from the skirmishing line-but whizzing was the spiteful whistle of extra bullets harmlessly by. This unexpected but refreshing little episode tended greatly to inspire the hearts of the troops in that dis

"I Told You I Could Do It." The commander of Williston's battery observing that when the rebels fired there was one particular piece that was very annoying, on account of its shelling the head-quarters, turned to General Devens, mal locality. and said, "For God's sake, General, let

us knock that gun over, for I can do it." Humphreys' Deadly Charge at Fredericks

The General replied that he was afraid

that he might hit some of Custer's men,

burg.

At the terrible battle of Fredericksburg,

who were but recently ordered out on the in 1862, Humphreys' division of Butterleft. "They are not there," replied Wil-field's corps was at one juncture resting on liston, "I should see them if they were. I its arms in the streets of that city. General know where I am going to shoot. I will Butterfield sent an order to move it to the not hit any one. I only want to knock front. At the head of Allabach's second that gun over." General Devens still hes- brigade, Humphreys crossed the mill-race, itating, Williston said, "Let me fire on my formed his men behind the crest ready for own responsibility, for God's sake. Will the charge, and Tyler's first brigade was folyou do it?" At last the General consent-lowing closely after, ready to support. The ed, when-bang! went one of the pieces, line was formed, the column moved galand over went the doomed gun, the car- lantly forward, reached the line of battle, riage shattered and dispersed instantly. passed fifty yards beyond, when a deadly "There," said the keen-eyed Williston, fire from behind the stone wall caused it with a smile of triumph, "I told you I to recoil, and finally to fall back, re-formcould do it!"

ing under the crest from which it started. Humphreys and staff were dismounted in this charge, their horses being killed, while the brigade lost five hundred men in fifteen minutes.

Song of Patriotism in the Forest. During one of those eventful nights in Virginia, when the Federal troops lay in line of imminent battle behind their tempo- There was but one more chance. Tyrary fortifications of dirt, mud, logs and ler's brigade had come up, and notwithrails, and the continuous crack of the sharp-standing the turmoil, General Humphreys shooter's rifle rolled startlingly along their had succeeded in forming it in gallant style. front, a solitary voice struck in shrill but blithesome and melodious tone, the patriotic song, "Rally round the flag, boys!" —and, almost instantly, those hundreds of men, who seemed to have been waiting, as it were, for something to dissipate the gloom which thoughts of the day's carnage had engendered, were shouting in a chorus which shook the depth of the forest's gloom,―

"The Union, forever, hurrah, boya, hurrah!
Down, down with the traitors, and up with the stars!"

The only hope now was with the bayonet. The men were ordered not to fire to rely solely upon their trusty steel. Then, with great exertion, the batteries and the line of troops on the crest were persuaded to cease firing while the charge was being made; then General Hooker exhorted his men not to quail, not to look back; to disregard the men in front who were lying down covered by every projection; to ride over them.

The officers were ordered to the front; As down the line the strain of jubilee then the brigade, led in person by Generals sped its electric course, the sound swelled Tyler and Humphreys, moved forward into one vast diapason of deep-toned, ex-with a glorious cheer. They reached the ultant song. The only reply of the enemy little rise in the ground, within eighty

yards

line

of the stone wall, where line after its reserves to sweep over the railroad, of the Federals lay flat upon the through the abattis into the village-the and they began to move over the liv- other with its reserves to attack battery mass, when suddenly the prostrate men Robinett,' which was the key to the out, "Don't go there, 'tis certain whole position. If once taken and held,

ground

ing

cried

death I and, rising, began to impede the Corinth was undeniably in rebel possesprogress of the column, and by protests of sion. The line destined for the occupa

olde

tion of the village came rapidly forward at a charge across the railroad, over the fallen timber, driving the Union line before them like chaff. All that grape and

every nature implored the men not to go forward. Then the crisis came. The division was fighting its maiden battle; er troops than they quailed before the merous volleys now making great gaps canister could do to impede their progress through their ranks; the head of the charging column was enveloped in a sheet of living flame; the hideous shells were bursting all around and in their midst. Was it any wonder that they faltered? The men began to load and fire; the momentum of the charge was gone; the column began to retire slowly, falling back to its place of formation.

"Oh, men!" said Humphreys, "if you had only gone forward as well as you come back ! >>

And then, again dismounted, his second horse having been killed, he reported the result to General Butterfield, who ordered him to withdraw his troops to a place of

shelter.

crans.

was attempted, but still their irresistible progress was not stayed. Batteries of light artillery played upon their front and left incessantly; their colors were thrice shot away; but they came still onward, nor halted until they reached the public square, and formed in line of battle directly in front of General Halleck's old headquarters. The Federal line of battle was formed directly opposite, in the street leading past General Rosecrans's head-quar

ters.

