diff options
Diffstat (limited to '77379-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 77379-0.txt | 882 |
1 files changed, 882 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/77379-0.txt b/77379-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c33000 --- /dev/null +++ b/77379-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,882 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77379 *** + + + + + The Twin + Seven-Shooters. + + [Illustration: CHARLES F. MANDERSON + Colonel 19th Ohio Infantry. + Brevet Brigadier General Volunteers, U. S. A.] + + + + + The Twin Seven-Shooters. + + BY + + CHARLES F. MANDERSON + + LATE COLONEL 19TH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, BREVET + BRIGADIER-GENERAL VOLS., U.S.A. + + [Illustration] + + F. TENNYSON NEELY + + 114 Fifth Avenue 96 Queen Street + NEW YORK LONDON + + + + + Copyright, 1902, + by + CHARLES F. MANDERSON, + in the + United States + and + Great Britain. + + Entered at Stationers’ Hall, + London. + + All Rights Reserved. + + + _The Twin Seven-Shooters._ + + + + + “_We came into the world like brother and brother,_ + ‘_And now let’s go hand in hand, not one before another._” + + --DROMIO, in “Comedy of Errors.” + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The telling of this truthful story of the Great War comes from the +numerous requests of comrades, who knew somewhat of the presentation, +the capture and the return of the pair of revolvers that came together +after a quarter of a century of separation and after they had been +carried and used under two flags. Their restoration could not have been +had under any other condition than that which came about at the close +of our gigantic struggle. + +The Civil War was waged on both the Federal and Confederate sides with +an intensity and manly vigor characteristic of the race that sprang +from the loins of the Puritan and the Cavalier. + +The immense hosts that combated upon so many dreadful fields, with +the incident sacrifice of life and limb, while actuated by the desire +to win, by comparison with which individual loss counted as nothing, +were never prompted by personal hatred or ill will. They fought to +obtain the result desired, and when the end came, with its feeling of +exultation by the one and of depression by the other, there was mutual +respect and common consideration, that led naturally to a reunited +country and the placing of the Great Republic in its present position +as the Chiefest of Nations. + +The story permits a description of two great battles--that of +Murfreesboro, or Stone’s River, and of Chattanooga, or Mission +Ridge--the first-named one of the hardest fought fields of the War, +and the last, one of the most spectacular. The recital of these calls +for no explanation, and I hope the personal equation of the story needs +no apology. + + CHARLES F. MANDERSON, + + Late Colonel, 19th Regiment Ohio Infantry. + B’v’t Brig. Gen. Vols., U.S.A. + + + + +PROLOGUE. + + +[Illustration: “RESTING QUIETLY IN THEIR POLISHED CASE OF DARK MAHOGANY +WITH ITS SOFT LINING OF TUFTED CRIMSON SILK.”] + +Resting quietly in their polished case of dark mahogany, with its +soft lining of tufted crimson silk, they look harmless indeed and as +though their lives had been uneventful. Yet, could they speak with +other tongues than those of fire and smoke, they could tell a tale to +interest and thrill--of scenes of bloody encounter and deadly strife, +of combat and carnage, of victory and defeat, of raid and destruction, +of pursuit and capture, of loss and recovery, of separation and +reunion,--in short, the exciting story of war, and the captivating tale +of peace. + +You take up the pair of revolvers with a new interest. Yes! they are +handsome. Shapely and well proportioned, they deserve your exclamation +of admiration. The blued steel of barrels and cylinders contrasts +attractively with the silver mounting of the handles, so well fitted to +the grasp. + +[Illustration: “YOU TAKE THEM IN HAND! + + YOU GLANCE ALONG THE SIGHTS!” +] + +You take them in hand! You glance along the sights! Ah! my friend, time +was when the threatening glint of the eye that brought these sights +in line was quite different from the gentle light in yours. And now +you read inquiringly the inscription, showing the presentation, deeply +engraved upon the silver handle band of each seven shooter. Yes, I am +the regimental commander to whom they were presented, by the braves of +the gallant 19th Regiment of Ohio Infantry, nearly forty years ago. I +had lived but little over half that many years, when they came to me +and, since the date you read upon them, I have grown grizzled. + +The scene of the presentation, the causes that led to it and the after +events of note, are as vivid as though they were of yesterday and yet +there is the strange feeling as though I spoke of some other and not +of myself. I take it that most of us who served through those four +momentous years of gigantic war now feel as though the experiences were +those of a third person, of whom we had knowledge, intimate indeed, but +with whom we had not identity. As you ask for the story, it shall be +given unto you. