Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-12-28

est desire for breakfast to fight on,
1T 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 ey-
erythtng appeared down there in the
hills.
What has become of Bungay?" I
questioned of Colgate, who was lying
upon his back with eyes fastened
on floating cloud.
DO you mean the little mountaineer
who came in with us last night?"
l nodded.
oh, his mule bolted at the first
shot over yonder, and the little fellow
is after 1t. Hos 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 caAnoneers 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, anu we silently
watched 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,
bare slope in the sunshine, through a
half-dozen deserted, desolate fields,
and along narrow, rocky defile lead
Ing into 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.
Inc 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. a
look OF surprise upon his face, and
fell backward into the arms of one of
MS 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. I glanced anxiously along
the front of my troop, but they re.
quired no word from mo; with tightly
set lips, and pale, stern faces, they
held their line steady as granite, clos.
Ing up silently the ragged gaps torn
by plunging balls.
Captain" said Colgate, riding to
where l sat my horse, you will see
that the paper 1 gave you reaches
home safe II I fail to come out of
this?"
reached over and gripped his hand
hard.
1T will be the first thing shall
remember. Jack" answered earnest.
ly. But we may have 1t 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 centinuous thunder