Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 2.djvu/229

 IN BATTLE AND N PRISON.

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��charge on Marye's Heights, that he will carry to his grave, and which end- ed his military career, but not his use- fulness ; for he is now a popular cler- gyman, a true soldier of the cross, set- tled in Philadelphia, I believe. Our progress was slow, and darkness inter- vened just as we reached a ravine lead- ing down to the narrow valley which skirts the river on that side. We biv- ouacked in our tracks, not being al- lowed to kindle fires. Back over the route we had come could be heard the rumble of artillery wagons and the tramp, tramp, of marching columns. In front, silence reigned. Orders are issued in a low tone ; and that stern composure which soldiers assume when about to encounter the enemy was apparent in the bearing of all. The officers gather around their adjutant, who is a favorite at brigade and divi- sion headquarters, to learn his views touching the movement. He thinks we are in lor a fight, and gives his opin- ion, as to Hooker's intentions. He is sanguine of success. — We have hardly closed our eyes in sleep, when some one calls out in a voice seemingly loud enough for the rebel pickets to hear, "Where is Colonel Blank?" "Here, sir," responds that officer, rubbing his eyes. "What's wanted?" "Gen. B. directs me to say that you are to march your regiment to the bank of the river, form in line of battle, and await further orders. You are to move ex- peditiously, with as little noise as possi- ble, following the pontoons." The or- der is obeyed ; the regiment marching away in almost spectral silence. De- bouching from the ravine, the darkness deepens, for a dense fog hangs over the valley of the Rhappahannock like a pall. We file past the pontoon train, from which the engineer corps are de- taching the boats, silently and with all the celerity possible — and stand up- on the river's brink. In our rear come other regiments, until our whole brigade is closed in line five regiments deep. — It was a critical time. I recall it well. The silence was almost oppressive ; or- ders were given in low tones, and noth- ing but the rattle of accoutrements

��broke the silence. The fog resembled a mirage. Objects a little way off took on gigantic proportions. I remember that a pontoon boat, borne on stout shoulders to the river's brink, resem- bled the immense hulk of a ship as it loomed into view, while at the distance of a few feet men took on colossal di- mensions. Meantime we are tolled off in detachments to occupy the pon- toons, along with the engineers who are to do the navigation, and our or- ders are to form instantly on reaching the other shore, dash forward and cap- ture the enemy's picket line, or what- ever force may be there to oppose us. At length there are sounds of commo- tion on the other side. The Johnnies suspect something. Splash ! goes a pontoon into the water, followed by a deep curse from the officer in charge, brave old Gen. Benham, who cannot restrain his rage over the carelessness of his men. Meanwhile the fog has been gradually rising, and the gray of dawn appears. More stir on the other side, a rattling of equipments, hurried com- mands — then a sharp challenge, (some of our scouts are nearly over), followed by a single musket discharge, then a vol- ley, and the whistle of bullets. Instinc- tively we do them low obeisance ; the lines waver for an instant, then firm- ness and silence. So heavy a fire was not anticipated. It told of a large re- serve which must have been brought up in expectation of an attack. All hope of a surprise was over. "Will the pon- toons never be launched?" Yes, Ben- ham "has done his duty, and into them we scramble and push off, each boat for itself. The stream is narrow at this point, but we are not swift enough to check another volley, which being bet- ter directed than the first, killed and wounded a number of our boys in the boats. Almost at the same instant our pontoon touches the shore. There is a rush, a charge, a brief struggle, and that picket guard is hors du combat. Quick- ly deploying on the bank we advance, but the enemy retires more quickly ; — and we have established a firm foot- hold, the pontoon bridge is laid, and the whole corps is streaming across as

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