The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1912-03-08


tant' were the fighting lines, partially
enveloped In dense smoke, out from
winch broke patches Of blue or gray
as charge succeeded charge, or the
WIND swept aside the fog of battle
ne iirlng was one continuous crash.
while plunging bullets, overreachipg
their mark, began to chug into our
own ranks, dealing death impartially
10 morse and man. The captain OF the
troop next mine wheeled suddenly. a
LOOK Of surprise upon his face. and
iell backward into the arms OF one of
MS men; with an intense scream of
agony, almost human, the horse of nv
first sergeant reared and came over
crushing the rider before be 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
bis 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
nsld their line steady as granite. clos.
Ing up silently the ragged gaps torn
BY plunging balls.
Captain" sale Colgate, riding to
where l sat my horse, you will see
that the paper l gave you reaches
home safe II / fail to come out Of
thisT
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 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 drifted up
ward in 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
a brief moment before the plain ap
peared deserted, 1t was now fairly
alive with soldiery, the sun cleaning
on fixed bayonets, and faces aglow
with the ardor Of surprise. Some one
had Numbered! The thin, unsup
ported line of gray infantry directly
in our front closed up their shattered
ranks hastily in desperate effort to
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, 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 caisspn leaping at every
jump, the half-naked, smoke.begrimed
caDnoneers 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 to end, down the full length OF
our straining line, rang out the yell
Of exultant pride
STEADY, men; steady there, ladsn
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 al
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 II
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