Middletown transcript., 1911-12-23

M'r rMNzn &gFd9G. d9G.sALE.- A
On Foot and Dying He Reached our
Front.
voiced unmistakably the soldier spirit
We moved westward down the long,
bare slope In the sunshine, through q
half-dozen deserted, desolats fields,
and along 3 narrow, rocky defila lead
Ing into deep revin9. At the mouth
OF the Favine we came forth into the
broad valley, and halted. Just In
tTont OF us, scarcely q hAlf-mile dis
tant were the fighting lines, partially
0nyeloped 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 Dlunging 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, a
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 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. ! glanced anxiousIy along
the front of my troop, but they re-
quired no word from me; with tightly
set lips, and pale, stern faces, they
neld their line steady as granite, clos
Ing up silently the ragged gaps torn
by plunging balls.
Captain" saiG Colgate, riding to
where l sat my horse, you will see
that the paper / gave you reaches
home safe if l fail to come out of
this?"
/ reached over and gripped his hand
hard.
1T will be the first thing / shall
remember, Jack" l answered earnest.
ly. But we may have it easy enough
after all-it seems to be an infantry
affair"
He shook his head gravely.
NO" he said, pointing forward,
they will need US now"
As he spoke 1t 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 uD.
ward in q great white cloud, we could /
plainly distinguish the advancing
Federal lines, three ranks deem.
stretching to left and right in one
vast, impenetrabie blue wall. sweep-
ing toward US upon run. Where but
brief moment before the plain an
psared deserted, 1t was now fairly
alive with soldiery, the sun cleaning
on fixed bayonets, and faces aSlow
with the ardor Of surprise. Some ona
had blundered! The thin, unsup-
ported line of gray infantry directly
In our front closed up their shattered
ranks hastily in desperate effort to
stay the rush. We could see them lam.
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, lashed
into frenzy by his wild rider. With 4
carriage and caisson leaping at eyerv /
jump, the half-naked, smoke-begrimed
cannoneerS clinging to their seats like
monkeys, they dashed reckIessly for.
ward. swung about into position, and
almost before the muzzles had bean
well pointed, were hurting canister
into that blue, victorious advance |
How those gallant fellows worked!
their guns leaping into air at each 1
discharge, their movements clock.
work! Tense, eager, expectant, every
hand among US hard gripped on sabre
atft, we waited that word which sure.
ly could not be delayed, while from
end to end, down the full length Of
our straining line, rang out the ven
of exultant pride.
Steady. men: steady there, ladsl"
called the old Colonel, sternly, his own |
syes filled with tears. "Our turn win
come"
Torn. rent, shattered, bleeding
reading upon the dead and manglsd
q rows, those iron men in blue came
n. They were as 6saons laughing At
leath. No rain Df lead, no hail Of |
:anister. no certainty Of destruction
,ould check now the fierce impetus
# that forward rush. God knows It
vas magnificent; the supreme effort
II men intoxicated with the enthusi.
lsEnof warl Even where we were
yefcouid ase and fesi tbs giant power
q hoaa grim ranks Of steel--th6 kA
esed ANss. the stern, nst faces
ap-tpned chorus Of salorT, @iesF,
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