. Redeeming the republic : the third period of the war of the rebellion, in the year 1864 . the air, as with steady tread he confidently ad-vanced, looking only to the front and oblivious to his isolation. Amazedat his persistence, our men withheld their fire and called to him to goback; but he did not hear, or if perchance he did, he did not take hisorders from our side. However that may be, he gave no sign, and allalone, with not a comrade in sight, he came unfalteringly on. Not evendesiring to capture so brave a fellow, our men in gray mounted the works, FKOM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 1
. Redeeming the republic : the third period of the war of the rebellion, in the year 1864 . the air, as with steady tread he confidently ad-vanced, looking only to the front and oblivious to his isolation. Amazedat his persistence, our men withheld their fire and called to him to goback; but he did not hear, or if perchance he did, he did not take hisorders from our side. However that may be, he gave no sign, and allalone, with not a comrade in sight, he came unfalteringly on. Not evendesiring to capture so brave a fellow, our men in gray mounted the works, FKOM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 195 and waving their hats to attract his attention, fairly shrieked, in their in-tense admiration and excitement, Go back! go back! We dont wantto kill you! Go back! Then this man of iron halted, looked care-fully to his right hand as he surveyed the field, and then as carefully tohis left—not a man of his regiment in sight! It would have been no dis-grace to have dropped or hurried back as fast as he could. Admirablecourage! He did neither, nor was there a show of any anxiety. He took. BOMB-PROOF SHELTER. his flag-staff from its socket, rolled up his color with provoking deliberate-ness in our faces—the dipping of it we thought an unconscious tribute toour forbearance—and when done, touched his cap to us in grateful appre-ciation. A right-shoulder shift, an about face, and then began his marchback to his own lines with a step as steady as had been his advance. Hehad quite bewitched us by his nerve, but the spell was broken as he turned,and, tremulous with excitement, we threw up our hats and yelled in admi- 196 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. ration until his retiring figure was lost in the deep recesses of the far-awaylines. (24) The soldiers, in charging over the fields of Cold Harbor, swept byConfederate cannon and musketry, knew that many men must necessarilydie, but there was no faltering. In no battle was there a more patheticexhibition of devotion to the flag they loved. C
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