第2章

Atdaylightthebuglesounded"Rightforward！foursright！"again,andthe300ofusresumedouronwardplodovertherocky,cedar—crownedhills。

Inthemeantime,otherthingsweretakingplaceelsewhere。OuresteemedfriendsoftheSixty—fourthVirginia,whowereincampatthelittletownofJonesville,about40milesfromtheGap,hadlearnedofourstartinguptheValleytodrivethemout,andtheyshowedthatwarmreciprocitycharacteristicoftheSouthernsoldier,bymountingandstartingdowntheValleytodriveusout。Nothingcouldbemoreharmonious,itwillbeperceived。Barringthetriflingdivergenceofyewsastowhowastodriveandwhobedriven,therewasperfectaccordinourideas。

Ournumberswereaboutequal。IfIweretosaythattheyconsiderablyoutnumberedus,Iwouldbefollowingtheuniversalprecedent。

Nosoldier—highorlow—everadmittedengaginganequalorinferiorforceoftheenemy。

About9o"clockinthemorning——Sunday——theyrodethroughthestreetsofJonesvilleontheirwaytogiveusbattle。ItwasherethatmostofthemembersoftheRegimentlived。Everyman,womanandchildinthetownwasrelatedinsomewaytonearlyeveryoneofthesoldiers。

Thewomenturnedouttowavetheirfathers,husbands,brothersandloversontovictory。Theoldmengatheredtogivepartingcounselandencouragementtotheirsonsandkindred。TheSixty—fourthrodeawaytowhathopetoldthemwouldbeagloriousvictory。

Atnoonwearestillstragglingalongwithoutmuchattemptatsoldierlyorder,overtherough,frozenhill—sides。Itisyetbitterlycold,andmenandhorsesdrawthemselvestogether,asiftoexposeaslittlesurfaceaspossibletotheunkindelements。Notawordhadbeenspokenbyanyoneforhours。

Theheadofthecolumnhasjustreachedthetopofthehill,andtherestofusarestrungalongforaquarterofamileorsoback。

Suddenlyafewshotsringoutuponthefrostyairfromthecarbinesoftheadvance。Thegeneralapathyisinstantly,replacedbykeenattention,andtheboysinstinctivelyrangethemselvesintofours——thecavalryunitofaction。TheMajor,whoisridingaboutthemiddleofthefirstCompany——I——dashestothefront。Aglanceseemstosatisfyhim,forheturnsinhissaddleandhisvoiceringsout:

"CompanyI！FOURSLEFTINTOLINE！——MARCH！！"

TheCompanyswingsaroundonthehill—toplikeagreat,jointedtoysnake。Asthefourscomeintolineonatrot,weseeeverymandrawhissaberandrevolver。TheCompanyraisesamightycheeranddashesforward。

CompanyKpressesforwardtothegroundCompanyIhasjustleft,thefourssweeparoundintoline,thesabersandrevolverscomeoutspontaneously,themencheerandtheCompanyflingsitselfforward。

AllthistimeweofCompanyLcanseenothingexceptwhatthecompaniesaheadofusaredoing。Wearewroughtuptothehighestpitch。AsCompanyKclearsitsground,wepressforwardeagerly。Nowwegointolinejustasweraisethehill,andasmyfourcomesaround,Icatchahurriedglimpsethroughariftinthesmokeofalineofbutternutandgraycladmenahundredyardsorsoaway。Theirgunsareattheirfaces,andIseethesmokeandfirespurtfromthemuzzles。Atthesameinstantoursabersandrevolversaredrawn。Weshoutinafrenzyofexcitement,andthehorsesspringforwardasifshotfromabow。