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + + PROLOGUE 5 + + + SCENE I. + + The Battle 9 + + + SCENE II. + + The Presentation 24 + + + SCENE III. + + The Capture 29 + + + SCENE IV. + + The Reunion 44 + + + Epilogue 51 + + + + +The Twin Seven-Shooters. + + + + +SCENE I. + +THE BATTLE. + + +The recital will start fairly on Christmas day of the year 1862, near +Nashville, in the camps of the Army of the Cumberland, then commanded +by General Rosecrans. + +The festive holiday time had increased the usually present disease, +until home-sickness was the all-pervading complaint. As the picket +peered through the gloomy air under the dull, wintry sky, he saw, in +his mind’s eye, the dear ones at home, gathered about the yule-log. +The sentry’s thoughts were far away, as he challenged the approaching +guard, that brought relief, but gave none save in name, and received +the sharp replies, so different from the words of good cheer properly +incident to the time. The men gathered about the camp fires during the +evening hours with abortive attempts at merriment, soon to be given +up, and then to talk in whispers of friends and family and home. The +bugle calls, holding out the promise that balmy sleep might bring +forgetfulness, were welcomed; although tattoo seemed a wail, and +lights-out a sob. + +The restless quiet of a great military camp comes at last. A nest of +sleeping souls, it heaves with sound. The sentinels look like stalking +ghosts. + +After midnight the dreaming sleepers are disturbed by the clank of the +sabre of the orderly, seeking the headquarters of regiments to deliver +an important order. Be quick! Light the candle stuck in the bayonet +shank at the head of the ground bed where lies the regimental commander. + +Ah! Here is a Christmas gift with a vengeance! Read! + + “You will place your command in readiness to march at daylight. + Move very light--three days’ rations in haversacks and two days’ in + wagons. Forty rounds of ammunition on each man, with all the reserve + ammunition in wagons. Take no tents and no baggage.” + +A battle order! Up and be stirring, for there is much to be done +before daylight. Sleepers are aroused, their dreams of home and its +festivities rudely disturbed, tents are struck and rolled, and, with +the baggage and surplus stores packed into wagons to be sent within the +earth-works of Nashville. + +Reveille finds the Army of the Cumberland, nearly fifty thousand +strong, on the march to attack the Confederates under Bragg at +Murfreesborough, thirty miles away. No holiday march this, I assure +you. The enemy is alert. He harasses our front with artillery, attacks +our flanks with infantry and harries our rear with cavalry. The +elements seem in league with him, for snow, sleet and rain make heavy +roads, at which men swear and in which wagons and artillery flounder +and stall. + +Four days of skirmishing and hard marching, with four nights of unrest +and chilly misery bring us to our objective--the enemy. He has selected +his battle ground on the bank of Stone’s River, a swift stream, in +places fordable. + +The night of December 30th we slept, or essayed to sleep, upon our +arms, without fires. Never can I forget the dispirited and woe-begone +look of the men as, rising from the frozen ground, they shook +themselves at daylight. The hoar-frost covered them, giving to the +uniforms of blue a new color, resembling somewhat the grey of the foe. +Is there fighting quality in this line of shivering men? Can the battle +fire be kindled in these chilled frames? A cold breakfast from the +haversacks, a tin cup of coffee to each man, a warming drill in the +manual of arms and their appearance is changed for the better. + +The order comes! We are to cross Stone’s River at the lower ford and +lead the attack upon the enemy’s right. Rosecrans will strike with his +left. + +An inspection of the guns, a distribution of ammunition, filling both +cartridge boxes and haversacks, some words of encouragement and cheer +from the youthful commander, and we move to the river bank, to find +our crossing, by wading the cold stream, unopposed by the enemy. We +form in line of battle upon the other side and are about to advance to +the attack, when the sound of cannon, heard but faintly from our right +a short time ago, becomes louder and more loud. A terrific battle is +raging there and the movement of sound means our men are being driven. +We are halted. There is stir and excitement among the division staff. +We are ordered to recross the river and hasten to the support of the +right wing. + +Bragg, actuated by the same motive as Rosecrans, conceiving the same +plan, had attacked our right, but his fresh and sheltered troops struck +their blow at an earlier hour. They doubled our line back upon itself. +They took our straight bar of iron and bent it into a horse-shoe. Our +right flank had become our rear. + +Defeat seemed imminent. On our hurried way, the 19th Ohio, leading +Crittenden’s Division, met horses, teams and men in confusion most +confounded. Rousseau, of Kentucky, riding bare-headed, cries to me, +“What troops are these?” and to my