splendid
picture, fading into darkness and mystery. At dawn we passed a bridge
and halted some three minutes for a bite. After a little march we left
the turnpike, with Hunter's column bearing westward on a crossroad that
led us into thick woods. As the sunlight sank in the high tree-tops the
first great battle of the war began. Away to the left of us a cannon
shook the earth, hurling its boom into the still air. The sound rushed
over us, rattling in the timber like a fall of rocks. Something went
quivering in me. It seemed as if my vitals had gone into a big lump
of jelly that trembled every step I took. We quickened our pace; we
fretted, we complained. The weariness went out of our legs; some wanted
to run. Before and behind us men were shouting hotly, 'Run, boys! run!'
The cannon roar was now continuous. We could feel the quake of it. When
we came over a low ridge, in the open, we could see the smoke of battle
in the valley. Flashes of fire and hoods of smoke leaped out of the far
thickets, left of us, as cannon roared. Going at double quick we began
loosening blankets and haversacks, tossing them into heaps along the
line of march, without halting. In half an hour we stood waiting in
battalions, the left flank of the enemy in front. We were to charge at
a run. Half-way across the valley we were to break into companies and,
advancing, spread into platoons and squads, and at last into line of
skirmishers, lying down for cover between rushes.

'Forward!' was the order, and we were off, cheering as we ran. O, it was
a grand sight! our colours flying, our whole front moving, like a blue
wave on a green, immeasurable sea. And it had a voice like that of many
waters. Out of the woods ahead of us came a lightning flash. A ring of
smoke reeled upward. Then came a deafening crash of thunders--one upon
another, and the scream of shells overhead. Something stabbed into our
column right beside me. Many went headlong, crying out as they fell.
Suddenly the colours seemed to halt and sway like a tree-top in the
wind. Then down they went!--squad and colours--and we spread to pass
them. At the order we halted and laid down and fired volley after volley
at the grey coats in the edge of the thicket A bullet struck in the
grass ahead of me, throwing a bit of dirt into my eyes. Another brushed
my hat off and I heard a wailing death yell behind me. The colonel rode
up waving a sword.

'Get up an' charge!' he shouted.

On we went, cheer