The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-04-06
voiced unmistakably the soldier spirit


inc int q hcen reK.ne. AT the mouth
OF the Iayiae We cane forth into the
broad valley. and halted. Just In
front OF us. scarcely a half-mile dis
tant, were the fighting lines, partially
enyeloped 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 plunging bullets, oyerreaching
their mark. began TO chug into our
own ranks, dealing death impartially
10 horse and man. The captain of the
troop next mine wheeled suddenly, a
look of surprise upon his face, and
Tell 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 anxiously along
the front OF my troop, but they re-
quired no word from me: 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" sale Colgate, riding TO
where ! sat my horse, you will see
that the paper / gave you reaches
home safe II / 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 II easy enough
after all-it seems 70 be an infantry
affair"
He shook his head grayely.
No" he said, pointing forward,
they will need us now"
AS he spoke il seemed as though
the sharp firing upon both sides sud.
denly ceased by mutual consent. The
terrible roar or 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 up
ward In a great white cloud. we could
plainly distinguish the advancing
Federal lines. three ranks deep.
stretching TO left and right In one
vast, impenetrable blue wall. sweep.
ing toward us upon run. Where but
brief moment before the plain APP
peared deserted, il was now fairly
alive with soldiery. the sun cleaning
on fixed bayonets, and faces aglow
with the ardor OF surprise Some one
had bluhdered! The thin, unsup
ported line OF gray infantry directly
In our front closed up their shattered
ranks hastily in desperate effort &c
stay the rush. We could see them jam
ming their muskets for volley fire
and then, with clash and clatter that
drowned all other sounds. n battery OF
six black guns came flying madly past
us. every horse on the run, dashed
into frenzy by his wild rider. with
carriage and caisson leaping at every
jump, the half.naked smoke begrimed
cannoneers clinging TO their seats like
monkeys, they dashed recklessly for
ward, swung about into position, and
almost before the muzzles had been
we'll pointed, were hurting canister
into that blue, victorious advance.
How those gallant fellows worked |
their guns leaping into air at each |
discharge, their movements clock |
work. Tense. eager. expectant every |
hand among us hard gripped on sabre
hilt, we waited that word which sure
ly could not be delayed, while from
end 20 end. down the full length OF
our straining line, rang out the yell
OF exutant pride
Steady, men: steady there. lads!p
called the old Colonel, sternly, his own
eyes filled with tears. Our turn will
come.
Torn, rent, shattered. bleeding
treading upon the dead and mangled
In rows, those iron men in blue came
on. They We're as demons laughing at
death. No rain of lead. no hail of
canister no certainty of destruction
could check now the fierce Impetus
OF that forward rush God knows Il
was magnificent the supreme effort
of men intoxicated with the enthusi
asm OF war; 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 Cromwells 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
IL with their dense blue folds, and,