IseenothingmoreuntilIreachtheplacewheretheRebellinestood。

ThenIfinditisgone。Lookingbeyondtowardthebottomofthehill,I

seethewoodsfilledwithRebels,flyingindisorderandourmenyellinginpursuit。ThisistheportionofthelinewhichCompaniesIandK

struck。Hereandtherearemeninbutternutclothing,proneonthefrozenground,woundedanddying。Ihavejusttimetonoticecloselyonemiddle—agedmanlyingalmostundermyhorse"sfeet。Hehasreceivedacarbinebulletthroughhisheadandhisbloodcolorsagreatspacearoundhim。

Onebraveman,ridingaroanhorse,attemptstorallyhiscompanions。

Hehaltsonalittleknoll,wheelshishorsetofaceus,andwaveshishattodrawhiscompanionstohim。Atall,lankfellowinthenextfourtome——whogoesbythenicknameof""LevenYards"——aimshiscarbineathim,and,withoutcheckinghishorse"space,fires。TheheavySharpe"sbullettearsagapingholethroughtheRebel"sheart。Hedropsfromhissaddle,hislife—bloodrunsdowninlittlerillsoneithersideoftheknoll,andhisriderlesshorsedashesawayinapanic。

AtthisinstantcomesanorderfortheCompanytobreakupintofoursandpressonthroughtheforestinpursuit。Myfourtrotsofftotheroadattheright。ARebelbugler,whohagbeencutoff,leapshishorseintotheroadinfrontofus。Weallfireathimontheimpulseofthemoment。Hefallsfromhishorsewithabulletthroughhisback。CompanyM,whichhasremainedincolumnasareserve,isnowthunderingupclosebehindatagallop。Itsseventy—fivepowerfulhorsesarespurningthesolidearthwithsteel—cladhoofs。Themanwillbegroundintoashapelessmassifleftwherehehasfallen。Wespringfromourhorsesanddraghimintoafencecorner;thenremountandjoininthepursuit。

ThishappenedonthesummitofChestnutRidge,fifteenmilesfromJonesville。

LateintheafternoontheanxiouswatchersatJonesvillesawasinglefugitiveurginghiswell—nighspenthorsedowntheslopeofthehilltowardtown。Inanagonyofanxietytheyhurriedforwardtomeethimandlearnhisnews。

ThefirstmessengerwhorushedintoJob"spresencetoannouncethebeginningoftheseriesofmisfortuneswhichweretoafflicttheuprightmanofUzisatypeofallthecowardswho,beforeorsincethen,havebeenthefirsttospeedawayfromthefieldofbattletospreadthenewsofdisaster。Hesaid:

AndtheSabeansfelluponthem,andtookthemaway;yea,theyhaveslaintheservantswiththeedgeofthesword;andIonlyamescapedalonetotellthee。

SothisfleeingVirginianshoutedtohisexpectantfriends:

"Theboysareallcuttopieces;I"mtheonlyonethatgotaway。"

Theterribleextentofhiswordswasbeliedalittlelater,bytheappearanceonthedistantsummitofthehillofaconsiderablemoboffugitives,flyingattheutmostspeedoftheirnearlyexhaustedhorses。

Astheycameondownthehillasalmostequallydisorganizedcrowdofpursuersappearedonthesummit,yellinginvoiceshoarsewithcontinuedshouting,andpouringanincessantfireofcarbineandrevolverbulletsuponthehaplessmenoftheSixty—fourthVirginia。

Thetwomassesofmensweptonthroughthetown。Beyondit,theroadbranchedinseveraldirections,thepursuedscatteredoneachofthese,andtheworn—outpursuersgaveupthechase。

ReturningtoJonesville,wetookanaccountofstock,andfoundthatwewere"ahead"onehundredandfifteenprisoners,nearlythatmanyhorses,andaconsiderablequantityofsmallarms。Howmanyoftheenemyhadbeenkilledandwoundedcouldnotbetold,astheywerescatteredoverthewholefifteenmilesbetweenwherethefightoccurredandthepursuitended。Ourlosswastrifling。