answer says, with tearful entreaty +in his voice, “For God’s sake! get quickly to the cedars on our right +and stop this rout.” We hasten on. Rosecrans, pale with anguish of the +thought that Garesche, bosom friend and Chief of Staff, had just been +killed by his side, but determined of purpose and confident in bearing, +says, “Men! you can save the day. Will you do it?” “Aye! Aye! sir; if +mortal men can, we will!” + +We pass from the march by the flank into line under the direction of +the Commanding General himself, my regiment forming the right of the +front line. + +The grey coats, flushed with success that is so near victory, came +gaily on. We wait until they are within easy range. It is a weary +waiting and hard to endure. Our men are falling rapidly under the fire +of the advancing foe. My favorite mare drops dead with a ball through +her gentle heart. Adjutant Brewer, always alert and devoted replaces +her with his good grey. Rising from the ground, with no great bodily +harm, although I had been pitched headlong, I exclaim: “But, Adjutant, +my glasses are broken into many bits and I see dimly.” “Never mind; I +will see for you,” he quickly responds. And so he did. Gallant fellow! +Brave heart! He gave his young life to his country and his parting +benediction to me afterwards, in a desperate mêlée and fearful +charge. + +[Illustration: CHARGE OF GENERAL VAN CLEVE’S DIVISION IN THE CEDARS, AT +THE BATTLE OF STONE’S RIVER, UNDER DIRECTION OF GENERAL ROSECRANS. + +The 19th Ohio Infantry forming the right of the front line. Photograph +of a picture made during the war by Private Mathews, of the 31st Ohio +Infantry.] + +At last the order to fire! From every musket leaps a missile of death. +The Confederate line wavers! Strong young teeth tear the cartridges. We +load and fire with energy. The grey line breaks! A charge is ordered by +Rosecrans in person. They run! How inspiring! What exhilaration! With +wild yells we rush on. We regain much of the ground lost in the early +morning and hold it fast and firm. + +Again the nightfall, the last of the eventful year. What horrid din, of +cannon and of watchful picket’s gun, to disturb and harass the weary +unharmed, who seek to sleep. How cold and miserable the wounded in blue +and grey who groan and moan between the lines, where succor cannot come. + +Morn at last! The new year has come. Both armies are so torn and +shattered that the re-forming of lines and watchful rest is a +necessity. The day passes in care for the wounded and hasty burial of +the dead. + +Another night, and again the morning. Who will strike the blow? +Rosecrans, tenacious of purpose, returns to his original plan. Again +our division fords Stone’s River in front of the enemy’s right. The +shortened line of each regiment tells the story of the slaughter of the +31st. We wait patiently the order to strike. + +The hours pass. Few in number, our division is a tempting bait to +Bragg. General Breckenridge, with a column of many lines, advances +upon us. With precision of movement they march across the open fields. +The sight fascinates us! Splendid spectacle! They break the charm by +opening fire and charging upon us with the shrill yell of the South. +With a crash the lines meet, to mingle a moment and break apart. Our +reserve becomes our front line. We fight for minutes that seem hours, +with bayonet and clubbed musket, with deep cursing and loud yells, with +hot rage and bold defiance, that rarest of happenings in battle comes +to us--a hand to hand fight between lines of infantry upon an open +field. We are overwhelmed by numbers and flanked by the greater force. +Thrice has our color bearer been felled to earth, and of all the color +guard not one is unhurt. + +But the regimental flag does not touch the ground. Gallant Phil Reefy, +Lieutenant of Company F, strong and stalwart, bears it aloft. Sullenly +we retreat to the river bank, fighting as we retire. We reach the +stream. + +What is that deafening roar? It is as though heaven and earth had come +together. Fifty-two guns, massed by Mendenhall, Chief of Artillery, +commanding the position we had just left, have opened with grape and +canister at short range upon the but now exultant foe. What dreadful +slaughter! Masses of men fall writhing as the missiles hurtle through +the air. They turn and flee, for mortal men cannot withstand such storm. + +We pursue until darkness comes, capturing prisoners, guns and stores, +and Reefy, proudly exultant, plants the flag of the 19th Ohio upon two +cannon captured in the tempestuous pursuit. + +[Illustration: REPULSE OF THE ATTACK OF THE COLUMN OF GENERAL +BRECKENRIDGE, BEING THE CLOSING SCENE OF THE BATTLE OF STONE’S RIVER. + +Made from a picture drawn by Private Mathews, of the 31st Regiment, +Ohio Infantry, during the war.] + +No battle of the war shows the dash, pluck, bravery and endurance +of the American soldier better than Stone’s River. The attack, so +spirited and bold, upon the right wing, under McCook, in the gray dawn +of that winter morning, that forced it back until the exultant +enemy was not only on our flank but in our rear! The speedy taking of +new positions