andersonville-第6部分

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Then　I　began　wondering　how　much　longer　I　would　dare　lie　there；　before　the
Orderly　Sergeant　would　draw　me　out　by　the　heels；　and　accompany　the
operation　with　numerous　unkind　and　sulphurous　remarks。

This　cogitation；　was　abruptly　terminated　by　hearing　an　excited　shout　from
the　Captain：

〃Turn　Out！COMPANY　L！！　　TURNOUT　！　　！　　！〃

Almost　at　the　same　instant　rose　that　shrill；　piercing　Rebel　yell；　which
one　who　has　once　heard　it　rarely　forgets；　and　this　was　followed　by　a
crashing　volley　from　apparently　a　regiment　of　rifles。

I　arose…promptly。

There　was　evidently　something　of　more　interest　on　hand　than　the　weather。

Cap；　overcoat；　boots　and　revolver　belt　went　on；　and　eyes　opened　at　about
the　same　instant。

As　I　snatched　up　my　carbine；　I　looked　out　in　front；　and　the　whole　woods
appeared　to　be　full　of　Rebels；　rushing　toward　us；　all　yelling　and　some
firing。　　My　Captain　and　First　Lieutenant　had　taken　up　position　on　the
right　front　of　the　tents；　and　part　of　the　boys　were　running　up　to　form　a
line　alongside　them。　　The　Second　Lieutenant　had　stationed　himself　on　a
knoll　on　the　left　front；　and　about　a　third　of　the　company　was　rallying
around　him。

My　chum　was　a　silent；　sententious　sort　of　a　chap；　and　as　we　ran　forward
to　the　Captain's　line；　he　remarked　earnestly：

〃Well：　this　beats　hell！〃

I　thought　he　had　a　clear　idea　of　the　situation。

All　this　occupied　an　inappreciably　short　space　of　time。　　The　Rebels　had
not　stopped　to　reload；　but　were　rushing　impetuously　toward　us。　　We　gave
them　a　hot；　rolling　volley　from　our　carbines。　　Many　fell；　more　stopped　to
load　and　reply；　but　the　mass　surged　straight　forward　at　us。　　Then　our
fire　grew　so　deadly　that　they　showed　a　disposition　to　cover　themselves
behind　the　rocks　and　trees。　　Again　they　were　urged　forward；　and　a　body　of
them　headed　by　their　Colonel；　mounted　on　a　white　horse；　pushed　forward
through　the　gap　between　us　and　the　Second　Lieutenant。　　The　Rebel　Colonel
dashed　up　to　the　Second　Lieutenant；　and　ordered　him　to　surrender。　　The
latter…a　gallant　old　graybeardcursed　the　Rebel　bitterly　and　snapped　his
now　empty　revolver　in　his　face。　　The　Colonel　fired　and　killed　him；
whereupon　his　squad；　with　two　of　its　Sergeants　killed　and　half　its
numbers　on　the　ground；　surrendered。

The　Rebels　in　our　front　and　flank　pressed　us　with　equal　closeness。
It　seemed　as　if　it　was　absolutely　impossible　to　check　their　rush　for　an
instant；　and　as　we　saw　the　fate　of　our　companions　the　Captain　gave　the
word　for　every　man　to　look　out　for　himself。　　We　ran　back　a　little
distance；　sprang　over　the　fence　into　the　fields；　and　rushed　toward　Town；
the　Rebels　encouraging　us　to　make　good　time　by　a　sharp　fire　into　our
backs　from　the　fence。

