The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-03-10
CIleD[D MIST
A IAIE OF CIVIL STRIFE 7.
&RANDALL PARRISH II
ILLUSTRATIONS @-CDpHODES
CHAPTER xxvil-cOntinued.
i CCoNGiCrT
: LcHeGNRc sea

20
They were upon US. jammed in the
narrow doorways. each man fighting
for life. used gun and revolver. In
the red mist before me were black
shapes. hateful faces. Twice ! lost
foot and fell. but was up again. front.
ing them, stepped on dead bodies.
slipped in pools of blood; falling men
caused me to stagger; a slug OF lead
tore burning through my shoulder; a
glancing knife blade ripped my fore
arm. had no time. no room. in which
to reload; my hands gripped the hot
carbine barrel. and | swung the stock
like a fail.
Inch by inch they won through the
door; we could kill, but not stop them.
and they hurled US back. stumbling
over the dead. clambering across over.
turned benches, but unable TO stem the
increasing tide. We were all together
now-Harwood, Wharton-the sole
handful left, and we made fight of 1t.
the best we could. There was a mo-
ments pause, the merest instant in
which to breathe, and my eyes met
Harwood's. He was naked to the
waist, hatless. blood dripping from
cut over one eye. the stock of his car
bine shattered,
"Ah, gunner of Stanton" he called
out cheerily, although his voice
cracked with dryness. Didn't tell
you if you wanted a good time to jine
the cavalry"
forward, men, forward" 1t was
Fox's voice, although | saw nothing OF
him. "0nce more. and it's over with
forward"
Now, lads, meet them!" burst out
Harwood. About me, Third Kentucky
here they comet"
They drove US in so as to encircle
us, yet the tumble of benches served
as some protection to our rear. Per-
haps the fact that there were Yankees
between US and the pulpit prevented
firing for We met hand to hand in
death grapple. have seen battles,
yet nothing like that; II was as though
beasts Of the jungle fought; men strug-
gled with naked hands, struck death
blows. fred into each others faces,
trampled over writhing bodies, ours.
ing, or yelling defiance as they fell.
We scarcely knew friend from foe,
blue from gray. / cannot even tell
what occurred to myself in those
breathless moments. know | fought
madly, bllndly-again and again
sweeping space clear with my
weapon; hands gripped my throat my
hair, and l tore loose; fingers clutched
at my legs. but kicked free. | was
conscious of blows, of wounds;
knew when Harwood fell, and was
trampled under foot; / beard others
scream; TAsaw the hated face Of Anse
Cowan in the ruek and leaped for
him, but whom my mad blow struck
could not tell Some rush, some quick
pressure of bodies, hurled me side
wise. caught me in wise; tripped
over a dead man, staggered to my feet
again. | got footing on the pulpit
platform. and held it for an instant,
my gun.barrel crashing into the mass
Of faces below. Wharton Joined me,
bull mad with rage; saw him rend
the pulpit stand from the floor and
hurl it with all his strength into the
ruck. Then twenty hands gripped him,
hauling him down. dubbed musket
descended, and the sergeant pitched
forward like log of wood There was
a shot, the blow of rife barrel, and
| went down, the very breath Of life
seemingly knocked out of me.
fell on the platform, back of where
the pulpit desk had stood, and body
lay across me. If lost consciousness
it was for no more than an instant. yet
my whole body felt numbed and use
less. could scarcely move my fingers
to unclasp them from the gun barrel,
and every breath | drew was in pain.
Still | realized all that happened, dis
tinguished voices, and the shutting OF
feet on the puncheon floor. ! heard
Fox shouting orders, as the mad hub,
bub ceased
That's enough! That's enough
men! It's all over with. Here, ser
geant, round up those prisoners; God
knows there are few enough Of the
poor devils left. Guard those able to
walk outside. Now, Herzog, carry the
wounded over here. What? Why. Of
course, you idiot, we are not savages--
those fellows fought like men, and are
to be treated decently. No distinction
mind you. Let the dead lie where
they are till daylight, but don't over
look wounded man. Where's Cowan
Does anybody know?"
shot, sir; he's here in this pile
somewhere"
See II the fellow is alive. Who Il
his lieutenant"