by the troops of the left wing, under Crittenden; their +gallant and successful charge in the cedars that regained much of the +ground so ruinously lost! + +The sturdy and immovable stand of the center, under Thomas, that +resisted assaults most impetuous and broke the charging columns into +disorganized fragments, as waves are broken on a rock-bound coast! The +dash of the Southerners in attack, the steadiness of the Northerners +in resistance, the impulsive ardor of the one, the deliberate repose +of the other; both so characteristic! The bold front, the confident +daring, the personal exposure, the actual leadership, and the +unconquerable spirit of Rosecrans, that “plucked victory from defeat +and glory from disaster!” + +All this, any of this, was worth the sacrifice of life itself to see. + +It stands in history as a bright page. The dreadful figures of loss +tell the story of how terribly sanguinary were the engagements when +Americans fought each other. Of 44,000 Federals, 12,000, and of 38,000 +Confederates, 10,000 were killed and wounded--over twenty-five per +cent. Recall the fact that at Waterloo, Wellington lost less than +twelve, and at Marengo and Austerlitz, Napoleon lost less than fifteen +per cent. + +At daylight the next morning, after the battle, my line was formed. +Shorn was it of half its length, for forty per cent. had fallen. Three +officers were killed and three wounded. Company B, with more of its +own dead to bury than there were unhurt survivors to do them honor. +Ah! the familiar faces gone from us. We who were left looked upon each +other with feelings unknown before. We felt a kinship stronger than +brotherhood, as though we were parts of one body. + +We heard read, with infinite satisfaction, of the glory of our +achievements, the congratulations of the General and the thanks of +President Lincoln. We shook hands with each other that we had been +specially mentioned in the reports, and took satisfactory delight that +the commander of the 79th Indiana had officially reported that the good +behavior of his command might be attributed to the splendid conduct of +the 19th Ohio, and to the effect of our example. + +We were heroes all, and were proudly conscious of the fact. + + + + +SCENE II. + +THE PRESENTATION. + + +The restful weeks following the great battle go slowly by. The ranks +of the regiment fill up from the return of the slightly wounded and +the detached. The white tents about Murfreesborough, placed in regular +rows, form a new city of vast extent. Camp duties, drills, inspection, +review, guard mounting and dress parade fill the busy hours. The +fighting giant is in training for the summer campaign of Tullahoma and +the advance into Georgia. + +I recall the afternoon of a perfect day in the early spring time. +Parade over and dismissed, by some preconcerted signal, to me unknown, +the first sergeants do not march the men to quarters, but go to their +positions and company commanders take their places in line. “Attention! +Battalion!” shouts Major Stratton, assuming the command. I look on +somewhat amazed at this sudden devotion to a drill not down in the camp +orders. + +The battalion forms square. I am invited to it, and with speech all too +complimentary and feeling reference to the great battle, its losses and +its gains, am presented with the beautiful weapons you here admire. + +The surprise is only excelled by my delight with the gift. They shall +be worn with pride, they shall be used in honor. + +I cherish them for the sake of the givers, and practice to know how and +to become worthy to use them. They stand me in good stead very often, +and familiarity with them does not breed contempt of their power. + +Months go by. The Tullahoma campaign has been fought to a finish. On +ostensible recruiting service, but really for participation in the +momentous Brough-Vallandigham campaign in Ohio, the opportunity is +afforded me to go home for a brief season. I avail myself of it, and +take proudly home to show to friends the gift of comrades beloved. + +The duty in the north performed, I turn south to rejoin the command. +The military situation is most interesting. Like the sharp end of +a lance, the western army has pierced into the very vitals of the +Confederacy. Rosecrans has won his objective, Chattanooga; paying +therefor the bloody penalty of Chickamauga, but is practically besieged +by an enemy whose camp fires light the many miles of horizon, from +where the crouching lion of lofty Lookout Mountain, with extended paws, +touches the Tennessee, around the semi-circle of frowning ridges to +where the strongly intrenched line again touches the deep flowing river +at Tunnel Hill. He is relieved from command by the powers that be, and +Thomas, the reliable, the Rock of Chickamauga, beloved of all men, +takes his place as chief. He declares his intention to hold his great +strategic position “until we starve,” and unless help comes, starvation +seems probable. + +[Illustration: GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS + +“The Rock of Chickamauga.”] + +Hooker is on his way from the east with two corps of veterans of the +Potomac, and