a constant fire on the
enemy--for we had a hundred rounds today, so that if we were decently
accurate we should make him too nervous to be very dangerous in return.
We went about fifty yards at a time, our sergeants and platoon leaders in
the rear, behind them the captain and his orderlies and behind all the
major and his aides. Certain officers with white bands on their arms, who
ventured unconcernedly into the line of fire, I made out to be umpires
judging this game of war. For I find, mother dear, that this is earnest
for the officers as well as ourselves--we and the enemy have maps, we
know the general conditions, and then each acts as in time of war, trying
to get the better of the opponent. So that if an officer has properly
trained his men, and if in addition he shows good judgment, then he can
feel that he is advancing in his profession. The major, working for the
first time today with a battalion under him (for last camp he was but a
captain) was as keen at the work as if real bullets had been flying
across the little valley. Meanwhile the umpires, studying the strategy of
both sides, are themselves learning.

Well, we got forward rush by rush, firing as we lay waiting, getting
ready at the word, and then following Bannister as he quartered forward
to the right or left to join the new line. As we neared the stone wall
behind which the enemy was firing we could see his white hat-bands, when
to my disgust along came an umpire and ruled out the rear rank. Wanting
to be in at the death, I changed places with Corder, who was "all in,"
and so I finished out the final charge, when the captain came through the
line with a rush and we up and followed him yelling. The enemy very
obligingly vacated the wall as we approached, and all we saw of the
cavalry was their dust as they departed, except a squad whom the umpires
called back.

One machine gun I did not see, nor have I heard how it was captured. But
one was stalled a little distance behind the wall, and I followed the
captain as he made for it. The two men on it were swearing wonderfully,
being regulars; the captain snapped his pistol in the air as he ran, and
I likewise fired my gun upwards, it being the rule of this campaign
neither to fire nor to present the bayonet at close quarters. Seeing they
could not get away, the men were actually ready to fight, and I think had
we been rookies we might have had to scrap for it; but seeing an officer
they saluted and sullen