Short Story Classics (American) Vol. 2 | Page 7

just now he thought but of his duties.
"Gentlemen," he said, "I want you to see your field of battle. The
enemy occupy that long ridge. How shall we reach it?"
"I think, if we go at it straight from here, we shan't miss it," promptly
judged Old Crumps, his red-oak countenance admirably cheerful and
hopeful, and his jealousy all dissolved in the interest of approaching
combat.
"Nor they won't miss us nuther," laughed Major Gahogan. "Betther
slide our infantree into thim wuds, push up our skirmishers, play wid
our guns for an hour, an' thin rowl in a couple o' col'ms."
There was a general murmur of approval. The limits of volunteer
invention in tactics had been reached by Gahogan. The other regimental
commanders looked upon him as their superior in the art of war.
"That would be well, Major, if we could do nothing better," said
Waldron. "But I do not feel obliged to attack the front seriously at all.
The rebels have been thoughtless enough to leave that long semicircle
of wooded knolls unoccupied, even by scouts. It stretches from the
front of their centre clear around their right flank. I shall use it as a veil
to cover us while we get into position. I shall throw out a regiment, a
battery, and five companies of cavalry, to make a feint against their
centre and left. With the remainder of the brigade I shall skirt the
woods, double around the right of the position, and close in upon it
front and rear."
"Loike scissors blades upon a snip o' paper," shouted Gahogan, in

delight. Then he turned to Fitz Hugh, who happened to be nearest him,
and added, "I tell ye he's got the God o' War in um. He's the burrnin'
bussh of humanity, wid a God o' Battles inside on't."
"But how if they come down on our thin right wing?" asked a cautious
officer, Taylor, of the Eighth. They might smash it and seize our line of
retreat."
"Men who have taken up a strong position, a position obviously chosen
for defence, rarely quit it promptly for an attack," replied Waldron.
"There is not one chance in ten that these gentlemen will make a
considerable forward movement early in the fight. Only the greatest
geniuses jump from the defensive to the offensive. Besides, we must
hold the wood. So long as we hold the wood in front of their centre we
save the road."
Then came personal and detailed instructions. Each regimental
commander was told whither he should march, the point where he
should halt to form line, and the direction by which he should attack.
The mass of the command was to advance in marching column toward
a knoll where the highway entered and traversed the wood. Some time
before reaching it Taylor was to deploy the Eighth to the right, throw
out a strong skirmish line and open fire on the enemy's centre and left,
supported by the battery of Parrotts, and, if pushed, by five companies
of cavalry. The remaining troops would reach the knoll, file to the left
under cover of the forest, skirt it for a mile as rapidly as possible, infold
the right of the Confederate position, and then move upon it
concentrically. Counting from the left, the Tenth, the Seventh, and the
Fourteenth were to constitute the first line of battle, while five
companies of cavalry, then the First, and then the Fifth formed the
second line. Not until Gahogan might have time to wind into the
enemy's right rear should Gildersleeve move out of the wood and
commence the real attack.
"You will go straight at the front of their right," said Waldron, with a
gay smile, to this latter Colonel. "Send up two companies as
skirmishers. The moment they are clearly checked, lead up the other
eight in line. It will be rough work. But keep pushing. You won't have

fifteen minutes of it before Thomas, on your left, will be climbing the
end of the ridge to take the rebels in flank. In fifteen minutes more
Gahogan will be running in on their backs. Of course, they will try to
change front and meet us. But they have extended their line a long way
in order to cover the whole ridge. They will not be quick enough. We
shall get hold of their right, and we shall roll them up. Then, Colonel
Stilton, I shall expect to see the troopers jumping into the gaps and
making prisoners."
"All right, Colonel," answered Stilton in that hoarse growl which is apt
to mark the old cavalry officer. "Where shall we find you if we want a
fresh order?" "I shall be with Colburn, in rear of Gildersleeve. That is
our centre. But never mind me; you know