The two armies advanced. A terrible hand-to-hand encounter was engaged in, and for a time the destruction of the Union line seemed inevitable. It gradually yielded, and fell back until the enemy had

Price and Van Dorn Pitted Against Rose-nearly reached the Corinth House. Here General Rosecrans rode along the line, and The battle of Corinth commenced on the in a few cheering words revived the droopthird day of October, 1862, the Confeder- ing courage of the wearied soldiers. The ates under Price and Van Dorn being the Confederate reserve was at this time diattacking party. That day they seemed rectly in range of the guns on the redoubts. to have rather had the advantage. On the to the left; and huge shells began to drop fourth, the contest was renewed at day- their midst, whose explosion in the solid break, and for some hours continued to be masses began to create considerable confuwaged with indifferent success. At length sion and loss of life. At the same time the great struggle followed, of which the the order was given to "Charge bayonets." annexed is an account;-a struggle exhib- At this command the brave Union soldiers iting the masterworkings of modern gener- sprang to their work with a will. They alship in the highest degree:

For

tions

a time there were no demonstraon the part of the Confederates, and they remained altogether quiet in the angle

of the

in

attacked vigorously, and soon the enemy were flying across the public square in wild confusion. The explosion of the fiery missiles from the two batteries added haste to

Woods near the railroad. Present- their movements, and by the time they had

ly two lines were formed, one at right an- reached the cover of the timber, their regles to the other—the one destined with treat had become a rout.

By the time this line was driven back, the other line with their reserves were well advanced in the direction of battery Robinett.

When they obtained the battery, the Federals who were working it fell back behind the projecting earth-works, out of reach from the Federal shells, and immeDuring the period of seeming inaction diately all the batteries bearing upon the when the Confederates had withdrawn to position were turned upon Battery Robithe cover of the timber, while preparing nett, and soon a shower of missiles was to make the two charges in question, Gen- falling like hail upon the brave intruders. eral Price and his principal officers held a No mortal man could stand the fire, and consultation to devise ways and means to they retreated. Slowly the brave remnant take the battery. The importance of its turned their unwilling steps toward the capture was admitted, and the risk and forest from which they started, when the danger of the attempt thoroughly can- order was given to the two regiments supvassed. General Price would not under-porting the battery to charge. This order take the responsibility of ordering the at- was splendidly executed. The miserable tack, but called for volunteers. Colonel remnant of troops which the batteries had Rogers, of Arkansas, immediately tendered his brigade as the forlorn hope, and Colonel Ross his brigade as a support.

They massed their troops eight deep, and advanced under a heavy fire of double charges of grape and canister. A terrible enfilading and flanking fire was poured upon them from every battery bearing in that direction, aided by incessant volleys of musketry from the supports of the batteries and the Union regiments drawn up in line parallel with them.

This was the termination of the engage

ment.

nearly destroyed was now almost annihilated. A few scattering troops were all that remained of the column which so valiantly attacked the battery scarcely an hour before. The dead bodies of rebels were piled up in and about the intrenchments, in some places eight and ten deep. In one place directly in front of the point of assault, two hundred and sixteen dead bodies were found within a space of a hundred feet by four, among them the commanders of both brigades making the assault-ColThe first shell from Battery William ex-onel Rogers and Colonel Ross. ploded in the centre of the advancing column, sending thirty or forty to their long home. Every discharge caused huge gaps in their ranks. The effect of the Federal Holding the Hill-Valor of Burnside. fire was like the falling of grain before the At four o'clock on the 17th of Septemscythe. But this tremendous mortality ber, during the great battle of Antietam, did not affect their irresistible onward McClellan sent simultaneous orders to march. As fast as one man fell his com- Burnside and Franklin; to the former to rade stepped forward in his place. Twice advance and carry the batteries in his front did they approach almost to the outer at all hazards and at any cost; to the latworks of the battery, and twice they were ter to carry the woods next in front of him compelled to fall back. The third time to the right, which the rebels still held. they reached the battery and planted their The order to Franklin, however, was pracflag upon the edge. It was shot down- tically countermanded, in consequence of a raised again-again shot down. They message from General Sumner that if swarmed about the battery; they climbed over the parapets; they fired through the escarpments, and for a time it seemed as if they had secured the victory their valor had so richly earned.

Franklin went on and was repulsed, his own corps was not yet sufficiently reorganized to be depended on as a reserve.

ly.

Burnside obeyed the order most gallant-
Getting his troops well in hand, and

sending a portion of his artillery to the The guns, on the hill above, sent an angry front, he advanced them with rapidity and tempest of shell down among Burnside's the most determined vigor, straight up the guns and men. He had formed his columns hill in front, on top of which the rebels apparently in the near angles of two fields had maintained their most dangerous bat- bordering the road-high ground about tery. The movement was in plain view them everywhere except in rear. In anof McClellan's position, and as Franklin on other moment a rebel battle-line appears the other side sent his batteries into the on the brow of the ridge above them, moves field about the same time, the battle seemed swiftly down in the most perfect order, and to open in all directions with greater ac- though met by incessant discharges of mustivity than ever. ketry, of which the flashes are plainly seen, does not fire a gun. White spaces show where men are falling, but they close up instantly, and still the line advances. The brigades of Burnside are in heavy column; they will not give way before a bayonet charge in line. The rebels think twice before they dash into these two hostile masses.

