Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-07-18

a. Z
rear of us. Finally we crossed and
reached the left flank of the Confed-
crates under Beauregard, and swung
south along Bull Run. Our attack
was scattering and ill planned, but
by o'clock of the next day we
around the slopes which led up to the
Henry house, back of which lay the
Confederate headquarters.
/ saw the batteries of Rickett and
Griffin of our regulars advance and
take this height against the steadily
thickening line of the Confederates,
who had now had full time to concen-
trate. There came hot cavalry
chaise upon the zouave regiment on
my left, and / saw the zouaves lie
down in the woods and melt the line
of that charge with their fire and save
the battery for time. Then in turn
l saw that blunder by which the bat
terry commander allowed Cummings
men-the Thirty-third Virginia, think
1t deliberately to march within
stones throw of them. mistaken for
Federal troops 1 saw them pour a
volley at short range into the guns,
which wiped out their handlers and
let through the charging lines now
converging rapidly upon us. Then,
though it was but my first battle,
knew that our movement must fail,
that our extended line, lying upon
nothing. supported by nothing, must
roll back in retreat along a trough
road, where the horses and guns
would NOW us down. Stuart's men
came on, riding through us as we
broke. Wheat's Louisiana Tigers came
through our remnants as we'll
They were practically over us and
gone when as / rode to the right flank
of the remaining splinter of my little
company I saw riding down upon us
a splendid soldier. almost alone and
apparently endeavoring to reach his
command after some delay at the rear.
He was mounted on fine horse. a
great black animal His tall figure
was clad in the gray uniform of the
Confederates. with black hat sweep
ing back from his forehead. | saw
him half rise once. twice. four times,
standing in the stirrups to enforce his
saber cuts, each one of which dropped
a man. He and his horse moved to-
gether, splendid engine of ruthless
butchery.
.Iook out. Cap.' I heard a squeak
ing voice behind me call and, looking
down, | saw one of my men, his left
arm hanging loose. resting his gun
across log with his right. Git out
o. the way he repeated. I'm goin'
to kill him." 1t was that new made
warrior, Andrew Jackson McGovern,
who had drifted back into our valley
from some place. and joined my COM
pany soon after its organization. | or
5ered the boy now to drop his gun.
Leave him alone" l cried. He be-
longs to me-"
1t was Gordon Orlne At last fate
had relented for me. My enemy was
at hand No man but Orme could thus
ride my old horse. Satan.
This is to be said of Gordon Orme,
that he feared no man or thing on
earth He smiled at me now, show
ing his long. narrow teeth. as he came.
lightly twirling his long blade. Two
pistols lay in my holsters, and both
were freshly loaded. but without
thought had drawn my sword for
weapon. 1 suppose because he was
using his. He was master of the
sword. but a beginner with it.
!, We rode straight in, and heard the
whistle of his blade as he circled it
about his head like band of light
AS we joined he made cut to tie .ofr.
easily, gently. as he leaned forward,
hut it came with such swiftness that
had it landed doubt not my neck
would have been shorn like robins.
We wheeled and came on again ard
yet again. and each time he put me
on defense, and each time / learned
more of what was before me to do.
My old servant. Satan. was now his
servant, and the great black horse
was savage against me as was his
rider. Wishing nothing so much as to