Comparingnotesaroundthecamp—firesintheevening,wefoundthatoursuccesshadbeenowingtotheMajor"sinstinct,hisgraspofthesituation,andthesoldierlywayinwhichhetookadvantageofit。WhenhereachedthesummitofthehillhefoundtheRebellinenearlyformedandreadyforaction。Amoment"shesitationmighthavebeenfataltous。

AthiscommandCompanyIwentintolinewiththethought—likecelerityoftrainedcavalry,andinstantlydashedthroughtherightoftheRebelline。CompanyKfollowedandplungedthroughtheRebelcenter,andwhenweofCompanyLarrivedontheground,andchargedtheleft,thelastvestigeofresistancewassweptaway。Thewholeaffairdidnotprobablyoccupymorethanfifteenminutes。

ThiswasthewayPowell"sValleywasopenedtoourforagers。

CHAPTERIII。

LIVINGOFFTHEENEMY——REVELINGINTHEFATNESSOFTHECOUNTRY——SOLDIERLY

PURVEYINGANDCAMPCOOKERY——SUSCEPTIBLETEAMSTERSANDTHEIRTENDENCYTO

FLIGHTINESS——MAKINGSOLDIER"SBED。

Forweekswerodeupanddown——hitherandthither——alongthelengthofthenarrow,granite—walledValley;betweenmountainssoloftythatthesunlaboredslowlyovertheminthemorning,occupyinghalftheforenooningettingtowherehisrayswouldreachthestreamthatranthroughtheValley"scenter。PerpetualshadowreignedonthenorthernandwesternfacesofthesetoweringNights——notenoughwarmthandsunshinereachingtheminthecoldmonthstocheckthegrowthoftheever—lengtheningicicleshangingfromthejuttingcliffs,ormeltthearabesquefrost—

formswithwhichthemanydashingcascadesdecoratedtheadjacentrocksandshrubbery。Occasionallywewouldseewheresomelittlestreamrandownoverthefaceofthebare,blackrocksformanyhundredfeet,andthenitscoursewouldbealongbandofsheenywhite,likeagreatrich,spotlessscarfofsatin,festooningthewar—grimedwallsofsomeoldcastle。

OurdutynowwastobreakupanynucleiofconcentrationthattheRebelsmightattempttoform,andtoguardourforagers——thatis,theteamstersandemployeeoftheQuartermaster"sDepartment——whowereloadinggrainintowagonsandhaulingitaway。

Thislastwasanarduoustask。ThereisnomanintheworldthatneedsasmuchprotectionasanArmyteamster。HeisworseinthisrespectthanaNewEnglandmanufacturer,oranoldmaidonhertravels。Heisgiventosuddenfearsandcauselesspanics。VeryinnocentcedarshaveafashionofassuminginhiseyestheappearanceofdesperateRebelsarmedwithmurderousguns,andthereisnotellingwhatmomentarockmaytakesuchaformastofreezehisyoungblood,andmakeeachparticularhairstandonendlikequillsuponthefretfulporcupine。Onehastobeparticularaboutsnappingcapsinhisneighborhood,andgivetohimcarefulwarningbeforedischargingacarbinetocleanit。Hisfirstimpulse,whenanythingoccurstojaruponhisdelicatenerves,istocuthiswheel—mulelooseandretirewiththeprecipitationofamanhavinganappointmenttokeepandbeingbehindtime。Thereisnomanwhocangetasmuchspeedoutofamuleasateamsterfallingbackfromtheneighborhoodofheavyfiring。

Thisnervoustremorwasnotpeculiartotheengineersofourtransportationdepartment。ItwasnoticeableinthegentrywhocartedthescantyprovisionsoftheRebels。OneofWheeler"scavalrymentoldmethatthebrigadetowhichhebelongedwasoneeveningorderedtomoveatdaybreak。Thenightwasrainy,anditwasthoughtbesttodischargethegunsandreloadbeforestarting。Unfortunately,itwasneglectedtoinformtheteamstersofthis,andatthefirstdischargetheyvarnishedfromthescenewithsuchenergythatitwasoveraweekbeforethebrigadesucceededingettingthembackagain。

