The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-03-12

swarm down the steep slope into the
valley. With hats drawn low, and
guns advanced, they plunged nj a
run into the mist and disappeared.
Our sSlrmishers had gono in; the ball
he'd opened
l had tarrled long enough; any
moment now might bring boots and
saddles" and If l possessed TIE slight.
est desire for a 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 cv-
erything Appealed down there In the
hins.
What has become OF Bungay?" /
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?"
nodded
"Oh, his mule bolted at the first
shot over yorder. and the little fellow
is after It. 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 cannonee-s at thc
nearer guns. outlined against the sky
orer the crest. as they moved quick
~ 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
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 pier.
ing over. But no orders came for us.
Nearly noon by the red sun hiding
behind the drifting powder cloud. The
ever-deepcning 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
OF 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 lin, the
kindling eyes and rapid movements
voiced Enthusiastically the soldier Shirt.
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
bread valley, and halted. Just In
'front.' OF us, scarcely a halfmile dis
tant, were the fighting lines, partially
enyeioped 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
me firing was one continuous crash
while plunging bullets, overreaching
thelT mark, began to chug into cur
own ranks, dealing death impartially
10 horse and man. The captain of the
troop next mine wheeled suddenly.
look of surprise upon his face and
lell backward into the arms of ono of
MS men; with an intense scream of
agony, almost human, the horse of my
lirst sergeant reared and came over.
crushing the rider before he could
loosen foot from stirrup; the Lieuten-
antColonel rode slowly past us to the
rear, his face deathiy white, ono arm
dripping blood. dangling helpless at
his side. This was the hardest wort,
OF war. that silent agony which tried
men In helpless bondage to unyielding
discipline. l glanced anxiously along
the front of my troop, but they re-
CURED 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 plunglng balls.
Captain" saie Colgate, riding to
where | sat my horse, you will see
that the paper 1 gave you reaches
home safe If fail to come out of
thisY"
reached over and gripped his hand
hard.
ut will be the first thing shall
remember, Jack" answered earnest
ly. But we may have It easy enough
after ALT seems to be an infantry
affair"
He shook his head gravely.
NO" he said. pointing forward,
they will need lib 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 drlfted I'D
ward In a great white cloud. we could
plainly distinguish the advancing
Federal lines, three ranks deem.
stretching TO left and right I'm one
vast, impenetrable blue wall. sweep.
ing toward us upon a run. Where but
a brief moment before the plain np.
peared deserted, It was now fairly
alive with soldiery, the sun cleaning
on fixed bayoncts, and faces aglow
with the ardor of surprise. Some one
mad blundered The thin. unsup.
ported line of gray infantry directly
In our front closed IN that ~ho.4---t