HARD HIT ON THE FIELD. Peculiar Sensations Which Many Brave Man Has Experienced.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 385, 17 July 1889, Page 3

HARD HIT ON THE FIELD. Peculiar Sensations Which Many Brave Man Has Experienced.

, Wje had been held 'in reserve for five long hours, while cannon thundered and-mus'kets crackled spitetully along i'rt front, a 'mile, away. A r procession of dead and wounded had filed past us until we "were sick with horrcr. Shot and l shell and bullet had fallen upon us behind the woods,. 'until the dry, dead grass .bore -in any- a- stain. of blood. 'Attention ! Forward — -guide -right — -march !' Our brigade were going in at last, and there was a look of relief on the face of every oflicei and man as we got the word : * Guide right — front — forward — match !' As we swung clear of the woods a gust of wind raised the smoke for a minute, and I saw the plain in our front blue with dead and wounded. Away, beyond them was a line of earthworks, and •[ had one swift glimpse of a thin blue line kneeling" behind the cover. 'Steady! Right dress! Double quick — march !' The air is alive with the ping of bullets and ihe whiz and shriek of shot and phell. We bend our heads as if breasting a fierce gale laden with icy pellets. There is a wild cry — a shriek — a groan as men are struck and fall to the earth, but no one heeds them — no one hesitates It is a hurricane of death, bub we feel a wild exultation in breasting it. Men shout, cur&e, sing, swing their hats, and cheer. VV c are driving through the Hnoke cloud when there is a ilabh of fire in iront. I •seem to rise into the air and float hither and thither, ana the .sensation is so dicamy and full of iest that I wish it could las c for ever. It is suddenly broken by the &ound of my own voice. Is it my voice ? It sounds strange and afar oil to me. Why should I cheer and curse by turns ? What has happened ? Ah ! now [ come back to earth again ! Above and around me i.s the smoke — the earth trembles under the artillery —men are lying about and beside me. Where is the biigade? Why did I drop out? I am King on my back, and I struggle to sib up and look aiound. I rise to my kneesweave thi& way and that — topple over and struggle up again There is red, fresh blood on the grass — on my hands — on my face. I taste it on my lips as my parched tongue thrusts itself out in search -of moistuie. Who is -groaning? Who is shrieking? Who is cheeiing ? And why should I laugh and exult? Have we held the line againsta grand chai gc ? Did we scatter Scud decimate tho legions hurled against' u& ?• Havei we won a victory to be- flashed overj the country and cause the bells to ring" with gladness? Let me think. Give me time to remember how it all happened.. Strange that my thoughts should be. so confused and the desire to sleep besostrong"* upon me when I &hould be up and doing. I will shake it off. I will spring up and follow on after the brigade. Here ' "How do yon feel ?'* • " • My eyes aie wide open and I am lying on a cot in a large room. I see people walking about— cither people lying on" cots like my o\\ n. ■ '' 1 feel all right. Why ?' '- j ' You were hard hit in the tfffhf/'totir days ago, m\ boy^ ! . .*'' ' So theie was a battle ?' " ' Yes. ' ' And I was wounded ?' ' Had youi lettarm shattered by a piece of shell, and sve had to amputate it.'