THE WEST SHORE. 217 the advancing rebels, checking them in their impetu- ous charge. " Forward ! " was sounded from the bu gle in clarion tones, and the men sprang forward with fixed bayonets, stopping the hitherto exulting rebels, and starting them on the run to the rear, now as thor oughly panic stricken as the Union regiments they had just routed. Back, far back, into the woods the Union boys drove them, capturing hundreds of pris oners and several pieces of artillery. The great battle of Chickamauga had commenced. Regiment after regiment, brigade, division and corps were now ordered into the fight All was confusion. Men, with blood streaming from wounds, came to the rear, riderless horses galloped over the battle field neighing for the masters who had been shot from their backs, artillery horses, with their harness still on, ran aimlessly about, leaping over the prostrate forms of the dead and wounded, and men loo coward ly to remain in front with their comrades fled to the rear for safety. From early morn until darkness put a stop to the fighting, the battle raged with unabated fury. Mingled with the roar of a thousand cannon, belching from their fiery throats both shot and shell, were loud vollies of musketry discharged into the ad vancing columns, mowing them down like grain bo fore the harvester's sickle. Add to this the loud blasts of the bugle, the Bhrieks and groans of the wounded and dying, and you have a scene seldom witnessed by man. Our hero, with his band of faithful followers, was in the thickest of the fight We find him, near the close of the first day's battle, with his ranks terribly depleted, many of his brave men scattered over tho field, killed or wounded, while some had fallen into the hands of the enemy. As the awful day drew to a close, the western horizon became crimsoned with brilliant hues, and the setting sun, castiDg its rays upm the blood-stained battle field, kissed tho pale, upturned faces of the thousands of heroes who had poured out their life blood for their country. And as the survivors gazed upon this ghastly scene they knew full well that ere night should wrap the field within her sable mantle many more of their number would lie beside their dead comrades, for tho work of death was not yet ended. Captain Norwood's command was ordered to a point of timber some distance in advanco of the main lino of battle, with orders to hold it Tho sun was sinking to rest behind the western hills, when tho young officer gave orders for his command to ad vance, They at onco moved forward into on open field, across which they quickly charged amidst a shower of bullets; but as they neared tho edge of tho timber they were met with a withering fire from tho enemy, who were lying ou tho ground concealed from view. Tho word waa given to charge, and with fixed bayonets they rushed upon tho foe. Tho rebels, not being in sufficient numbers to withstand tho onslaught, fled, leaving Captain Nor wood in possession of tho woods. His victory was of short duration, however, for, procuring assistance, tho enemy soon returned to tho attack. Captain Nor wood, seeing them leavo their position and movo for ward, ordered his men to lie down and not dischargo their pieces until ho gavo tho command to fire. On they came, through tho brush, yolling like devils in carnate. " Fire I " cried tho young officer, as they arrived within a few yards of his intuition. Tho men sent a well-directed volley into tho charging ranks, check ing them for a moment Springing to his foot, Cap tain Norwood shouted: "Oho them tho bayonet 1" At tho word each man sprang up, and with leveled musket rushed upon tho enemy. What a grand sight to see thoso heroic men, fight ing hand to hand with men as bravo as they I Steel met steel in deadly conflict, tho Union lino am! tho rebel gray lay thick upon tho ground side by side forgetting in their death that thoy wero enemies. Two-thirds of tho gallant band of defenders of tho Union had been killed or disabled. Finding himself surrounded and no support coming to his ftitniicr, and knowing that ho was largely outnumbered, and could hold out but a short time, Captain Norwood de. cided to surrender in order to savn tho lives of tho rest of his men. It was a soro trial to tho ambitious young officer, but as ho saw his men falling around him, with no hojo of assistance ho struck his colors and handed over his sword, crimsoned with tho blood of his foe. Never did man go to his prison o il with a heavier heart than throbbed in tho Irmt of Cap tain Norwood a ho marched under guard to tho rear of tho rell army. On tho night after tho second day's battle tho palo moon shown out over tho gory field, casting sickening shadows upon tho contending armiea, as they lay lir ouacked where they Lad fought, waiting tho dawn of another day, that they might renew tho conflict Re lief parties of loth armies wero wandering over tho lattlo field in search of some musing comrade spd as they met each other in the darkness they It Id friend ly intercourse, talking of tho incidents snd scenes of tho day just closed. Tho lilent midnight watch had been posted, snd tho croaking raven, lurched n tall, shot-riven pine in mournful cadence sung a re quiem o'er tho illustrious deaL Onco more we find tho two vultures stealing from a deep ratine sotno distance in tho rear of tho Union army, where they Lad concealed throw-It ts during