Whyassociationwiththemuleshouldthusdemoralizeaman,hasalwaysbeenapuzzletome,forwhilethemule,asCol。Ingersollhasremarked,isananimalwithoutprideofancestryorhopeofposterity,heisstillnotacowardbyanymeans。Itisbeyonddisputethatafull—grownandactivelionessonceattackedamuleinthegroundsoftheCincinnatiZoologicalGarden,andwasignominiouslybeaten,receivinginjuriesfromwhichshediedshortlyafterward。

Theapparitionofabadly—scaredteamsterurgingoneofhiswheelmulesatbreak—neckspeedovertheroughground,yellingforprotectionagainst"themJohnnies,"whohadappearedonsomehilltopinsightofwherehewasgatheringcorn,wasanalmosthourlyoccurrence。Ofcoursethesquaddispatchedtohisassistancefoundnobody。

Still,therewereplentyofRebelsinthecountry,andtheyhungaroundourfront,exchangingshotswithusatlongtaw,andoccasionallytreatingustoavolleyatcloserange,fromsomefavorablepoint。

Butwehadthedecidedadvantageofthematthisgame。OurSharpe"scarbinesweremuchsuperiorineverywaytotheirEnfields。Theywouldshootmuchfarther,andagreatdealmorerapidly,sothattheVirginianswerenotlongindiscoveringthattheywerelosingmorethantheygainedinthisuselesswarfare。

Oncetheyplayedasharppracticaljokeuponus。CopperRiverisadeep,exceedinglyrapidmountainstream,withaveryslipperyrockybottom。

TheRebelsblockadedafordinsuchawaythatitwasalmostimpossibleforahorsetokeephisfeet。Thentheytolledusoffinpursuitofasmallpartytothisford。Whenwecametoittherewasalightlineofskirmishersontheoppositebank,whopoppedawayatusindustriously。

Ourboysformedinline,gavethecustomary,cheer,anddashedintocarrythefordatacharge。Astheydidsoatleastone—halfofthehorseswentdownasiftheywereshot,androlledovertheirridersintheswiftrunning,ice—coldwaters。TheRebelsyelledatriumphantlaugh,astheygallopedaway,andthelaughwasre—echoedbyourfellows,whowereasquicktoseethejokeastheotherside。Wetriedtogetevenwiththembyasharpchase,butwegaveitupafterafewmiles,withouthavingtakenanyprisoners。

But,afterall,therewasmuchtomakeoursojournintheValleyendurable。Thoughwedidnotwearfinelinen,wefaredsumptuously——forsoldiers——everyday。Thecavalrymanisalwayschargedbytheinfantryandartillerywithhavingafinerandsurerscentforthegoodthingsinthecountrythananyothermanintheservice。Heisbelievedtohaveaninstinctthatwillunfailinglyleadhim,inthedankestnight,totheroostingplaceofthemostdesirablepoultry,andafterhehascampedinaneighborhoodforawhileitwouldrequireaclosechemicalanalysistofindatraceofham。

Wedidourbesttosustainthereputationofourarmoftheservice。

Wefoundthemostdelicioushamspackedawayintheash—houses。

Theyweresmall,andhadthat;exquisitenuttyflavor,peculiartomast—

fedbacon。Thentherewasanabundanceofthedelightfullittleappleknownas"romanites。"Therewereturnips,pumpkins,cabbages,potatoes,andtheusualproductsofthefieldinplenty,evenprofusion。Thecorninthefieldsfurnishedanamplesupplyofbreadstuff。Wecarriedittoandgrounditinthequaintest,rudestlittlemillsthatcanbeimaginedoutsideoftheprimitiveaffairsbywhichthewomenofArabiacoarselypowderthegrainforthefamilymeal。Sometimesthemillwouldconsistonlyoffourstoutpoststhrustintothegroundattheedgeofsomestream。Alineofbouldersreachingdiagonallyacrossthestreamansweredforadam,bydivertingaportionofthevolumeofwatertoachannelattheside,whereitmovedaclumsilyconstructedwheel,thatturnedtwosmallstones,notlargerthangood—sizedgrindstones。Overthiswouldbeashedmadebyrestingpolesinforkedpostsstuckintotheground,andcoveringthesewithclapboardsheldinplacebylargeflatstones。Theyresembledthemillsofthegods——ingrindingslowly。