Sherman marches to us with the victorious columns, flushed +with the capture of Vicksburg, from the banks of the Mississippi. +The great Captain, with the fame of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, comes +also, to assume supreme command. Grant! Sherman! Thomas! Behold the +triumvirate! Truly, the great game of war is now to be played by +experts. I hasten to take place as one of the pawns. + + + + +SCENE III. + +THE CAPTURE. + + +Where the fight was the fiercest at Stone’s River, Captain Keel, of +ours, in gallant leadership of his company, was shot in the elbow of +his right arm. Surgical skill had prevented amputation and obtained +exsection, resulting in a cartilaginous elbow and sorely crippled hand. +Thus maimed, he came to me at Nashville and declared his intention of +reporting for duty. Condemning his judgment, but admiring his pluck, I +said, “All right, Captain, we will take the first train for the front.” + +We reached Stevenson, Alabama, the end of our ride over rough and +worn pieces of iron, dignified by the name of railroad. From there a +mountain wagon road formed the connection with the army at Chattanooga. +Its course could be traced by the fragments of broken wagons, abandoned +stores, and by the carcasses of the poor mules, strangled in the mud of +it. Trains laden with ammunition, food and forage started daily from +Stevenson. The time of their arrival, at the end of the pontoon bridge +across from Chattanooga was an unknown quantity. It was at least two +and more frequently four days. + +My anxiety to reach the regiment was intense. Upon inquiry I heard of a +bridle path leading over the mountain and along the bank of the river. +By starting early and riding hard, one might get through in a day, but +it was the path of danger. The guns of the Confederates commanded this +road, and some of our men had been killed, others wounded and captured, +who tried it. I determined to make the effort. The Colonel commanding +the post, in response to my earnest appeal, loaned me two horses and an +orderly, and we started at the first peep of day. + +Keel, too greatly disabled to ride a horse, was to go by the wagon +road, taking the baggage of both. He evinced no reluctance when he +found that as companions in the same wagon he was to have two estimable +women of the Christian Commission, who, with supplies for the sick and +wounded, were bound to Chattanooga upon their heaven inspired mission. + +Realizing that my route was hazardous, I put on my oldest uniform, +stripped myself of all valuables, packing them carefully in the trunk +that contained all of my earthly possessions. Determined that my +beloved pistols should not fall into the hands of the enemy, I lodged +them securely in my trunk, taking in their stead a pair of common +holster revolvers. + +The orderly and I rode through without mishap, receiving no shot and +seeing but few of the enemy. Arrived at regimental headquarters, I +found all well, and received a welcome home that thrilled me. I waited, +somewhat impatiently, for the disabled Captain to arrive with the +baggage so greatly needed. + +The days passed away and gave no sign of him until the fifth after my +arrival, when a sorry figure rode to the front of my tent. Seated upon +a mule that had upon him parts of wagon harness, was the Captain, a +woful figure, with rueful countenance. Don Quixote appeared not so +disconsolate even after his battle with the knights of the windmill. We +would have laughed aloud at his sorry plight had his aspect not been +so serious. “For God’s sake, food and drink!” he cried. Being properly +refreshed, he told his tale of woe. The train of wagons was proceeding +slowly along the weary road, when sharp firing at its front evidenced +an attack. Wheeler’s cavalry had crossed the river and was on one of +the raids in our rear that made the name of General Joe Wheeler one +with which to scare teamsters and worry commanders. + +The Captain was a man of proper gallantry, a fitting squire of dames, +but, withal, not lacking in judicious discretion. The Confederate +troopers certainly would not molest the women, bent upon their +righteous mission, but to him captivity meant worse than death. Making +hasty excuses, in unceremonious fashion, he jumped from the wagon, +pulled a colored teamster off of a mule that he had just cut out of the +traces of a wagon, mounted and took quickly to the woods on the side +of the mountain. As he plunged deeper into the thicket, he saw in the +valley the light of burning wagons, and heard the terrific explosions +of ammunition with which many of them were loaded. After days and +nights of distress he at last found his way to our camps. + +A day or two after, hearing that the female companions of the good +captain had reached our lines, I called upon them in the town and heard +the rest of the story. Wheeler’s rough riders had treated them with +courteous consideration and did not molest their trunks when told that +they contained only woman’s apparel. Keel’s baggage and my own was +evidently rich booty. The new uniforms were seized with delight, and +my precious seven-shooters appropriated