The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-01-30

oome AS on thread hung the hopes of
a struggling nation. Amid the shifting
scenes of this doubtful battle the very
course of history swung to and fro in the
trem bling balance. With the ebb and flow
of this terrific battle rushed the tide of our
country's hopes.
Suddenly far to the left a wild shout Of
victory rings above the din Of battle. Look
ing back toward the turnpike the majestic
form Of the heroic Barksdale, like the tabled
god of battle, towering in the front of the
advancing column was seen, leading the
charge on the last line of the enemy at the
ravine. The inspiration spread like con-
tagion through the regiment, and with a
veil that sounded to the very dome Of
heaven they rushed upon the enemy's
line. AS the autumn leaves are scattered
by the blasts of winter, SO was the Federal
line swept away by the charge of that hur-
ricane. On, right on, until the fiery breath
Of the cannon was hot in their faces, they
pressed. The brave gunners who manned
that battery, with fortitude worthy
better cause, never deserted their posts and
died with their guns beside them. Sickles
fell desperately wounded but escaped into
his line. Graham, who had stood by his
men till the last had fallen, fell into the
hands of the Mssissippians prisoner of
war; The last line was carried, the last
battery was captured, the enemy's line was
cut in twain.
Thus it was the Twenty first Mississippi
Regiment bore the stars and bars to the
very furtherest point reached in the ene-
my's line on the bloody field of Gettysburg.
Holder and Griffin had swept across the
turnpike in hot pursuit of the Red Zouaves,
and were now just making the last desper-
ate assault upon the enemy's line. Barks-
dale stood on the turnpike watching the
movements of his heroes as they drove the
enemy before them. His bright eyes
flashed as though lit by spark from the
fires eternal. His face beamed with the
glow of glorious victory. His thin lip
cured with that naughty smile which meant
defiance to the world. He stood the per-
feet picture of perfect hero. Far to the
right he had watched the gallant dash OF
the Twenty first Regiment and saw the
enemy's line broken and scattered. He
saw the Federal lines reforming in his front
across the ravine, and drawing his sword
from its scabbard he sprang to the front
the flush of victory on his face, shouting,
"They are whipped. We will drive them
beyond the Susquehanna." Then it was
the cheer went up which had lent the in.
SEPARATION to Humphreys wavering column
They charged the ravine as Mssissippian:
, were wont to charge, but the Federal lines
, reinforced, had rallied beneath its shelter
and poured volley after volley into his lines
, His column, halted beneath the deadly fire
reeled to and fro like a forest beneath {
, tempest. The gallant Holder fell desper
| ately wounded. Griffin fell. Fizer fell
Once more they dashed against the enemy
| Waving his sword in the very thickest o
f the fray, in the last charge upon the enc
my's last line,
Where swords were changing, clashing,
+ Where balls crushing, crashing,
the soldier, patriot, hero fell. Amid tn
wild roar of the cannon, the fierce scream
of the shrapnel and clang and glitter 0
sabers; midst all
The pomp and glorious circumstance of war,
the great soul, the unconquerable spirit Q
the immortal Barksdale winged its flight.