Itusedtoseemthatahealthymancouldeatthemealfasterthantheygroundit。

Butwhatsavorymealsweusedtoconcoctaroundthecampfires,outoftherichmaterialscollectedduringtheday"sride！Suchstews,suchsoups,suchbroils,suchwonderfulcommixturesofthingsdiverseinnatureandantagonisticinpropertiessuchdaringculinaryexperimentsincombiningmaterialsneverbeforeattemptedtobecombined。TheFrenchsayofuntastefularrangementofhuesindress"thatthecolorsswearateachother。"Ihaveoftenthoughtthesamethingoftheheterogeneitiesthatgotomakeupasoldier"spot—afeu。

Butforallthattheyneverfailedtotastedeliciouslyafteralongday"sride。Theywerewasheddownbyatincupfulofcoffeestrongenoughtotanleather,thencameabrier—woodpipefuloffragrantkinnikinnic,andaseatbytheruddy,sparklingfireofaromaticcedarlogs,thatdiffusedatoncewarmth,andspicy,pleasingincense。Achatovertheeventsoftheday,andtheprospectofthemorrow,thewonderfulmeritsofeachman"shorse,andthedisgustingirregularitiesofthemailsfromhome,lasteduntilthesilver—voicedbuglerangoutthesweet,mournfultattoooftheRegulations,totheflowingcadencesofwhichtheboyshadarrangedtheabsurdlyincongruouswords:

"S—a—y——D—e—u—t—c—h—e—r—will—youfight—mitSigel！

Zwei—glassoflager—bier,ja！ja！JA！

Wordswerefittedtoallthecalls,whichgenerallyboresomerelativenesstothesigmal,butthesewereas,destituteofcongruityasofsense。

Tattooalwaysproducesanimpressionofextremeloneliness。Asitsweird,half—availingnotesringoutandareansweredbackfromthedistantrocksshroudedinnight,andperhapsconcealingthelurkingfoe,thesoldierremembersthatheisfarawayfromhomeandfriends——deepintheenemy"scountry,encompassedoneveryhandbythoseindeadlyhostilitytohim,whoareperhapseventhenmaturingthepreparationsforhisdestruction。

Asthetattoosounds,theboysarisefromaroundthefire,visitthehorseline,seethattheirhorsesaresecurelytied,rubofffromthefetlocksandlegssuchspecksofmudasmayhaveescapedthecleaningintheearlyevening,andifpossible,smuggletheirfaithfulfour—footedfriendsafewearsofcorn,oranotherbunchofhay。

Ifnottootired,andeverythingelseisfavorable,thecavalrymanhaspreparedhimselfacomfortablecouchforthenight。Healwayssleepswithachum。Thetwohavegatheredenoughsmalltuftsofpineorcedartomakeacomfortable,springy,mattress—likefoundation。Onthisislaidtheponchoorrubberblanket。Nextcomesoneoftheirovercoats,anduponthistheylie,coveringthemselveswiththetwoblanketsandtheotherovercoat,theirfeettowardsthefire,theirbootsatthefoot,andtheirbelts,withrevolver,saberandcarbine,atthesidesofthebed。

Itissurprisingwhatanamountofcomfortamancangetoutofsuchacouch,andhow,atanalarm,hespringsfromit,almostinstantlydressedandarmed。

Halfanhouraftertattoothebugleringsoutanothersadlysweetstrain,thathathadyingsound。