While　we　were　vainly　attempting　to　stem　the　onset　of　the　column　dashed
against　us；　better　success　was　secured　elsewhere。　　Another　column　swept
down　the　other　road；　upon　which　there　was　only　an　outlying　picket。　　This
had　to　come　back　on　the　run　before　the　overwhelming　numbers；　and　the
Rebels　galloped　straight　for　the　three…inch　Rodman。　　Company　M　was　the
first　to　get　saddled　and　mounted；　and　now　came　up　at　a　steady；　swinging
gallop；　in　two　platoons；　saber　and　revolver　in　hand；　and　led　by　two
Sergeants…Key　and　McWright；printer　boys　from　Bloomington；　Illinois。
They　divined　the　object　of　the　Rebel　dash；　and　strained　every　nerve　to
reach　the　gun　first。　　The　Rebels　were　too　near；　and　got　the　gun　and
turned　it。　　Before　they　could　fire　it；　Company　M　struck　them　headlong；
but　they　took　the　terrible　impact　without　flinching；　and　for　a　few
minutes　there　was　fierce　hand…to…hand　work；　with　sword　and　pistol。
The　Rebel　leader　sank　under　a　half…dozen　simultaneous　wounds；　and　fell
dead　almost　under　the　gun。　　Men　dropped　from　their　horses　each　instant；
and　the　riderless　steeds　fled　away。　　The　scale　of　victory　was　turned　by
the　Major　dashing　against　the　Rebel　left　flank　at　the　head　of　Company　I；
and　a　portion　of　the　artillery　squad。　　The　Rebels　gave　ground　slowly；
and　were　packed　into　a　dense　mass　in　the　lane　up　which　they　had　charged。
After　they　had　been　crowded　back；　say　fifty　yards；　word　was　passed
through　our　men　to　open　to　the　right　and　left　on　the　sides　of　the　road。
The　artillerymen　had　turned　the　gun　and　loaded　it　with　a　solid　shot。
Instantly　a　wide　lane　opened　through　our　ranks；　the　man　with　the　lanyard
drew　the　fatal　cord；　fire　burst　from　the　primer　and　the　muzzle；　the　long
gun　sprang　up　and　recoiled；　and　there　seemed　to　be　a　demoniac　yell　in　its
ear…splitting　crash；　as　the　heavy　ball　left　the　mouth；　and　tore　its
bloody　way　through　the　bodies　of　the　struggling　mass　of　men　and　horses。

This　ended　it。　　The　Rebels　gave　way　in　disorder；　and　our　men　fell　back　to
give　the　gun　an　opportunity　to　throw　shell　and　canister。

The　Rebels　now　saw　that　we　were　not　to　be　run　over　like　a　field　of
cornstalks；　and　they　fell　back　to　devise　further　tactics；　giving　us　a
breathing　spell　to　get　ourselves　in　shape　for　defense。

The　dullest　could　see　that　we　were　in　a　desperate　situation。　　Critical
positions　were　no　new　experience　to　us；　as　they　never　are　to　a　cavalry
command　after　a　few　months　in　the　field；　but；　though　the　pitcher　goes
often　to　the　well；　it　is　broken　at　last；　and　our　time　was　evidently　at
hand。　　The　narrow　throat　of　the　Valley；　through　which　lay　the　road　back
to　the　Gap；　was　held　by　a　force　of　Rebels　evidently　much　superior　to　our
own；　and　strongly　posted。　　The　road　was　a　slender；　tortuous　one；　winding
through　rocks　and　gorges。　　Nowhere　was　there　room　enough　to　move　with
even　a　platoon　front　against　the　enemy；　and　this　precluded　all　chances　of
cutting　out。　　The　best　we　could　do　was　a　slow；　difficult　movement；　in
column　of　fours；　and　this　would　have　been　suicide。　　On　the　other　side　of
the　Town　the　Rebels　were　massed　stronger；　while　to　the　right　and　left
rose　the　steep　mountain　sides。　　We　were　caught…trapped　as　surely　as　a　rat
ever　was　in　a　wire　trap。

As　we　learned　afterwards；　a　whole　division　of　cavalry；　under　command　of
the　noted　Rebel；　Major　General　Sam　Jones；　had　been　sent　to　effect　our
capture；　to　offset　in　a　measure　Longstreet's　repulse　at　Knoxville。
A　gross　overestimate　of　our　numbers　had　caused　the　sending　of　so　large
a　force　on　this　errand；　and　the　rough　treatment　we　gave　the　two　columns
that　attacked　us　first　confirmed　the　Rebel　General's　ideas　of　our
strength；　and　led　him　to　adopt　cautious　tactics；　instead　of　crushing　us
out　speedily；　by　a　determined　advance　of　all　parts　of　his　encircling
lines。