with exclamations of joy and +admiration. Taking what was wanted, the residue was thrown back on the +wagons, that had been run and piled together, and made food for the +flames. The train was but partly consumed when our cavalry appeared +upon the scene and a sharp fight ensued, with the result that the women +were released from their unpleasant situation. + +While the beleaguered army in Chattanooga, foregoing, if not +forgetting, the pangs of hunger, echoed the language of Thomas in his +telegram to Grant, “We will hold this place until we starve,” it was +with right good will that it marched out in front of its works on an +eventful November morning, being ordered to make a “demonstration” and +relieve the pressure on Sherman in his effort to take Tunnel Hill, +the right flank of the semi-circular natural defense of the enemy, +composed of Missionary Ridge, with its crest from five hundred to eight +hundred feet above us, around to Lookout on the left with its proud +head over two thousand feet above the town. It was a crescent, with +defensive works erected with engineering skill, bristling with guns and +reflecting threatening lights as the sun played upon the musket barrels +and bayonets in the hands of skilled and brave defenders. It looked +like the curve of the cutting edge of a huge scimitar. + +[Illustration: MAP OF THE BATTLEFIELD OF CHATTANOOGA SHOWING THE +POSITION OF THE CONFEDERATE ARMY AT LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AND MISSION RIDGE.] + +A feeling of amity, almost of fraternization, had existed between the +picket lines in front of Wood’s division for many days. In the early +morning of that day, being in charge of the left of our picket line, +I received a turn-out and salute from the Confederate reserve as +I rode the line. But the friendly relation was soon to be rudely +disturbed. My pickets, composed of the 19th Ohio and the 9th Kentucky, +became the line of skirmishers. Our troops being well out of their +works, we advanced with our left resting on Citico Creek, and I believe +that from these regiments came the first shots in that glorious advance +that resulted in the taking of Orchard Knob, the key of the enemy’s +position. + +With impatient joy they witnessed the stars and stripes on Lookout’s +crest, and heard the guns of Hooker on the enemy’s left. The evidences +of the hard fighting by Sherman and the stubborn resistance Bragg’s +right was giving him were borne on every wind. The flanking assaults +upon the Ridge were not achieving success. There must be another +“demonstration” by the center. Grant stands on Orchard Knob, silently +smoking the inevitable cigar. He sees the heavy work to the right and +left and that the waning day is showing its lengthening shadows. The +center must again relieve the pressure. To Thomas goes the order: “Take +the rifle-pits at the foot of the ridge. At the six-gun signal from +Orchard Knob, advance the lines to the attack.” Baird, Wood, Sheridan +and Johnson were quickly in the order named from left to right. + +Restlessly they await the signal. It is well on to four o’clock. At +last the sharp report of a cannon from the Knob! Another! and another! +and in quick succession the six have thundered forth the order for the +charge. + +To your feet and forward, men of the Cumberland! “Take the rifle-pits +at the foot of the ridge,” is the order. How splendidly they respond. +Adding emphasis to their loud huzzas is the noise of the light +artillery on the plain and the deep roar of the big siege guns in the +forts of Chattanooga. The crest of the ridge throws its full weight of +metal at the lines of blue. The musketry fire from the pits is full in +their faces. But neither shot nor shell can stop the impetuous advance. +On and on they go, surmounting every obstacle. + +The order is obeyed. + +The rifle-pits are ours and their late defenders our prisoners. How the +grey jackets hasten to the rear. We wonder at their haste, but soon +understood it when the guns of the ridge, depressed to sweep the pits, +seemed to open the gates of hell itself upon us. + +We cannot stay. Must we fall back? Perish the thought. No! No! No +order given, and yet to every man the impulse. Forward the whole line! +To the crest of the ridge and take the guns! Every man forward! + +Grape and canister from fifty cannon forbid the advance. Wood, +Sheridan, Baird, Johnson, Willich, Hazen, Beatty, Carlin, Turchin, +Vanderveer, catching the spirit from the men, shout, “Up, boys! To the +top!” and grape and canister, wounds and death are forgotten. + +On and on and up and up we go, “while all the world wondered.” Grant +turns to Thomas, and, with distress if not anger in his voice, says, +“Who ordered those men up the ridge?” Replies our old hero, “I don’t +know, I did not.” Says Grant, “Granger, did you?” “No,” says Granger, +“they started without orders. When those fellows get started, all +hell can’t stop them.” + +With hearts in their throats these anxious chieftains watch. The +spectators in Chattanooga hold their breath in terrible suspense. It +looks a desperate venture, a foolhardy effort. Can they make the top, +or will