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antagonistic in properties such daring culinary experiments in combining
materials never before attempted to be combined。 The French say of
untasteful arrangement of hues in dress 〃that the colors swear at each
other。〃 I have often thought the same thing of the heterogeneities that
go to make up a soldier's pot…a feu。
But for all that they never failed to taste deliciously after a long
day's ride。 They were washed down by a tincupful of coffee strong enough
to tan leather； then came a brier…wood pipeful of fragrant kinnikinnic；
and a seat by the ruddy； sparkling fire of aromatic cedar logs； that
diffused at once warmth； and spicy； pleasing incense。 A chat over the
events of the day； and the prospect of the morrow； the wonderful merits
of each man's horse； and the disgusting irregularities of the mails from
home； lasted until the silver…voiced bugle rang out the sweet； mournful
tattoo of the Regulations； to the flowing cadences of which the boys had
arranged the absurdly incongruous words：
〃S…a…yD…e…u…t…c…h…e…r…will…you fight…mit Sigel！
Zwei…glass of lager…bier； ja！ ja！ JA！
Words were fitted to all the calls； which generally bore some
relativeness to the sigmal； but these were as； destitute of congruity as
of sense。
Tattoo always produces an impression of extreme loneliness。 As its
weird； half…availing notes ring out and are answered back from the
distant rocks shrouded in night； and perhaps concealing the lurking foe；
the soldier remembers that he is far away from home and friendsdeep in
the enemy's country； encompassed on every hand by those in deadly
hostility to him； who are perhaps even then maturing the preparations for
his destruction。
As the tattoo sounds； the boys arise from around the fire； visit the
horse line； see that their horses are securely tied； rub off from the
fetlocks and legs such specks of mud as may have escaped the cleaning in
the early evening； and if possible； smuggle their faithful four…footed
friends a few ears of corn； or another bunch of hay。
If not too tired； and everything else is favorable； the cavalryman has
prepared himself a comfortable couch for the night。 He always sleeps
with a chum。 The two have gathered enough small tufts of pine or cedar
to make a comfortable； springy； mattress…like foundation。 On this is
laid the poncho or rubber blanket。 Next comes one of their overcoats；
and upon this they lie； covering themselves with the two blankets and the
other overcoat； their feet towards the fire； their boots at the foot； and
their belts； with revolver； saber and carbine； at the sides of the bed。
It is surprising what an amount of comfort a man can get out of such a
couch； and how； at an alarm； he springs from it； almost instantly dressed
and armed。
Half an hour after tattoo the bugle rings out another sadly sweet strain；
that hath a dying sound。
CHAPTER IV。
A BITTER COLD MORNING AND A WARM AWAKENINGTROUBLE ALL ALONG THE LINE
FIERCE CONFLICTS； ASSAULTS AND DEFENSEPROLONGED AND DESPERATE STRUGGLE
ENDING WITH A SURRENDER。
The night had been the most intensely cold that the country had known for
many years。 Peach and other tender trees had been killed by the frosty
rigor； and sentinels had been frozen to death in our neighborhood。 The
deep snow on which we made our beds； the icy covering of the streams near
us； the limbs of the trees above us； had been cracking with loud noises
all night； from the bitter cold。
We were camped around Jonesville； each of the four companies lying on one
of the roads leading from the town。 Company L lay about a mile from the
Court House。 On a knoll at the end of the village toward us； and at a
point where two roads separated；one of which led to us；stood a three…
inch Rodman rifle； belonging to the Twenty…second Ohio Battery。 It and
its squad of eighteen men； under command of Lieutenant Alger and Sergeant
Davis； had been sent up to us a few days before from the Gap。
The comfortless gray dawn was crawling sluggishly over the mountain…tops；
as if numb as the animal and vegetable life which had been shrinking all
the long hours under the fierce chill。
The Major's bugler had saluted the morn with the lively； ringing tarr…r…
r…a…ta…ara of the Regulation reveille； and the company buglers； as fast
as they could thaw out their mouth…pieces； were answering him。
I lay on my bed； dreading to get up； and yet not anxious to lie still。
It was a question which would be the more uncomfortable。 I turned over；
to see if there was not another position in which it would be warmer；
