The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-08-02

their feet, and waving their hats. Tn
next instant across the summit cam
Washington, a dozen officers clatter
ing behind, his face stern.eot ant
white, as he rode straight toward Ice
What is the meaning OF this re
treat, General LeeS My God. sir, how
do you account for such disorder and
confusion?" he exclaimed, his voicS
ringing above the uproar, his angry
eyes blazing into Lees face. Answer
me-"
The other muttered some reply
failed to catch.
That's not true" returned Wash
ington, every word stlnging like a
whip. 1T was merely a covering party
which attacked you. Why did you ac.
cept command, sir. unless you intend
ed to fght?"
q did not deem It prudent, General
Washington, to bring on a general en-
gagement"
You were to obey my orders, sir,
End you know what they we're. SeeI
They are coming nowl"
He wheeled his horse about, point
ing with one hand across the valley.
Major Cain. have Oswald bring up
his guns at once; Lieutenant Mcneil,
ride TO Ramsey and Stewart; have
their troops on the ridge within ten
minutes-General Maxwell, these are
your men?'
"They are, sir"
Hold this line at any cost, the re-
serves will be up presently"
AS he drew his horse about he again
came face to face with Lee, who sat
his saddle sullenly, his gaze on the
ground. Washington looked at him
moment, evidently not knowing what
to say. Then he asked quietly:
"Will you retain command on this
height, or, not, sir?"
1T is equal to me where 1 COM
mand."
"Then I expect you will take proper
means for checking the enemy"
Il shall not be the first to leave the
ground; your orders shall be obeyed."
What followed was but a medley of
sight and sound. I saw Washington
ride to the left; heard Lee give a hur-
ried order, or two; then / was at the
rear Of our own line Strengthening it
for assault. There was little enough
time left
Under the smoke Of several batter
les, whose shells were ripping open
the side Of the hill, the British were
advancing in double line, the sun
cleaning on their bayonets, and re-
vealing the uniforms Of different
corps.
STEADY, men! SteadyI" voice after
voice caught up the command. Hold
your fre!"
wait until they reach that fallen
tree!" l added.
Every man of us had a gun, officers,
all. Coatless as though we came from
the haying field, the perspiration
streaming down our faces, we waited.
The rife barrels glowed brown in the
sun, as the keen eyes took careful
sight. We were but handful, single
thin line; If the reserves failed we
would be driven back by mere force
of numbers, yet before we went that
slope should be strewn with dead |
Crashing up from the rear came Os- |
wald with two guns, wheeling into |
position, the depressed muzzles spout
ing destruction. Yet those red and |
blue lines came on; great openings |
were ploughed through them, but the |
living mass closed up. They were at |
the fallen tree, beyond, when we
poured our volleys into their very
faces. We saw them waver as that
storm Of lead struck; the center
seemed to give way, leaving behind
a ridge Of motionless bodies; then it
surged forward again, led by a wav-
ing flag, urged on by gesticulating Of
fcers.
"The cavalry! The cavalry"
They were coming around the end
Of the morass, charging full tilt upon
the right of our line. saw that end
up, and, a moment later
scarcely realizing what had occurred
we were racing backward, firing as we
ran, and stumbling over dead bodies.
Maxwell rallied us beyond the
causeway, swearing manfully as he
drove us into position behind a low
stone wall Again and again they
charged us, the artillery fire shatter-
ng the wall into fragments. Twice
we came to bayonets and clubbed
guns, battling hand to hand, and
Wayne was forced so far back upon
he left, that we were driven into the
edge Of the wood for protection. But
here we held, out front a blaze Of
ire. 1t seemed to me the horror of
hat struggle would never end. Such
neat, such thirst. the black powder
smoke in our nostrils, the dead under
DOT, the cries of the wounded, the
ncessant roar Of the guns. Again and
lgain it was hand to hand; l could
scarcely tell who faced us, so fierce
he melee, so suffocating the smoke;
caught glimpses of British Grena-
liers, of Hessians, Of Queens Rangers.
)nce l thought l heard Grants nasal
-oice amid the Internal uproar. Stew
.rt and Ramsey came to our sup
,ort; Oswald got his guns upon an !
opening a deadly fire; Liv-
ngston's regiment charged, and, with Z
cheer, we leaped forward also, mad j
With the battle fever, and flung them
ack, back down that deadly slope. I
t was not in flesh and blood to stand; I
1e cut the center like a wedge, and
rove them pell-mell to where Lee
ad been in the morning. Here they c
allied, fanked by thick woods and y
lorasses. Too exhausted to follow i