they be driven back to the plain, with columns broken and ranks +disordered? + +The musketry fire from the intrenched line in grey is murderous. The +cannon belch forth incessantly. + +“It is as though men fought upon the earth and fiends in the upper air.” + +Not a shot from the wedge-shaped lines in blue as they advance with the +colors of regiments at the apex of the triangles. Sixty regiments in +rivalry for the lead! Colors fall as their bearers sink in death, but +other stout arms nerved by brave hearts bear the flag aloft. + +Ah! the lines waver! they cannot make it! But repulse means defeat and +loss of all we have gained. + +Look! again they go forward! Will they reach the crest? See! the +answer! A flag! the nation’s flag! Our flag upon the top! Another, and +yet another! The crest breaks out in glory! It is the apotheosis of the +banner of the free! + +The rebel lines are broken! We are into their works! Cheer upon cheer +“set the wild echoes flying” from Tunnel Hill to Lookout! They tell of +victory! glorious, exultant victory. + +Forty pieces of cannon and 7,000 stand of arms with 6,000 prisoners +captured give emphasis to the story. + +[Illustration: GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS AND STAFF AFTER THE BATTLE OF +MISSION RIDGE.] + +The bars are down for entrance next campaign to Atlanta, gate city of +the South. + +I went through the starvation siege of Chattanooga, the battles of +Orchard Knob and Mission Ridge, and the winter march to relieve +Burnside, who was penned up in Knoxville, in very uncomfortable plight, +depending upon my brother officers for the clothing to keep me warm, +but that which caused me the most distress was the loss, as I naturally +supposed, forever, of the twin revolvers that rest now so peacefully +before us, reminders of a time of great happenings by the side of which +all else in life seems of trifling importance. + + + + +SCENE IV. + +THE REUNION. + + +[Illustration: “UPON THE WALL HUNG THE GOOD SWORD, WITH THE DENT IN ITS +SCABBARD.”] + +Twenty years passed away, with their changes for good and for ill. The +great war seemed like a dream, and its events were dim and shadowy. But +there remained to me some substantial evidence of its reality. Upon +the wall hung the good sword, with the dent in its scabbard telling of +the death struggle of the brave black mare, whose name should be on +Stone River’s roll of honor. In the corner stood the regimental flag, +presented by my comrades when we parted in 1865, the deep scar upon its +staff matching the deeper scar upon the manly breast of its bearer +“in the brave days of old.” I looked at them and longed for the twin +seven-shooters that should keep them company. + +[Illustration: “IN THE CORNER STOOD THE REGIMENTAL FLAG PRESENTED BY MY +COMRADES WHEN WE PARTED IN 1865. THE DEEP SCAR UPON ITS STAFF MATCHED +THE DEEPER SCAR UPON THE MANLY BREAST OF ITS BEARER IN THE BRAVE DAYS +OF OLD.”] + +Representing my adopted State, Nebraska, in the Senate, I had reached a +position that had at least given my name notoriety. It chanced that the +Major of an Iowa cavalry regiment saw it in the public prints and was +prompted to write me. “Are you,” said he, “the man who commanded the +19th Ohio during the war? If so, I have a pistol that must belong to +you, for the fact of its presentation is engraved upon it.” I am quick +to respond, and in brief time there came the pistol, as welcome to my +hand and heart as an old-time friend. + +He wrote me its history. During the days of the period of +reconstruction he was on duty in Alabama, and upon the person of a man +whom he arrested was found the revolver. The Major took it from him +and had held it since, hoping that some time he might meet the owner. +Hearty thanks went to him, and I longed all the more for its mate, +somewhere existing, but probably never to be recovered by me. + +Twenty-eight years elapse after the cavalry raid in the Sequatchie +Valley. The Congress is in session and a dreary debate drags its +weary length through the hours. My yawning presence in the Senate +Chamber would only add emphasis to the dullness there, and I go to the +Committee Room, to engage in the usual employment of a Congressman’s +spare hours, the dictation of replies to the endless letters, from +every direction, on every conceivable subject. There comes a messenger, +and this his message: “The compliments of Senator Pugh of Alabama, who +requests the pleasure of seeing you in the Marble Room.” I respond +quickly to the call, and go to the room of simplicity and beauty that +is one of the chief attractions under the great white dome. Near at +hand are three men, two of them well known by me, the third a stranger. + +[Illustration: GENERAL JOSEPH WHEELER + +“The Marshal Ney of the Confederacy.”] + +I hasten to greet my colleague, and then shake hands with warmth of +greeting with a gentleman I have grown to respect and like. It is +General Wheeler, once a dashing cavalry leader of Confederates, he +who harried our rear so persistently and pronouncedly; reconstructed +into a leader in forensic debate, an authority on parliamentary law, +and an all-around