The remnant of the Fifth Cavalry crawled back, shattered and broken, to
the protection of the batteries on the left. It was a small and
much-misreported incident; but of the 250 men who were in action only
about 100 returned from that bloody field. Not a few were captured, but
the greatest number fell in the first few minutes of that terrible
charge. They had done their duty.
The third battery of the Second Artillery, which had been saved from
premature retreat by the appearance of the lancers, kept up its fire for
some few minutes, and then, under command of General Cooke, fell back
toward the rear, the lancers guarding it as it limbered up and
retreated. As they reached a place of safety it was found that the
enemy's advance had been stopped again at the crest of the hill, and on
looking back it was seen that a brave handful of not more than one
hundred infantrymen who had stood their ground--they were part of the
Ninth Massachusetts--were fighting there so desperately that many times
their numbers had been checked. At once the lancers and the First
Cavalry were ordered to take up the position on the left of this little
band; but unfortunately, by some misunderstanding of the orders, they
advanced close upon their rear. Just as they disappeared in the smoke, a
single squadron of the Fourth Pennsylvania, under Colonel Childs,
reported to General Cooke. Immediately they were sent to the front, and
"with a precision and bravery that would have honored veterans," the
volunteers went down the hill under a hot fire of infantry. The advance
of the enemy was checked now on the left flank of the line of battle;
but the bravely fighting infantry and the new-comers suffered from the
fire of their friends as the Fifth Cavalry had done, and turning, they
retreated in good order. The infantry retreated at the same time, and
both formed in the hollow, safe from the volleys of the enemy and the
misdirected fire of the batteries on the enshrouded hill-side.
The Pennsylvania lancers, under Colonel Rush, lost 9 officers killed,
wounded, and missing, 92 rank and file, and 128 horses. The Fifth
Cavalry lost all their officers but one.
AN ANGLING THOUGHT.
BY JIMMIEBOY.
Each day I go a-fishing
For bull-head or for trout;
As long as I catch something
I'm not at all put out.
It may be perch or blue-fish,
It may be mackerel,
It may be cod or halibut--
I like 'em all full well.
I may not land a fish, sir,
Save minnow or sardine;
If I get one I'm happy
As any boy has been.
But I will tell a secret
Quite close unto my soul:
When I have gone a-fishing
I've always had one goal,
And that's some day to hook one
On river, lake, or sea,
To make a fight if I catch him,
Or if he catches me!
THE BROTHER OF STEFANOS.
BY G. B. BURGIN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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