hero tales from american history-第20节
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stwork； Lieutenant Nettleton crawled from behind the fence to the colors； seized them； and bore back the bloodwon trophy。
Another took place at Gaines' Mill； where Gregg's 1st South Carolina formed part of the attacking force。 The resistance was desperate； and the fury of the assault unsurpassed。 At one point it fell to the lot of this regiment to bear the brunt of carrying a certain strong position。 Moving forward at a run； the South Carolinians were swept by a fierce and searching fire。 Young James Taylor； a lad of sixteen； was carrying the flag； and was killed after being shot down three times； twice rising and struggling onward with the colors。 The third time he fell the flag was seized by George Cotchet； and when he； in turn； fell； by Shubrick Hayne。 Hayne was also struck down almost immediately； and the fourth lad； for none of them were over twenty years old； grasped the colors； and fell mortally wounded across the body of his friend。 The fifth； Gadsden Holmes； was pierced with no less than seven balls。 The sixth man； Dominick Spellman； more fortunate； but not less brave； bore the flag throughout the rest of the battle。
Yet another occurred at Antietam。 The 7th Maine； then under the command of Major T。 W。 Hyde； was one of the hundreds of regiments that on many hard…fought fields established a reputation for dash and unyielding endurance。 Toward the early part of the day at Antietam it merely took its share in the charging and long…range firing； together with the New York and Vermont regiments which were its immediate neighbors in the line。 The fighting was very heavy。 In one of the charges； the Maine men passed over what had been a Confederate regiment。 The gray…clad soldiers were lying； both ranks； privates and officers； as they fell； for so many had been killed or disabled that it seemed as if the whole regiment was prone in death。
Much of the time the Maine men lay on the battle…field； hugging the ground； under a heavy artillery fire； but beyond the reach of ordinary musketry。 One of the privates； named Knox； was a wonderful shot； and had received permission to use his own special rifle； a weapon accurately sighted for very long range。 While the regiment thus lay under the storm of shot and shell； he asked leave to go to the front； and for an hour afterward his companions heard his rifle crack every few minutes。 Major Hyde finally； from curiosity； crept forward to see what he was doing； and found that he had driven every man away from one section of a Confederate battery； tumbling over gunner after gunner as they came forward to fire。 One of his victims was a general officer； whose horse he killed。 At the end of an hour or so； a piece of shell took off the breech of his pet rifle； and he returned disconsolate； but after a few minutes he gathered three rifles that were left by wounded men； and went back again to his work。
At five o'clock in the afternoon the regiment was suddenly called upon to undertake a hopeless charge； owing to the blunder of the brigade commander； who was a gallant veteran of the Mexican war； but who was also given to drink。 Opposite the Union lines at this point were some haystacks； near a group of farm buildings。 They were right in the center of the Confederate position； and sharpshooters stationed among them were picking off the Union gunners。 The brigadier； thinking that they were held by but a few skirmishers； rode to where the 7th Maine was lying on the ground； and said： 〃Major Hyde； take your regiment and drive the enemy from those trees and buildings。〃 Hyde saluted； and said that he had seen a large force of rebels go in among the buildings； probably two brigades in all。 The brigadier answered； 〃Are you afraid to go； sir？〃 and repeated the order emphatically。 〃Give the order； so the regiment can hear it； and we are ready； sir；〃 said Hyde。 This was done； and 〃Attention〃 brought every man to his feet。 With the regiment were two young boys who carried the marking guidons； and Hyde ordered these to the rear。 They pretended to go； but as soon as the regiment charged came along with it。 One of them lost his arm； and the other was killed on the field。 The colors were carried by the color corporal； Harry Campbell。
Hyde gave the orders to left face and forward and the Maine men marched out in front of a Vermont regiment which lay beside them； then； facing to the front； they crossed a sunken road； which was so filled with dead and wounded Confederates that Hyde's horse had to step on them to get over。
Once across； they stopped for a moment in the trampled corn to straighten the line； and then charged toward the right of the barns。 On they went at the double…quick； fifteen skirmishers ahead under Lieutenant Butler； Major Hyde on the right on his Virginia thoroughbred； and Adjutant Haskell to the left on a big white horse。 The latter was shot down at once； as was his horse； and Hyde rode round in front of the regiment just in time to see a long line of men in gray rise from behind the stone wall of the Hagerstown pike； which was to their right； and pour in a volley； but it mostly went too high。 He then ordered his men to left oblique。
Just as they were abreast a hill to the right of the barns； Hyde； being some twenty feet ahead； looked over its top and saw several regiments of Confederates； jammed close together and waiting at the ready； so he gave the order left flank； and； still at the double quick； took his column past the barns and buildings toward an orchard on the hither side； hoping that he could get them back before they were cut off； for they were faced by ten times their number。 By going through the orchard he expected to be able to take advantage of a hollow； and partially escape the destructive flank fire on his return。
To hope to keep the barns from which they had driven the sharpshooters was vain； for the single Maine regiment found itself opposed to portions of no less than four Confederate brigades； at least a dozen regiments all told。 When the men got to the orchard fence； Sergeant Benson wrenched apart the tall pickets to let through Hyde's horse。 While he was doing this； a shot struck his haversack； and the men all laughed at the sight of the flying hardtack。
Going into the orchard there was a rise of ground； and the Confederates fired several volleys at the Maine men； and then charged them。 Hyde's horse was twice wounded； but was still able to go on。
No sooner were the men in blue beyond the fence than they got into line and met the Confederates； as they came crowding behind； with a slaughtering fire； and then charged； driving them back。 The color corporal was still carrying the colors； though one of his arms had been broken； but when half way through the orchard； Hyde heard him call out as he fell； and turned back to save the colors； if possible。
The apple…trees were short and thick； and he could not see much； and the Confederates speedily got between him and his men。 Immediately； with the cry of 〃Rally； boys； to save the Major；〃 back surged the regiment； and a volley at arm's length again destroyed all the foremost of their pursuers； so they rescued both their commander and the flag； which was carried off by Corporal Ring。
Hyde then formed the regiment on the colors； sixty…eight men all told； out of two hundred and forty who had begun the charge； and they slowly marched back toward their place in the Union line； while the New Yorkers and Vermonters rose from the ground cheering and waving their hats。 Next day； when the Confederates had retired a little from the field； the color corporal； Campbell； was found in the orchard； dead； propped up against a tree； with his half…smoked pipe beside him。
THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON
Like a servant of the Lord； with his bible and his sword； Our general rode along us； to form us for the fight。 Macaulay。
THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON
The Civil War has left； as all wars of brother against brother must leave； terrible and heartrending memories； but there remains as an offset the glory which has accrued to the nation by the countless deeds of heroism performed by both sides in the struggle。 The captains and the armies that； after long years of dreary campaigning and bloody； stubborn fighting； brought the war to a close； have left us more than a reunited realm。 North and South； all Americans； now have a common fund of glorious memories。 We are the richer for each grim campaign； for each hard…fought battle。 We are the richer for valor displayed alike by those who fought so valiantly for the right； and by those who； no less valiantly； fought for what they deemed the right。 We have in us nobler capacities for what is great and good because of the infinite woe and suffering； and because of the splendid ultimate triumph。 We hold that it was vital to the welfare； not only of our people on this continent； but of the whole human race； that the Union should be preserved and slavery abolished； that one flag should fly from the Great Lakes to the Rio Grande； that we should all be free in fact as well as in name； and that the United States should stand as one nationthe greatest nation on the earth。 But we recognize gladly that； South as well as North； when the fight was once on；
