Winning His Way

by Charles Carleton Coffin

  CHAPTER XIV.

  THE BATTLE.

  In the morning he found General Grant in a little old farm-house, wherehe had established his head-quarters. He appeared to be pleased with themap which Paul made of the ground, and said to Major Cavender, whocommanded the regiment of Missouri Artillery, "Place your guns on thathill, and be ready to open upon the fort." He issued orders to GeneralMcClernand to go round to the southwest side of the town; to GeneralWallace, to hold the centre of the line, west of the town; and toGeneral Smith, to be ready to storm the fort on the northwest side.

  It was a beautiful morning. The air was mild, and the birds sang in thetrees though it was mid-winter. The sharpshooters ate their breakfastbefore sunrise, and began the battle by exchanging shots with the Rebelpickets. Though Paul had been up all night, there was no time for rest.He was sent with orders to the artillery officers,--to Captain Taylor,Captain Dresser, and Captain Schwartz, telling them where to place theirguns. As he rode over the hills and through the ravines, he passed thesharpshooters. Their rifles were cracking merrily. Among them was thesoldier whom Paul had helped on the march. The soldier saluted him. Paulsaw that he was not only foot-sore, but also sick.

  "You are not fit to go into battle; you ought to report to the surgeon,"said Paul.

  "I wouldn't miss of being in this scrimmage that we are going to haveto-day for the best farm in Illinois," said the soldier.

  Just then, the rebel cannon opened, and the shells came crashing throughthe front. Major Cavender had wheeled his guns into position, and wassighting them. One of the shells struck at his feet, and ploughed a deepfurrow in the ground. Another struck a poor fellow in the breast,whirled him into the air, spattering his blood upon those who stoodaround, killing him instantly. As Paul beheld the quivering flesh, thesight filled him with horror, and made him sick at heart. Such might behis fate before the day was done. He thought of home,--of his mother, ofAzalia, and of the dear friends far away. He thought also of God, andthe hereafter; but remembered that he was in the keeping of his HeavenlyFather. He was there to do his duty, and if he was to meet with death,would meet it resolutely; and so, regaining his composure, rode calmlyalong the lines, acting as aid to General Grant doing the dutiesassigned him.

  The battle lasted through the day, but the fort was not taken. Thegunboats which were to sail up the Cumberland River had not arrived, andthe provisions which the troops brought from Fort Henry were nearlyexhausted. The day which had been so bright and beautiful was succeededby a dreary night. The wind blew from the northeast. A rainstorm set in,which changed to snow, and became one of the severest storms ever knownin that section of the country. It was a terrible night for the wounded.They had no protection from the storm. Hundreds had fallen during theday. Some were lying where they fell, close up under the Rebelbreastworks, amid the tangled thickets, the blood oozing from theirwounds and staining the drifting snow. It was heart-rending to heartheir wailings, and cries of distress, and calls for help. When morningcame, many a brave soldier was frozen to the ground. When Paul saw theterrible suffering, he felt that he was willing to make any sacrifice toput a stop to such horrors. But then he remembered that Justice, Truth,and Righteousness are more valuable than human life, and that it isbetter to fight for them than to yield to injustice and wickedness.

  But now the hearts of the soldiers were cheered with the news that thegunboats were coming. Paul looked down the river and saw a cloud ofblack smoke hanging over the forest, rising from their tall chimneys.Steamboats loaded with provisions came with the fleet. The soldiersswung their caps, and made the air ring with their lusty cheers.

  What a magnificent sight it was when the gunboats steamed up the riverand opened fire upon the fort, covering themselves with clouds of smokeand flame, and all of the guns in the fort replying! The storm had diedaway, the air was still, and the roar of the cannonade was like thunder.All along the lines the sharpshooters' rifles were ringing. The soldierscrouched behind trees and logs and hillocks, lying on their faces,picking off the Rebel gunners when they attempted to load their cannon.But the day passed and the fort was not taken. Saturday morning came,and the Rebels, finding themselves short of provisions, instead ofwaiting to be attacked, came out from the fort at daybreak, fifteenthousand strong, and made a sudden attack upon the Union army.

  A great battle followed, which lasted nearly all day. Thousands werekilled and wounded. Paul was obliged to ride all over the field,carrying orders to the different generals, while the bullets fell likehailstones around him. Cannon-balls flew past him, shells exploded overhis head, men fell near him, but he was unharmed. He saw with grief hiscomrades overpowered and driven, and could hardly keep back the tearswhen he saw the Rebels capture some of Captain Schwartz's guns. But whenthe infantry gave way and fled panic-stricken along the road towardsFort Henry, throwing away their muskets, his indignation was aroused.

