. Bullet and shell. War as the soldier saw it; camp, march, and picket; battlefield and bivouac; prison and hospital. s the familiar ground was full ofinterest, but the pressure of so large an army had obliteratedall but the leading landmarks. By the end of a week it cameour turn to move to the front, and in the early days of AprUwe entered the eanip before Yorktown. Days of inactionlengthened into weeks, and we began wondering at the slowprogress made. The army was restive at being thus held inleash in sight of the enemy, though it willingly dug trenchesand hauled siege-guns to the batteries.
. Bullet and shell. War as the soldier saw it; camp, march, and picket; battlefield and bivouac; prison and hospital. s the familiar ground was full ofinterest, but the pressure of so large an army had obliteratedall but the leading landmarks. By the end of a week it cameour turn to move to the front, and in the early days of AprUwe entered the eanip before Yorktown. Days of inactionlengthened into weeks, and we began wondering at the slowprogress made. The army was restive at being thus held inleash in sight of the enemy, though it willingly dug trenchesand hauled siege-guns to the batteries. My Zouave comrades were restless at their confinement incamp: so it Avas with almost boyish delight that we received THROWING AWAY THE SCABBABD. 67 orders to go to the fortifications. A day was first spent in thewoods, learning how to make gabions and fascines; and the nextnight we were furnished witli shovels and pickaxes. The moonwas struggling behind a heavy bank of clouds as we silentlymarched over an old cornfield, until we reached the high bankof the York River, opposite Gloucester Point. With a few ^^. ^. .\ THE TKENCHES. whitewashed palings from a neighboring garden-fence the out-lines of our proposed battery were laid out in an orchard, andthe work of digging proceeded merrily. It was something todo at last; and the task was greeted as a positive pleasure. About midnight I was sitting on the edge of the long pit,quietly watching my platoon at work, when I became aware ofthe presence of a small group of officers, closely shrouded in 68 BULLET AND SHELL. their long night-cloaks. The uncertain light given by our lan-terns as they stood hidden in the pit afforded me no clew as tothe identity of these visitors, though I felt satisfied they wereof high rank. Good-evening, sergeant, said one of the group, in amusical voice: youre busy at work, I see. Yes, sir, I replied respectfully : the boys are doing verywell, considering. They have dug splendidly ; havent they, Marcy ? s
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Keywords: ., bookauthorwilmerri, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookyear1883