and began wishing for the thousandth time that the efforts for the
amelioration of the horrors of warfare would progress to such a point as
to put a stop to all Winter soldiering； so that a fellow could go home as
soon as cold weather began； sit around a comfortable stove in a country
store； and tell camp stories until the Spring was far enough advanced to
let him go back to the front wearing a straw hat and a linen duster。
Then I began wondering how much longer I would dare lie there； before the
Orderly Sergeant would draw me out by the heels； and accompany the
operation with numerous unkind and sulphurous remarks。
This cogitation； was abruptly terminated by hearing an excited shout from
the Captain：
〃Turn Out！COMPANY L！！ TURNOUT ！ ！ ！〃
Almost at the same instant rose that shrill； piercing Rebel yell； which
one who has once heard it rarely forgets； and this was followed by a
crashing volley from apparently a regiment of rifles。
I arose…promptly。
There was evidently something of more interest on hand than the weather。
Cap； overcoat； boots and revolver belt went on； and eyes opened at about
the same instant。
As I snatched up my carbine； I looked out in front； and the whole woods
appeared to be full of Rebels； rushing toward us； all yelling and some
firing。 My Captain and First Lieutenant had taken up position on the
right front of the tents； and part of the boys were running up to form a
line alongside them。 The Second Lieutenant had stationed himself on a
knoll on the left front； and about a third of the company was rallying
around him。
My chum was a silent； sententious sort of a chap； and as we ran forward
to the Captain's line； he remarked earnestly：
〃Well： this beats hell！〃
I thought he had a clear idea of the situation。
All this occupied an inappreciably short space of time。 The Rebels had
not stopped to reload； but were rushing impetuously toward us。 We gave
them a hot； rolling volley from our carbines。 Many fell； more stopped to
load and reply； but the mass surged straight forward at us。 Then our
fire grew so deadly that they showed a disposition to cover themselves
behind the rocks and trees。 Again they were urged forward； and a body of
them headed by their Colonel； mounted on a white horse； pushed forward
through the gap between us and the Second Lieutenant。 The Rebel Colonel
dashed up to the Second Lieutenant； and ordered him to surrender。 The
latter…a gallant old graybeardcursed the Rebel bitterly and snapped his
now empty revolver in his face。 The Colonel fired and killed him；
whereupon his squad； with two of its Sergeants killed and half its
numbers on the ground； surrendered。
The Rebels in our front and flank pressed us with equal closeness。
It seemed as if it was absolutely impossible to check their rush for an
instant； and as we saw the fate of our companions the Captain gave the
word for every man to look out for himself。 We ran back a little
distance； sprang over the fence into the fields； and rushed toward Town；
the Rebels encouraging us to make good time by a sharp fire into our
backs from the fence。
While we were vainly attempting to stem the onset of the column dashed
against us； better success was secured elsewhere。 Another column swept
down the other road； upon which there was only an outlying picket。 This
had to come back on the run before the overwhelming numbers； and the
Rebels galloped straight for the three…inch Rodman。 Company M was the
first to get saddled and mounted； and now came up at a steady； swinging
gallop； in two platoons； saber and revolver in hand； and led by two
Sergeants…Key and McWright；printer boys from Bloomington； Illinois。
They divined the object of the Rebel dash； and strained every nerve to
reach the gun first。 The Rebels were too near； and got the gun and
turned it。 Before they could fire it； Company M struck them headlong；
but they took the terrible impact without flinching； and for a few
minutes there was fierce hand…to…hand work； with sword and pistol。
The Rebel leader sank under a half…dozen simultaneous wounds； and fell
dead almost under the gun。 Men dropped from their horses each instant；
and the riderless steeds fled away。 The scale of victory was turned by
the Major dashing against the Rebel left flank at the head of Company I；
and a portion of the artillery squad。 The Rebels gave ground slowly；
and were packed into a dense mass in the lane up which they had charged。
After they had been crowded back； say fifty yards； word was passed
through our men to open to the right and left on the sides of the road。
The art