CHAPTERIV。

ABITTERCOLDMORNINGANDAWARMAWAKENING——TROUBLEALLALONGTHELINE——

FIERCECONFLICTS,ASSAULTSANDDEFENSE——PROLONGEDANDDESPERATESTRUGGLE

ENDINGWITHASURRENDER。

Thenighthadbeenthemostintenselycoldthatthecountryhadknownformanyyears。Peachandothertendertreeshadbeenkilledbythefrostyrigor,andsentinelshadbeenfrozentodeathinourneighborhood。Thedeepsnowonwhichwemadeourbeds,theicycoveringofthestreamsnearus,thelimbsofthetreesaboveus,hadbeencrackingwithloudnoisesallnight,fromthebittercold。

WewerecampedaroundJonesville,eachofthefourcompanieslyingononeoftheroadsleadingfromthetown。CompanyLlayaboutamilefromtheCourtHouse。Onaknollattheendofthevillagetowardus,andatapointwheretworoadsseparated,——oneofwhichledtous,——stoodathree—

inchRodmanrifle,belongingtotheTwenty—secondOhioBattery。Itanditssquadofeighteenmen,undercommandofLieutenantAlgerandSergeantDavis,hadbeensentuptousafewdaysbeforefromtheGap。

Thecomfortlessgraydawnwascrawlingsluggishlyoverthemountain—tops,asifnumbastheanimalandvegetablelifewhichhadbeenshrinkingallthelonghoursunderthefiercechill。

TheMajor"sbuglerhadsalutedthemornwiththelively,ringingtarr—r—

r—a—ta—araoftheRegulationreveille,andthecompanybuglers,asfastastheycouldthawouttheirmouth—pieces,wereansweringhim。

Ilayonmybed,dreadingtogetup,andyetnotanxioustoliestill。

Itwasaquestionwhichwouldbethemoreuncomfortable。Iturnedover,toseeiftherewasnotanotherpositioninwhichitwouldbewarmer,andbeganwishingforthethousandthtimethattheeffortsfortheameliorationofthehorrorsofwarfarewouldprogresstosuchapointastoputastoptoallWintersoldiering,sothatafellowcouldgohomeassoonascoldweatherbegan,sitaroundacomfortablestoveinacountrystore;andtellcampstoriesuntiltheSpringwasfarenoughadvancedtolethimgobacktothefrontwearingastrawhatandalinenduster。

ThenIbeganwonderinghowmuchlongerIwoulddareliethere,beforetheOrderlySergeantwoulddrawmeoutbytheheels,andaccompanytheoperationwithnumerousunkindandsulphurousremarks。

Thiscogitation,wasabruptlyterminatedbyhearinganexcitedshoutfromtheCaptain:

"TurnOut！——COMPANYL！！TURNOUT！！！"

Almostatthesameinstantrosethatshrill,piercingRebelyell,whichonewhohasoncehearditrarelyforgets,andthiswasfollowedbyacrashingvolleyfromapparentlyaregimentofrifles。

Iarose—promptly。

Therewasevidentlysomethingofmoreinterestonhandthantheweather。

Cap,overcoat,bootsandrevolverbeltwenton,andeyesopenedataboutthesameinstant。

AsIsnatchedupmycarbine,Ilookedoutinfront,andthewholewoodsappearedtobefullofRebels,rushingtowardus,allyellingandsomefiring。MyCaptainandFirstLieutenanthadtakenuppositionontherightfrontofthetents,andpartoftheboyswererunninguptoformalinealongsidethem。TheSecondLieutenanthadstationedhimselfonaknollontheleftfront,andaboutathirdofthecompanywasrallyingaroundhim。

Mychumwasasilent,sententioussortofachap,andasweranforwardtotheCaptain"sline,heremarkedearnestly:

"Well:thisbeatshell！"

