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