Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-01-10
CHAPTER XXI.


The Battle IN the Shenandoah.
To me Il has always seemed re
markab that after all my other bat
tie experiences--A ntietam. Gettys
! burg, the Wilderness, ayl even In
GLIDING that first fierce baptism Of
fire at Manassas-no action in which
ever participated should remain sc
clearly photographed upon memory as
this last desperate struggle for su
premacy in the. Shenandoah. Every
minute detail OF the conflict, al
least so far as CHANGED to be a
ersonal participant. rises before me
as ] write. and doubt not could
trace today 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. oblvious OF the deadly
work before them: but | could hear
the horses already moving uneasily al
their picketropes. and observed here
and there the chilled figure Of a sentry
leaning upon his gun. oddly distorted
In form by the enveloping mist.
Directly In advance OF where we
rested. long hill sioped gently up.
ward for perhaps hundred yards, its
crest topped with a thick growth OF
young oak-trees. yet seemingly devoid
Of rnderbrush. No troops were
camped In our immediate front, and
feeling curious 10 ascertain something
of our formation. as well as 10 ex-
anime the lay of the land between us
and the position occupied by the
enemy. | walked slowly forward, I'M
hindered, until attained the crest.
The fog yet held the secrets GO tho
valley safely locked within its brown
hand. and could penetrate none of
Its mysteries II was like gazing
down from some headland into a ST.
lent. unyexed sea. But directly across
from where stood, apparently along
the summit OF another chain OF low
hills similar 10 those we occupied. !
could perceive the flames OF numerous
camp-fires leaping up into sudden
radiance. while against the brighten.
ing sky great flag lazlly tapped its
folds to the freshening breeze. Evi.
IDENTIFY our opponents were first astir.
and the headquarters of some division
Of the enemy must he across yonder.
As ! gazed. other fires burst forth to
left and right. as far as the unaided
eye could carry through the gloom.
and was thus enabled to trace dis.
tinetly those advanced lines opposing
us Experience told mo their position
must be a strong one. and their force
heavy.
As ! turned TO mark Or own lorna.
ton. the roll OF drums rang out,
while the quickenlng notes OF the
reyeiile sounded down the long lines
OF s:umbering men. Life returned. as
II by magic. to those motionless forms
and almost in q moment all below me
became Rstir, and | could clearly
distinguish the variots branches OF
the ser sice. 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 sc
! taickiy crowned with trees, IL looked
an ideal position from which &c
advance in line Of attack Upon ny
right there appeared break in the
solidity OF our line. nut even as
noted II. wondering at the oversight
the dense front OF an infantry column
dehouched from ravine and. march
I ing steadily forward. filled the gap
could distinctly mark the weariet
manner In which the men composing
I it flung themselves PROSTATE on tht
hard ground the moment they wers
halted doubtless ali through ths
long hours OF the black night they
had been toiling on 70 be Ia time
| Aides were galloping furiously nov
among the scattered commands. Th'
obscuring tog slowly rose from Of
the face Of the valley. but all tbs
central portion remained yelled from
view $ .adenly. as | watched, th'
brown cloud beneath me was ren
asander here snc there by little spit
~ fire. and II was curious 20 oh
serve how those quick sDiteful dart