Ithoughthehadaclearideaofthesituation。

Allthisoccupiedaninappreciablyshortspaceoftime。TheRebelshadnotstoppedtoreload,butwererushingimpetuouslytowardus。Wegavethemahot,rollingvolleyfromourcarbines。Manyfell,morestoppedtoloadandreply,butthemasssurgedstraightforwardatus。Thenourfiregrewsodeadlythattheyshowedadispositiontocoverthemselvesbehindtherocksandtrees。Againtheywereurgedforward;andabodyofthemheadedbytheirColonel,mountedonawhitehorse,pushedforwardthroughthegapbetweenusandtheSecondLieutenant。TheRebelColoneldasheduptotheSecondLieutenant,andorderedhimtosurrender。Thelatter—agallantoldgraybeard——cursedtheRebelbitterlyandsnappedhisnowemptyrevolverinhisface。TheColonelfiredandkilledhim,whereuponhissquad,withtwoofitsSergeantskilledandhalfitsnumbersontheground,surrendered。

TheRebelsinourfrontandflankpresseduswithequalcloseness。

Itseemedasifitwasabsolutelyimpossibletochecktheirrushforaninstant,andaswesawthefateofourcompanionstheCaptaingavethewordforeverymantolookoutforhimself。Weranbackalittledistance,sprangoverthefenceintothefields,andrushedtowardTown,theRebelsencouragingustomakegoodtimebyasharpfireintoourbacksfromthefence。

Whilewewerevainlyattemptingtostemtheonsetofthecolumndashedagainstus,bettersuccesswassecuredelsewhere。Anothercolumnsweptdowntheotherroad,uponwhichtherewasonlyanoutlyingpicket。Thishadtocomebackontherunbeforetheoverwhelmingnumbers,andtheRebelsgallopedstraightforthethree—inchRodman。CompanyMwasthefirsttogetsaddledandmounted,andnowcameupatasteady,swinginggallop,intwoplatoons,saberandrevolverinhand,andledbytwoSergeants—KeyandMcWright,——printerboysfromBloomington,Illinois。

TheydivinedtheobjectoftheRebeldash,andstrainedeverynervetoreachthegunfirst。TheRebelsweretoonear,andgotthegunandturnedit。Beforetheycouldfireit,CompanyMstruckthemheadlong,buttheytooktheterribleimpactwithoutflinching,andforafewminutestherewasfiercehand—to—handwork,withswordandpistol。

TheRebelleadersankunderahalf—dozensimultaneouswounds,andfelldeadalmostunderthegun。Mendroppedfromtheirhorseseachinstant,andtheriderlesssteedsfledaway。ThescaleofvictorywasturnedbytheMajordashingagainsttheRebelleftflankattheheadofCompanyI,andaportionoftheartillerysquad。TheRebelsgavegroundslowly,andwerepackedintoadensemassinthelaneupwhichtheyhadcharged。

Aftertheyhadbeencrowdedback,sayfiftyyards,wordwaspassedthroughourmentoopentotherightandleftonthesidesoftheroad。

Theartillerymenhadturnedthegunandloadeditwithasolidshot。

Instantlyawidelaneopenedthroughourranks;themanwiththelanyarddrewthefatalcord,fireburstfromtheprimerandthemuzzle,thelonggunsprangupandrecoiled,andthereseemedtobeademoniacyellinitsear—splittingcrash,astheheavyballleftthemouth,andtoreitsbloodywaythroughthebodiesofthestrugglingmassofmenandhorses。

Thisendedit。TheRebelsgavewayindisorder,andourmenfellbacktogivethegunanopportunitytothrowshellandcanister。

TheRebelsnowsawthatwewerenottoberunoverlikeafieldofcornstalks,andtheyfellbacktodevisefurthertactics,givingusabreathingspelltogetourselvesinshapefordefense。

