground, wrapped tightly In
their blankets, oblivious Of the deadly
work before them; but / could hear
the horses already moving uneasily at
their picketropes, and observed here
and there the chilled figure Of sentry
leaning upon his gun. oddly distorted
in form by the enveloping mist.
Directly In advance Of where we
rested, a 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, un-
hindered, until / attained the crest.
The fog yet held the secrets Of the
valley safely locked within its brown
hand, and I could penetrate none Of
its mysteries. 1t was like gazing
down from some headlsRd into ST.
lent, unvexed sea. But directly across
from where l stood, apparently along
the summit Of another chain Of low
est desire for q breakfast to fight on,
It behooved me to get back within
our lines. The memory Of that ami
mated scene in front still fresh upon
me, how quiet and commonplace ev-
erything appeared down there In the
hills.
What has become Of Bungay?" ]
questioned Of Colgate, who was lying
upon his back with eyes fastened
on a floating cloud.
do you mean the little mountaineer
who came in with rs last night?"
I nodded.
"0h, his mule bolted at the first
shot over yonder, and the little fellow
is after 1t. He's down the field there
somewhere"
How time dragged! The battery to
left Of us went into action, and began
firing rapidly; we could mark the
black figures Of the cannoneers at the
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
hills similar to those we occupied, I
could perceive the flames Of numerous
camp-fires leapiRg up into sudden
radiGnce, while against the brighten
Eng Sky great flag lazily tapped its
&olds to the fresheniRg breeze. EVi-
IDENTIFY OF. opponents were first astir,
and the headquarters Of some division
ct the enemy must be across ycnder.
~ ! gazed, other fires burst forth to
left and right, as far as the unaided
eye could carry through the gloom,
anA ] was thus enabled to trace dis
ttnctly those advanced lines opposing
us. Experience told me their position
must be q strong one, and their force
heavy.
As turned to mark our own forma,
ton, the roll Of drums rang out,
while the Quickening notes Of the
rOveille sounded down the long lines
Of slumbering men. Life returned, as
Il By magic, to those aotionless forms,
and almost in a moment all below me
became astir, and / could clearly
the various branches Of
the service, as they stretched away
conmingled upon either hand. We
we're evidently stationed close to the
centre Of our own position. The in
ground sloped so gently for
ward, while the hill crest was so
thickiy crowned with trees, # looked
an ideal position from which to
advance in line Of attack. Upon my
right there appeared O break in the
Bolidity OF our line, but even as |
aotsd It, wondering at the oversight,
the dsnse front OF an infantry column
aebouched freac ravine and, march
Ing steadily forSard, filled the gap.
could distinctly mark the wesried |
manner in which the men composing
lt flung themselves PROSTATE on the |
hard ground the momsnt they were |
Aalted-doubtless all through the
long hours Of the black night they
had beea toiling on 10 be On time.
Aides were galieping furscnsly now
among the scattered commands. The
shscuFing fog SLOWLY rose from off
he teee Of the valley, but all the
sentral portion remained veflsd from
gtsw. Suddenly. u ! watched, the
brown cloud beneath ne was rent
lsunder here and there BY little spits
Y fire, and 1t was curious to OBJ
Ierve how tho quick spiteful darts
4 fame swept the full length of my
vista. could distinguish no reports,
1T was too far away,-but realized
hat the opposing pickets had caught
light Of each other through the gloom.
rhen 3 big gun doomed almost direct
y opposite me, It's flame seeming like
! red-hot knife rending the mist. This
lad barely vanished when q sudden
'heer rang out upon my left, and
urned In time to behold thin, seat.
cred lins of gray-clad infantrymen
warn down the steep slope into the
ALLEY. With hats drawn low, and
runs advanced, they plunged at q
'un into the mim and disappeared.
Dur akirmiahsfs had gone In; the ball
lad opened.
y