Now and then he paused at some impediment: it was where the dead and
dying were piled so thickly as to compel him to make a detour. Now and
then he rested a moment to press his arm tighter against his torn and
open breast. The rain fell in such torrents, the evening shadows were
gathering so thickly, that they could scarcely trace his course, long
before it was ended.
Slowly, painfully, he dragged himself onward,--step by step down the
hill, inch by inch across the ground,--to the door of the hospital; and
then, while dying eyes brightened,--dying hands and even shattered
stumps were thrown into the air,--in brief, while dying men held back
their souls from the eternities to cheer him,--gasped out, "I did--but
do--my duty, boys,--and the dear--old flag--never once--touched the
ground,"--and then, away from the reach and sight of its foes, in the
midst of its defenders, who loved and were dying for it, the flag at
last fell.
* * * * *
Meanwhile, other troops had gone up to the encounter; other regiments
strove to win what these men had failed to gain; and through the night,
and the storm, and the terrific reception, did their gallant
endeavor--in vain.
* * * * *
The next day a flag of truce went up to beg the body of the heroic young
chief who had so led that marvellous assault. It came back without him.
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