The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-02
copyrishI By A. c. NieCiars q ce
enssreA e SSax,oocr's Hall Loodoo.

- -
s.ssrsd = sss.oes's Hall Lsoasa
Torn. rent. shattered, bleeding
reading upon the dead and manglet
Ia rows. those iron men, In blue came
on. They were as demons laughing a
death. No rain OF lead, no hail oi
canister. no certainty OF destruction
could check now the fierce impetus
or that forward rush. God knows Il
was magnificent: the supreme effort
OF men intoxicated with the enthusi
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
hallslujah." that echoed to their tread
Those men meant to win or die, and
they rolled on as Cromwelrs Iron.
sides at Marston Moor. Twice they
staggered. when the mad Svolleys
ploughed ragged red lanes through
them. but only to rally and Npress
stsrnly on. They, struck that crouch
ing gray line of infantry, fairly buried
ft with their dense blue folds, and,
with one fierce hurrah Of triumph,
closed down upon the guns. Even as
they biotted 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. charge. and
hold that battery Until we can bring
infantry TO your support"
No man among us doubted the full
meaning OF tive were to save the
army The very horses seemed to
feel sense OF relief. hands clinched
more tightly on taut rsins to hold
them In check; under the old battered
hats the eyes OF the troopers cleaned
hungrily.
'virginians!" and the old Coione!'s
voice rang like q clarion down the
breathless line. there is where you
: dIel Follow mel"
Slowly, like some mighty mountain
torrent gaining force, we rode forth
ut q walk. each trooper lined to pre-
eision OF review. yet instinctively TAX
me distance for sword play. Halfway
down the slight slope our line broke
into sharp trot. then. as the thrilling
notes Of the charge sounded above us
we swept forward In Wild, impetuous
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
struck the line ere II could form into
square; the blows dealt savagely to
right and left; the blaze OF a volley
scorching our faces; the look OF the
biz infantryman l rode down: the
sudden thrust that saved me from q
levelled gun: the quick swerving OF
our horses as they came In contac,
with the cannon: the shouts OF rage;
the blows; the screams OF pain; the
white face Of Colgate as he reeled
and fell. These are all In my mem
o-v, blurred. eommingled. indistinct
yet distresLrJi a. any "'ghtmare. IL
ao-1s way. how I aaoW not, 1 realized
ttat ~, had hurlec them back, shat
tered tLcn Nv our f.sJ fierce blow
ina the guns w.ir 2r's again ours
that fifty dismOulSG. ,Ioopers 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
bullet. sword and dubbed musket
ploughed through our broken ranks
rending US In twain. fairly smotherlne
us by sheer force of numbers saw
tie old Colonel plunge head-down into
'Lo ruck beneath the horses feet;
the Major riding stone dead In bis
saddle. a ghastly red stain In the
centre OF his forehead: then Hunter
OF II, went down screaming, and
knew | was the senior captain left
About me scarce hundred men bat
tied like demons for their lives In the
midst OF the guns. Even as glanced
aside at them. shielding my head with
uplifted sabre from the blows rainec
upon me. the colorsergeant flung uI
his hand. and grasped his saddle pom
mel TO keep from falling Out OF hl.
opening fingers | snatched the splin
tered staff. lifted II high up. unit
the rent folds OF the old flag caugh,
the dull glow OF the sunlight.
til Virginia." | shouted. Rail,
on the colors!"
could see them coming-all tha
was left OF them-fighting their way
through the press, cleaving the mas,
with their blows as the prov OF
ship cut the sea. With one viciou,
jab OF the spur l led them, thin
wedge OF tempered gray steel batter
Ing. gouglng. rending a passage int
that solid blue wall. Inch by inch
foot by foot. yard by yard, slashin,