The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-01-04
CHAPTER xxi.
The Battle in the Shenandoah.

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To me it has always seemed re
markab that after all my other bat
tie experiences-Antieta Gettys-
burg, the Wilderness, ay! even in
GLIDING that first fierce baptism of
fire at Manassas-no action in which
| ever participated should remain SO
clearly photographed upon memory as
this last desperate struggle for SUI
premacy in the Shenandoah. Every
minute detail of the conflict, at
least so far as ] CHANGED to be
lersonal participant, rises before me
as l write, and l doubt not could
trace to-day each step taken upon that
stricken field.
The reveille had not sounded when
| first awoke and. rolling from my
blanket, looked about me- Already a
faint. dim line of gray, heralding the
dawn, was growing clearly defined in
the east, and making manifest those
heavy fog-banks which, hanging dank
and low. obscured the valley. The
tired men of my troop were yet lying
upon the ground, wrapped tightly in
their blankets, oblivious Of the deadly
work before them; but could hear
the horses already moving uneasily at
their picket-ropes, and observed here
and there the chilled figure of sentry
leaning upon his gun. oddly distorted
in form by the enveloping mist.
Directly in advance Of where we
rested. long hill sloped gently up
ward for perhaps hundred yards, its
crest topped with thick growth Of
young oak-trees, yet seemingly devoid
of underbrush. No troops were
camped in our immediate front, and
feeling curious to ascertain something
of our formation, as well. as to ex-
anime the lay of the land between us
and the position occupied by the
enemy. walked slowly forward, .un-
hindered, until / attained the crest.
The fog yet held the secrets of the
valley safely locked within its brown
hand, and | could penetrate none of
its mysteries. 1t was like gazing
down from some headland into 81
lent, unvexed sea- But directly across
from where stood, apparently along
the summit of another chain of low
hills similar to those we occupied,
could perceive the flames of numerous
camp-fires leaping UP into sudden
radiance, while agains, the brighten
ing sky a great flag lazily tapped its
folds to the freshening breeze. Evi-
gently our opponents were first astir.
and the headquarters of some division
of the enemy must be across .yonder.
AS i gazed, other fires burst forth to
left -sarid right, as far as the unaided
eye could carry through the gloom.
and / was thus enabled to trace dis
tinctly these advanced lines opposing:
us. Experience told me their position
must be strong one. and their force
heavy.
AS turned to mark or own forma-
ton. the roll of drums rang out,
while the quickening notes of the
reveille sounded down the long lines
of slun.bering men. Life returned. as
if by magic. to those motionless forms,
and almost in moment all below me
became astir, and could clearly
distinguish the various branches of
the service, as they stretched away
commingled upon either hand. We
were evidently stationed close to the
centre of our own position. The in
tervening ground sloped SO gently for
ward. while the hill crest was so
taickly crowned with trees, it looked
an ideal position from which to
advance in line of attack. Upon my
right there appeared a break in the
solidity of our line. but even as
noted it. wondering at the oversight,
the dense front of an infantry column
debouched from ravine and. march
ing steadily forward, filled the gap.
could distinctly mark the wearied
manner in which the men composing
it flung themselves PROSTATE on the
hard ground the moment they were
halted doubtless all Though the
long hours of the black night they
had been toiling on to be In time.
Aides were galloping furiously now
among the scattered commands. The
oDscuring fog slowly rose from off
the face of. the valley, but all the
central portion remained yelled from
view. Suddenly. as ! watched, the
brown cloud beneath me was rent
acunder here and there by little spits
OF fire. and 1t was curious to OBJ
serve how those quick spiteful darts