  "Stop! or I'll shoot you," he said, drawing his revolver.

  "A'n't you ashamed of yourselves, you cowards?" shouted one bravesoldier.

  Paul looked round to see who it was, and discovered his friend thesharpshooter, who thus aided him in rallying the fugitives. Blood wasdripping from his fingers. A ball had passed through one arm, but he hadtied his handkerchief over the wound, and was on his way back to thelines to take part once more in the battle. Paul thanked the noblefellow for helping him, and then, with the aid of other officers, theyrallied the fugitives till reinforcements came.

  Onward came the Rebels, flushed with success, and thinking to win aglorious victory; but they were cut down with shells and canister, andby the volleys of musketry which were poured upon them. It was withgreat satisfaction that Paul saw the shells tear through the Rebelranks; not that he liked to see men killed, but because he wanted Rightto triumph over Wrong. Again and again the Rebels marched up the hill,but were as often swept back by the terrible fire which burst fromCaptain Wood's, Captain Willard's, Captain Taylor's, and CaptainDresser's batteries. The little brook which trickled through the ravineat the foot of the hill was red with the blood of the slain. It was afearful sight. But the Rebels at last gave up the attempt to drive theUnion troops from the hill, and went back into the fort. Then in theafternoon there was a grand charge upon the Rebel breastworks. With awild hurrah they carried the old flag across the ravine, and up the hillbeyond, over fallen trees and through thick underbrush. Men dropped fromthe ranks in scores, but on--on--on they went, driving the Rebels,planting the stars and stripes on the works; and though the Rebelregiments in the fort rained solid shot and shell and grape and canisterand musket-balls upon them, yet they held the ground through the long,weary, dreary winter night. When the dawn came, the dawn of Sunday, theysaw a white flag flung out from the parapet of the fort, and they knewthat the enemy had surrendered. What a cheer they gave! They swung theirhats, sang songs, and danced for joy. How beautifully the stars andstripes waved in the morning breeze! How proudly they marched into thefort and into the town,--the drums beating, the bugles sounding, and thebands playing!

  But how horrible the sight upon the field when the contest wasover,--the dead, some cold and ghastly, others still warm with departinglife, lying with their faces toward heaven, smiling as if only asleep!The ground was strewn with guns, knapsacks, and blood-stained garments;the snow had changed to crimson. Many wounded were lying where theyfell, some whose lives were ebbing away calmly waiting the coming ofdeath. As Paul walked over the field he came upon one lying with claspedhands and closed eyes, whose blood was flowing from a ghastly wound inhis breast. As Paul stopped to gaze a moment upon a countenance whichseemed familiar, the soldier opened his eyes and smiled; then Paul sawthat it was the brave sharpshooter whom he had helped on the march, who,though sick, would not go into the hospital, though wounded, would notleave the field, and had aided him in rallying the fugitives. He hadfought gallantly through the battle, and received his death-wound in thelast grand charge.

  "I am glad you have come, for I know that one who was kind enough toh
elp a poor fellow on the march will be willing to do one thing more,"said the soldier, faintly.

  "Certainly. What can I do for you?"

  "Not much, only I would like to have you overhaul my knapsack for me."

  Paul unstrapped the knapsack from the soldier's back, and opened it.

  "There is a picture in there which I want to look at once more before Idie. You will find it in my Bible."

  Paul handed him the Bible.

  "My mother gave me this blessed book the day I left home to join thearmy. It was her last gift. I promised to read it every day, and I wouldlike to have you write to her and tell her that I have kept my promise.Tell her that I have tried to do my duty to my country and to my God. Iwould like to live, but am not afraid to die, and am not sorry that Ienlisted. Write to my sister. She is a sweet girl,--I can see hernow,--a bright-eyed, light-hearted, joyous creature. O, how she willmiss me! Tell her to plant a rose-bush in the garden and call it myrose, that little Eddie, when he grows up, may remember that his eldestbrother died for his country. They live away up in Wisconsin."

  He took a photograph from the Bible. It was the picture of adark-haired, black-eyed, fair-featured girl, and he gazed upon it tillthe tears rolled down his cheeks. He drew his brawny hand across hisface and wiped them away, but the effort started the bright bloodflowing in a fresher stream. "It is hard to part from her. She promisedto be my wife when I came home from the war," he said, and touched it tohis lips, then gazed again till his sight grew dim. He laid it with theBible on his breast.

  Paul wiped the cold sweat from the soldier's brow.

  "God bless you," he whispered, and looked up and smiled. His eyesclosed, and the slowly heaving heart stood still. He was gone to theland where the Faithful and True receive their just reward.