legislator, whose trenchant pen was surely as mighty +as his vigorous sword. Cuba and the Philippines are the scenes of his +later triumphs, and there is no name upon the Army Roll more honored +now for patriotic devotion and soldierly ability than that of him who, +during the dark days of the civil strife, was the Marshal Ney of the +Confederacy. + +I am introduced by the courtly Senator Pugh to his esteemed +constituent, ex-Confederate Colonel Reeves, of Alabama. I greet him +with pleasure, for he bears upon him those evidences that command +respect. Both appearance and speech declare the Southerner, and the +soft broad accents fall pleasingly upon the ear. He said, “I think, +sir, I have something that once belonged to you, and will give it to +you with pleasure, for I presume from the inscription upon it you will +prize it highly.” + +He produces the long-lost revolver and tells its story. He bought it +and its companion from one of General Wheeler’s troopers, who said +he captured it at the battle of Mission Ridge. I mildly suggest +that at Mission Ridge the captures were on the other side. He smiled +acquiescence and said he cared little at the time of purchase from +whence they came, so that they might be his. He had carried them +through the war until a fearful wound had disabled him from further +field duty. + +After the war he had loaned one to the sheriff of his county and from +him it had been captured by some of our troops. I told him of the +return of that one to me eight years before. We exchange reminiscences +of the great struggle. We compare experiences. Enemies in war, we are +in peace friends. + +Handling his revolver with easy grace and caressing gesture, he +makes it mine again, saying as he passes it to me, with pardonable +reluctance, “I tell you, sir, that is a mighty close shooting pistol.” +I cordially agree to that sentiment, and we both dwell in thought upon +the career of these messengers of death that have fought beneath two +flags, giving loyal support to their masters, who have fought each one +loyally for his own. + +And thus finding each other, after a quarter of a century of +separation, they came back to me, to be cherished fondly and I hope +never again to be used. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + +And so my friend, you have the truthful story. It is not one to excite +special wonder, but causes, I take it, emotions of pleasure and +thankfulness. + +As the pistols have come peacefully together, so have north and south +united in fraternity and in devotion to one flag and a common country. +The war taught mutual respect, and never again can there come between +these sections the hatred, based upon mutual misunderstandings, that +led to the attempt at dismemberment. The men who did the fighting +during those four years of bloody war can have no sympathy with the +incendiaries who would array section against section upon any subject. +Their motto is bear and forbear. The disposition to fraternize was +strong among them even during the strife, and with them now is the +brotherhood that is the inevitable incident of unity of national +purpose and a patriotic desire for one destiny. + +Long ago, while condemning the false teaching that led to the belief +that allegiance was to the State, we appreciated how deep abiding was +the honest conviction of those who, taught in a different school from +us, made untold sacrifice for the cause they espoused. + +Forgetting nothing of the past--the cruel blow at nationality, the +unhallowed attack upon the flag, with all the sad results of weeping +and wounds, of desolation and death--we have forgiven everything. + +Full citizenship, with all of honor, of governing power, and +controlling rights that the term imports, has been accorded to all who +participated or lent aid and comfort to the enemies of the Union. + +As the victors and the vanquished have recognized equal courage and +even powers of endurance, there has come mutual respect. Through the +throes and labor of reconstruction, with the contact of peoples, the +interchange of commerce, the common interests of the different parts of +the national whole, the dovetailing of States through the construction +of the iron highways of trade, and mutual contribution of the capital +needed for the development of the new South has come peaceful, +contented reconciliation. The years that gather wisdom and experience +to all long ago taught the lesson even to those who fought for it, +that the cause for which they struggled and suffered was better lost +than won. + +Hail the epoch of concord! All hail, the era of fraternity! + +Let us close the lid of the mahogany box, believing that the pair +snugly ensconced within it shall never serve save as polished reminders +of other days. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES + + +Extraneous quotation mark on page 11 removed. + +Corrected typo in illustration caption “battlelield” to “battlefield”. + +Normalized punctuation in illustration caption “CHARGE OF GENERAL....” + +Positions of illustrations re-arranged to support the main text. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77379 *** |