The　lull　in　the　fight　did　not　last　long。　　A　portion　of　the　Rebel　line　on
the　east　rushed　forward　to　gain　a　more　commanding　position。
We　concentrated　in　that　direction　and　drove　it　back；　the　Rodman　assisting
with　a　couple　of　well…aimed　shells。　This　was　followed　by　a　similar　but
more　successful　attempt　by　another　part　of　the　Rebel　line；　and　so　it　went
on　all　daythe　Rebels　rushing　up　first　on　this　side；　and　then　on　that；
and　we；　hastily　collecting　at　the　exposed　points；　seeking　to　drive　them
back。　　We　were　frequently　successful；　we　were　on　the　inside；　and　had　the
advantage　of　the　short　interior　lines；　so　that　our　few　men　and　our
breech…loaders　told　to　a　good　purpose。

There　were　frequent　crises　in　the　struggle；　that　at　some　times　gave
encouragement；　but　never　hope。　　Once　a　determined　onset　was　made　from　the
East；　and　was　met　by　the　equally　determined　resistance　of　nearly　our
whole　force。　　Our　fire　was　so　galling　that　a　large　number　of　our　foes
crowded　into　a　house　on　a　knoll；　and　making　loopholes　in　its　walls；　began
replying　to　us　pretty　sharply。　　We　sent　word　to　our　faithful
artillerists；　who　trained　the　gun　upon　the　house。　　The　first　shell
screamed　over　the　roof；　and　burst　harmlessly　beyond。　　We　suspended　fire
to　watch　the　next。　　It　crashed　through　the　side；　for　an　instant　all　was
deathly　still；　we　thought　it　had　gone　on　through。　　Then　came　a　roar　and　a
crash；　the　clapboards　flew　off　the　roof；　and　smoke　poured　out；　panic…
stricken　Rebels　rushed　from　the　doors　and　sprang　from　the　windows…like
bees　from　a　disturbed　hive；　the　shell　had　burst　among　the　confined　mass
of　men　inside！　　We　afterwards　heard　that　twenty…five　were　killed　there。

At　another　time　a　considerable　force　of　rebels　gained　the　cover　of　a
fence　in　easy　range　of　our　main　force。　　Companies　L　and　K　were　ordered　to
charge　forward　on　foot　and　dislodge　them。　　Away　we　went；　under　a　fire
that　seemed　to　drop　a　man　at　every　step。　　A　hundred　yards　in　front　of　the
Rebels　was　a　little　cover；　and　behind　this　our　men　lay　down　as　if　by　one
impulse。　　Then　came　a　close；　desperate　duel　at　short　range。　　It　was　a
question　between　Northern　pluck　and　Southern　courage；　as　to　which　could
stand　the　most　punishment。　　Lying　as　flat　as　possible　on　the　crusted
snow；　only　raising　the　head　or　body　enough　to　load　and　aim；　the　men　on
both　sides；　with　their　teeth　set；　their　glaring　eyes　fastened　on　the　foe；
their　nerves　as　tense　as　tightly…drawn　steel　wires；　rained　shot　on　each
other　as　fast　as　excited　hands　could　crowd　cartridges　into　the　guns　and
discharge　them。

Not　a　word　was　said。

The　shallower　enthusiasm　that　expresses　itself　in　oaths　and　shouts　had
given　way　to　the　deep；　voiceless　rage　of　men　in　a　death　grapple。　　The
Rebel　line　was　a　rolling　torrent　of　flame；　their　bullets　shrieked　angrily
as　they　flew　past；　they　struck　the　snow　in　front　of　us；　and　threw　its
cold　flakes　in　faces　that　were　white　with　the　fires　of　consuming　hate；
they　buried　themselves　with　a　dull　thud　in　the　quivering　bodies　of　the
enraged　combatants。

Minutes　passed；　they　seemed　hours。

Would　the　villains；　scoundrels；　hell…hounds；　sons　of　vipers　never　go？

At　length　a　few　Rebels　sprang　up　and　tried　to　fly。　　They　were　shot　down
instantly。

Then　the　whole　line　rose　and　ran！

The　relief　was　so　great　that　we　jumped　to　our　feet　and　cheered　wildly；
forgetting　in　our　excitement　to　make　use　of　our　victory　by　shooting　down
our　flying　enemies。

Nor　was　an　element　of　fun　lacking。　　A　Second　Lieutenant　was　ordered　to
take　a　party　of　skirmishers　to　the　top　of　a　hill　and　engage　those　of　the
Rebels　stationed　on　another　hill…top　across　a　ravine。　　He　had　but　lately
joined　us　from　the　Regular　Army；　where　he　was　a　Drill　Sergeant。
Naturally；　he　was　very　methodical　in　his　w