The St. Mary banner., 1912-03-16

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 CroEwel's 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
it with their dense blue folds. and.
with one fierce hurrah of triumph.
closed down upon the guns Even as
they blotted them from sight. an aide.
hatless and bleeding. his horse
wounded and staggering from weak
ness. tore down toward US along the
crest. A hundred feet away his
mount fell headlong. but on foot and
dying he reached our front.
Colonel Carter" he painted. press
Ing one hand upon his breast to keep
back the yelling blood: "ch.rse. and
hold that battery Lltil we can bring
infantry to your support"
No man among us doubted the full
meaning OF tive were to save tho
army! The very horses seemed to
feel a sense Of relief. hands ciinched
more tightly on taut reins to hold
them In check: under the old battered
hats the eyes Of the troopers cleaned
hungrily.
"Virginians!" and the old Coioners
voice rang like q clarion down the
breathless line. there 10 where you
die! Follow me!"
Slowly. like some mighty mountain
torrent gaming force. we rode forth
= q walk. each trooper lined to pro-
cision OF review, yet instinctiveiy TAX
ing distance for sword play. Halfway
down the slight slope our line broke
into c shar , trot. then. as the thrilling
rotes OF the charge sounded above US
We swept forward in wild. impetuoul
tumult.
Who can tell the story Of those
seconds that SO swiftly followed?
Surely not one who saw but the vivid
flash OF steel. the agonized faces. the
flame of belching fire. ! recall the
frenzied leap Of my horse as We
,truck the line ere 1t could form into
square; the blows dealt savagely to
right and left: the blaze Of volley
,corching our faces. the look OF tho
big infantryman l rode down: the
sudden thrust that saved me from q
levelled gun; the quick swervtng OF
our horses as they came in contact
with the cannon: the shouts of rage;
the blows: the screams of pain: the
white face of Colgate as he reeled
an fell These are all in my men,
ory. blurred, commingied. indistinct.
yet distressful as any nightmare. In
some way, how ! know not. ! realized
that we had hurled them back. shat
tered them by our first fierce blow:
that the guns were once again ours:
that fifty dismounted troopers were
tugging desperately at their wheels.
Then that dense blue mass surged
forward once again. engulfed US In
its deadly folds. and with steel and
tullet. sword and dubbed musket.
ploughed through our broken ranks.
rending US In twain. fairly sm0thering
u. by sheer force Of numbers. saw
t.e old Colonel plunge head-down into
Il. ruck beneath the horses feet:
the Major riding stone dead In his
saddle. q ghastly red stain In tho
centre Of his forehead: then Hunter.
Of E. went down screaming. and
knew l was the senior captain left.
About me scarce a hundred men bat
tied like demons 70. their lives In the
midst OF the guns Even as ! glanced
aside at them. shielding my head with
uplifted sabre from the blows rained
upon me. the cOlOr-sergeant flung up
his hand. and grasped his saddle POM
mel to keep from falling Out Of his
opening fingers ! snatched the splin-
tered staff. lifted 1t high up. until
the rent folds of the old flag caught
the dull glow of the sunlight
"-th Virginia." ] shouted. Rally
o. the colors!"
could see them coming-all that
was left OF them-fiChting their way
through the press. cleaving the mass
with their blows as the PROV OF q
skip cut the sea. With one vicious
jab of the spur ! led them. thin
wedge of tempered gray steel. batter
ing. gouging. rending passage into
that solid blue wall. Inch By inch.
loot by foot. yard by yard. slashing
nsdly with our broken sabres. battling
as men crazed with lust of blood.
our very horses fighting for US with
teeth and hOofs. we ploughed lane
Of death through dozen files. Then
lie vast mass clos ed in upon US.