The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-28

voiced Enthusiastically the soldier spirit,
We moved westward down the long.
bare slope In the sunshine, through
half-dozen deserted, desolate fields,
and along narrow, rocky defile lead
ing into a deep revine. At the mouth
or the ravine we came forth into the
broad valley, and halted. Just in
front of us, scarcely half-mile dis
tant. were the fighting lines, partially
enveloped In dense smoke, out from
which broke patches of blue or gray.
as charge succeeded charge, or the
wind swept aside the fog of battle
The firing was one continuous crash
while plunging bullets, overreaching
their mark, began to chug into our
own ranks, dealing death impartially
to horse and man. The captain of the
troop next mine wheeled suddenly. a
look OF surprise upon his face, and
fell backward into the arms of one OF
his men; with an intense scream of
agony, almost human, the horse of my
first sergeant reared and came over,
crushing the rider before he 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
his 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
neld their line steady as granite. clos.
ing up silently the ragged gaps torn
by plunging balls.
Captain" said Colgate, riding to
where sat my horse, you will see
that the paper gave you reaches
home safe II / fail to come out of
this?"
/ reached over and gripped his hand
hard
1T will be the first thing / shall
remember. Jack" l answered earnest.
ly. But we may have it easy enough
after all--it 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 I'D
ward " : 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
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 blundered! 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 lam.
ming their muskets for volley fire
and then, with clash and clatter that
drowned all other sounds, a battery of
six black guns came flying madly past
us. every horse on the run, lashed
into frenzy by his wild rider. With
carriage and caisson leaping at every
Jump, the half-naked, smoke .begrimed
cannoneers clinging to their seats like
monkeys, they dashed recklessly for.
ward, swung about into position, and
almost before the muzzles had been
well pointed, were hurling 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, lads!"
called the old Colonel, sternly. his own
eyes filled with tears. "Our turn will
come"
GRO BE CONTlNUED.)