The Deserter, and Other Stories

began a new tune-"The Faded Coat of Blue." The musicians themselves, huddled together under the shelter of a mound of rocks

these shadows ended, and a picture began that was ful

ars they were no part of it. Better a whole life spent in the shade, than

endless, moving human flood-filling it compactly from side to side, with ever a fresh wave of blue-coated men entering at the rear, where the s

ts perfection of rhythm just opposite the band. They were marching in e

ey drew close to the musicians, they fell into step instinctively, swung along in swaying unison

nd. The others, whether in van or rear, moved on with their hearing numbed by a ceaseless and terrible upr

, the drummers beat the strained sheepskins to burs

ove the artillery, and caught the step it was setting, hardly looked that way, but pushed forward

a dense cloud of smoke had spread upward to choke the morning light. While the bandsmen paused, blowing their

in before them seemed to be walking off into a fog, and the

halted. The regimental flags, with the color-guard, were just abreast of the band. The sergeant took out his knife to c

we get into the smoke," h

er to study the flags. He held his head t

o the sergeant, raising a clear, sharp young voice above the unive

will get holes in 'em, too," he returned, lifting his voi

Michiganders?"

hat we don't know our own mothers. We've got in with some New Yorkers that ain't got no more sense tha

though!" retorted the boy, his injured state pride ad

ose by laughed at his impudence, and he himself was grinning with a sense of successful repartee, when he felt a hand laid on his

be speaking loudly, the words fell very distinctly. "I've got a brother at home about your size. So have l

ling!" the drum

behind warned him. In another minute he was back in his place, and the band was

ung officer with the sad, gentle eyes, had passed downward out of sigh

re significantly new and clean. Everything about them showed that they were going under fire for the first time, though they pushed forward as stoutly as veteran

band. Their figures, with broad hats and big-cuffed gauntlets, had grown indistinct against the sky as the smoke thic

, were hastily brought forward, and the general and his sta

covers of ambulance-wagons and the train. Into the thick of this straggling mass General Boyce, sitting splendidly erect and with a bold smile on his

the ravine path; but the big wagons, as they came, halted, and were drawn off into the field to the left. Tall poles we

around it, like little mushrooms about the parent stool, a number of smaller tents, some square, s

big one. In one way it recalled those preparations on the old circus-ground at home

sy bringing from the wagons rolls of blankets and huge trusses of straw. Even before th

not soldiers at all, were directing everything now. Among them, here and there,

was alone enough to throw a solemn meaning over this long, barn-like house of ropes and cloths. It was the brigad

themselves, forming the rear-guard of the great army, had been nearly the last to cross the Rapidan on the swinging pontoon bridge of Germania ford. They had had a night's forced m

ished, and their strength distributed among the three remaining corps. Regiments found themselves suddenly torn from their old associates, and

aders had been entrapped into this Wilderness fighting. Certainly i

oak, dwarf junipers, and tangled cedars and pines, all knit together breast-high

y were fighting. Whole commands were lost in the impenetrable woods. Mounted orderlie

keen-eyed staff might perch themselves and get an idea of how the land about them lay. The Confederates had plenty of this local kn

the other instruments were, and started off up the ridge, to see wha

wn a good deal. There were still angry outbursts, but one had to wait for them now; and a new kind of no

rs which completely shut out his view. From the roots of the farther bushes the hillside dropped

overhung the ravine like a balcony. He had not thought he was so high up. The other side of the gulf spread ou

nded in mid-air. He drew back a little. Then curiosity got the upper hand. He laid himself

as under forest, began to be apparent to him, his ears were still the best guide to what was going on. The confused sound of men

. Some were hanging to the trunks by their bark; everywhere the splinters were white and fresh. Now that he listened mor

the same moment a swift ringing buzz sounded just over his head, and a bunch

en him and that murderous ravine. Then, getting to his feet, he looked amazed down upon the brigade camp, which he had left an

e road to the left under drivers who stood up to lash their teams.

ups of the team horses, pulled along by their bunched reins. The people on foot-doctors,

self, and were advancing upon the camp at a sharp run. They seemed dressed in a sort of mud-colored uniform, and they raised a sharp whoop of tri

had begun overhauling the captured wagons, and were tossing out loaves of bread and hardtack boxes, which their com

e ridge, away from the camp, and had rushed up to him, his eyes starting from his head with excitement. H

at the boy, then shook his head d

e managed to groan. "

cried the bo

f smoke told that they were being fired at. Though they were probably beyond range

he old band wagon? I couldn't see fr

oudly forth the ebony stock with its silver keys, which he had been w

or. The rock on which they crouched had stirred from its foundations, and as the two instincti