Thedullestcouldseethatwewereinadesperatesituation。Criticalpositionswerenonewexperiencetous,astheyneveraretoacavalrycommandafterafewmonthsinthefield,but,thoughthepitchergoesoftentothewell,itisbrokenatlast,andourtimewasevidentlyathand。ThenarrowthroatoftheValley,throughwhichlaytheroadbacktotheGap,washeldbyaforceofRebelsevidentlymuchsuperiortoourown,andstronglyposted。Theroadwasaslender,tortuousone,windingthroughrocksandgorges。Nowherewasthereroomenoughtomovewithevenaplatoonfrontagainsttheenemy,andthisprecludedallchancesofcuttingout。Thebestwecoulddowasaslow,difficultmovement,incolumnoffours,andthiswouldhavebeensuicide。OntheothersideoftheTowntheRebelsweremassedstronger,whiletotherightandleftrosethesteepmountainsides。Wewerecaught—trappedassurelyasarateverwasinawiretrap。

Aswelearnedafterwards,awholedivisionofcavalry,undercommandofthenotedRebel,MajorGeneralSamJones,hadbeensenttoeffectourcapture,tooffsetinameasureLongstreet"srepulseatKnoxville。

Agrossoverestimateofournumbershadcausedthesendingofsolargeaforceonthiserrand,andtheroughtreatmentwegavethetwocolumnsthatattackedusfirstconfirmedtheRebelGeneral"sideasofourstrength,andledhimtoadoptcautioustactics,insteadofcrushingusoutspeedily,byadeterminedadvanceofallpartsofhisencirclinglines。

Thelullinthefightdidnotlastlong。AportionoftheRebellineontheeastrushedforwardtogainamorecommandingposition。

Weconcentratedinthatdirectionanddroveitback,theRodmanassistingwithacoupleofwell—aimedshells。——ThiswasfollowedbyasimilarbutmoresuccessfulattemptbyanotherpartoftheRebelline,andsoitwentonallday——theRebelsrushingupfirstonthisside,andthenonthat,andwe,hastilycollectingattheexposedpoints,seekingtodrivethemback。Wewerefrequentlysuccessful;wewereontheinside,andhadtheadvantageoftheshortinteriorlines,sothatourfewmenandourbreech—loaderstoldtoagoodpurpose。

Therewerefrequentcrisesinthestruggle,thatatsometimesgaveencouragement,butneverhope。OnceadeterminedonsetwasmadefromtheEast,andwasmetbytheequallydeterminedresistanceofnearlyourwholeforce。Ourfirewassogallingthatalargenumberofourfoescrowdedintoahouseonaknoll,andmakingloopholesinitswalls,beganreplyingtousprettysharply。Wesentwordtoourfaithfulartillerists,whotrainedthegunuponthehouse。Thefirstshellscreamedovertheroof,andburstharmlesslybeyond。Wesuspendedfiretowatchthenext。Itcrashedthroughtheside;foraninstantallwasdeathlystill;wethoughtithadgoneonthrough。Thencamearoarandacrash;theclapboardsflewofftheroof,andsmokepouredout;panic—

strickenRebelsrushedfromthedoorsandsprangfromthewindows—likebeesfromadisturbedhive;theshellhadburstamongtheconfinedmassofmeninside！Weafterwardsheardthattwenty—fivewerekilledthere。

Atanothertimeaconsiderableforceofrebelsgainedthecoverofafenceineasyrangeofourmainforce。CompaniesLandKwereorderedtochargeforwardonfootanddislodgethem。Awaywewent,underafirethatseemedtodropamanateverystep。AhundredyardsinfrontoftheRebelswasalittlecover,andbehindthisourmenlaydownasifbyoneimpulse。Thencameaclose,desperateduelatshortrange。ItwasaquestionbetweenNorthernpluckandSoutherncourage,astowhichcouldstandthemostpunishment。Lyingasflataspossibleonthecrustedsnow,onlyraisingtheheadorbodyenoughtoloadandaim,themenonbothsides,withtheirteethset,theirglaringeyesfastenedonthefoe,theirnervesastenseastightly—drawnsteelwires,rainedshotoneachotherasfastasexcitedhandscouldcrowdcartridgesintothegunsanddischargethem。