The fight in the ravine was in full progress, the batteries which Porter supported were firing with new vigor, Franklin was blazing away on the right, and every hilltop, ridge, and wood along the whole line was crested and veiled with white clouds of smoke. All day had been clear and bright since the early cloudy morning, and now this whole magnificent, unequaled Now there is a halt; the rebel left gives scene shone with the splendor of an after-way and scatters over the field; the rest noon September sun. Four miles of bat- stand fast and fire. More infantry comes tle, its glory all visible, its horrors all up; Burnside is out-numbered, flanked, veiled, the fate of the Republic hanging compelled to yield the hill he took so braveon the hour! ly. His position is no longer one of at

There are two hills on the left of the tack; he defends himself with unfaltering road, the furthest the lowest. The rebels firmness, but he sends to McClellan for have batteries on both. Burnside is or- help. McClellan's glass for the last halfdered to carry the nearest to him, which is hour has seldom been turned from the left. the furthest from the road. His guns open- He sees clearly enough that Burnside is ing first from this new position in front, pressed-needs no messenger to tell him soon entirely controlled and silenced the that. His face grows darker with anxious enemy's artillery. The infantry came on thought. Looking down to the valley at once, moving rapidly and steadily up, where fifteen thousand troops are lying, he long dark lines, and broad dark masses, turns a half-questioning look on Fitz John being plainly visible without a glass, as Porter, who stands by his side, gravely they moved over the green hill-side. The scanning the field. They are Porter's next moment the road in which the rebel troops below, are fresh, and only impatient battery was planted was canopied with to share in this fight. But Porter slowly clouds of dust swiftly descending into the valley. Underneath was a tumult of wagons, guns, horses, and men flying at speed down the road. Blue flashes of smoke burst now and then among them, a horse, or a man, or half a dozen went down, and then the whirlwind swept on.

shakes his head, and one may believe that the same thought is passing through the minds of both Generals: They are the only reserves of the army; they can not be spared.' McClellan remounts his horse, and with Porter and a dozen officers of his staff rides away to the left in Burnside's The hill was carried! But could it be direction. Sykes meets them on the road held? The rebel columns, before seen a good soldier, whose opinion is worth moving to the left, increased their pace. taking. The three Generals talk briefly

together. It is easy to see that the mo-thusiasm among the weary, footsore braves, ment has come when everything may turn who counted as nothing all the pains of a on an order given or withheld, when the march of one hundred and ninety-eight history of the battle is only to be written miles, now that they were within striking in thoughts and words and purposes of the distance of the foe. Most of the way General. Burnside's messenger rides up. the ambulance train had been crowded His message iswith both officers and men, weary, worn and haggard; but the cannon's rattle, as it became more and more distinct, changed them in a twinkling into new creatures. The New Jersey Brigade, in General

"I want troops and guns. If you do not send them I can not hold my position for half an hour."

McClellan's only answer for the moment is a glance at the western sky. Then he turns and speaks very slowly:

"Tell General Burnside that this is the battle of the war. He must hold his ground till dark at any cost. I will send him Miller's battery. I can do nothing more. I have no infantry." Then, as the messenger was riding away, he called him back

"Tell him if he can not hold his ground, then the bridge to the last man!-always the bridge! If the bridge is lost, all is lost."

Sedgwick's corp, was of this body. At about three o'clock on the afternoon of the third of July, the head of the column arAs it came

The sun is already down; not half an hour of daylight is left. Till Burnside's message came it had seemed plain to every one that the battle could not be finished that day. None suspected how near was the peril of defeat, of sudden attack on ex-rived upon the battle-ground. hausted forces-how vital to the safety of to a halt, a poor fellow, who looked the very the army and the nation were those fifteen image of death, hobbled out of the ambuthousand waiting troops in the hollow. lance in which he had been lying, and, But the rebels halted instead of pushing shouldering his musket, was just starting on; their vindictive cannonade died away forward, when the surgeon in charge as the light faded. Before it was quite stopped him withdark the battle was over. Only a solitary gun of Burnside's thundered against the enemy, and presently this also ceased, and the field was still.

Preferred to Die in the Field.

"Where are you going, Sir?"

"To the front, Doctor," and the brave fellow tried hard to stand firm and speak boldly as he saluted the surgeon.

"To the front! What! a man in your condition? Why, Sir, you can't march On Sunday, June 14th, 1863, orders half a mile; you haven't the strength to were issued to pursue Lee's army, then moving toward Pennsylvania. At a distance of fifteen miles from Gettysburg, where the armies were massing, were first But, Doctor, my division are in the caught the murmurs of the opening battle, fight," (here he grasped the wheel of an and from that time the scene was all en- ambulance to support himself,) "and I have

carry yourself, let alone your knapsack, musket, and equipments. You must be crazy, surely."

66