Chapter 22

When the woods again began to pour forth the dark-hued masses of the enemy the youth felt serene self-confidence. He smiled briefly when he saw men dodge and duck at the long screechings of shells that were thrown in giant handfuls over them. He stood, erect and tranquil, watching the attack begin against a part of the line that made a blue curve along the side of an adjacent hill. His vision being unmolested by smoke from the rifles of his companions, he had opportunities to see parts of the hard fight. It was a relief to perceive at last from whence came some of these noises which had been roared into his ears.

When the woods again poured out dark masses of enemy soldiers, the young man felt calm and confident. He smiled briefly as men dodged and ducked beneath shells that screeched overhead, thrown in giant handfuls. He stood upright and calm, watching the attack begin against part of the line. The line made a blue curve along the side of a nearby hill. Smoke from his companions’ rifles did not block his view, so he could see parts of the fierce fight. He was relieved to see at last where some of the noises roaring in his ears came from.

Off a short way he saw two regiments fighting a little separate battle with two other regiments. It was in a cleared space, wearing a set-apart look. They were blazing as if upon a wager, giving and taking tremendous blows. The firings were incredibly fierce and rapid. These intent regiments apparently were oblivious of all larger purposes of war, and were slugging each other as if at a matched game.

A short distance away, he saw two regiments fighting a separate little battle against two others. They were in a clearing that looked set apart. They fired as if on a bet, giving and taking tremendous blows. The firing was incredibly fierce and rapid. The focused regiments seemed unaware of all the larger purposes of war. They were slugging it out as if in a matched game.

In another direction he saw a magnificent brigade going with the evident intention of driving the enemy from a wood. They passed in out of sight and presently there was a most awe-inspiring racket in the wood. The noise was unspeakable. Having stirred this prodigious uproar, and, apparently, finding it too prodigious, the brigade, after a little time, came marching airily out again with its fine formation in nowise disturbed. There were no traces of speed in its movements. The brigade was jaunty and seemed to point a proud thumb at the yelling wood.

In another direction, he saw a magnificent brigade apparently heading to drive the enemy out of a wood. The brigade passed out of sight, and soon an awe-inspiring racket arose in the wood. The noise was indescribable. After stirring up this enormous uproar, the brigade apparently found it too enormous. Before long, the soldiers marched casually out again, their fine formation undisturbed. They showed no sign of hurrying. The brigade was jaunty and seemed to point a proud thumb at the yelling wood.

On a slope to the left there was a long row of guns, gruff and maddened, denouncing the enemy, who, down through the woods, were forming for another attack in the pitiless monotony of conflicts. The round red discharges from the guns made a crimson flare and a high, thick smoke. Occasional glimpses could be caught of groups of the toiling artillerymen. In the rear of this row of guns stood a house, calm and white, amid bursting shells. A congregation of horses, tied to a long railing, were tugging frenziedly at their bridles. Men were running hither and thither.

On a slope to the left, a long row of guns roared angrily at the enemy. Down in the woods, the enemy was forming for another attack, part of the relentless monotony of battle. The guns fired round red blasts, making crimson flashes and clouds of thick smoke overhead. Now and then, groups of artillerymen could be seen working hard. Behind the row of guns stood a house, calm and white amid the bursting shells. A group of horses tied to a long railing tugged frantically at their bridles. Men ran back and forth.

The detached battle between the four regiments lasted for some time. There chanced to be no interference, and they settled their dispute by themselves. They struck savagely and powerfully at each other for a period of minutes, and then the lighter-hued regiments faltered and drew back, leaving the dark-blue lines shouting. The youth could see the two flags shaking with laughter amid the smoke remnants.

The separate battle between the four regiments lasted for some time. No one interfered, and the regiments settled their dispute alone. For several minutes, they struck at each other fiercely and forcefully. Then the lighter-colored regiments faltered and fell back, leaving the dark-blue lines shouting. The youth could see the two flags shaking with laughter amid the remaining smoke.

Presently there was a stillness, pregnant with meaning. The blue lines shifted and changed a trifle and stared expectantly at the silent woods and fields before them. The hush was solemn and churchlike, save for a distant battery that, evidently unable to remain quiet, sent a faint rolling thunder over the ground. It irritated, like the noises of unimpressed boys. The men imagined that it would prevent their perched ears from hearing the first words of the new battle.

Soon, a silence fell, heavy with meaning. The lines of blue-clad soldiers shifted slightly, watching the silent woods and fields ahead expectantly. The hush was solemn, like a church, except for a distant artillery battery. Apparently unable to stay quiet, the battery sent a faint rolling thunder across the ground. The sound was irritating, like the noise of boys who were not impressed. The men imagined that it would keep their straining ears from hearing the first words of the new battle.

Of a sudden the guns on the slope roared out a message of warning. A spluttering sound had begun in the woods. It swelled with amazing speed to a profound clamor that involved the earth in noises. The splitting crashes swept along the lines until an interminable roar was developed. To those in the midst of it it became a din fitted to the universe. It was the whirring and thumping of gigantic machinery, complications among the smaller stars. The youth’s ears were filled cups. They were incapable of hearing more.

Suddenly, the guns on the slope roared out a warning. A sputtering sound had begun in the woods. It grew with amazing speed into a deep clamor that filled the earth with noise. The sharp crashes swept along the lines until they became an endless roar. To those caught in the middle, the noise seemed vast enough to fill the universe. It sounded like giant machinery whirring and pounding, like turmoil among the smaller stars. The youth’s ears were like full cups. They could take in no more sound.

On an incline over which a road wound he saw wild and desperate rushes of men perpetually backward and forward in riotous surges. These parts of the opposing armies were two long waves that pitched upon each other madly at dictated points. To and fro they swelled. Sometimes, one side by its yells and cheers would proclaim decisive blows, but a moment later the other side would be all yells and cheers. Once the youth saw a spray of light forms go in houndlike leaps toward the waving blue lines. There was much howling, and presently it went away with a vast mouthful of prisoners. Again, he saw a blue wave dash with such thunderous force against a gray obstruction that it seemed to clear the earth of it and leave nothing but trampled sod. And always in their swift and deadly rushes to and fro the men screamed and yelled like maniacs.

On a slope crossed by a winding road, he saw men rushing wildly and desperately back and forth in chaotic surges. These parts of the opposing armies were two long waves crashing madly against each other at set points. They swelled back and forth. Sometimes, one side would announce decisive blows with yells and cheers. But a moment later, the other side would be all yells and cheers. Once, the youth saw a spray of light figures leap like hounds toward the waving blue lines. There was much howling, and soon the spray retreated with a vast mouthful of prisoners. Again, he saw a blue wave crash against a gray barrier with thunderous force. It seemed to clear the barrier from the earth, leaving nothing but trampled ground. And always, as the men rushed swiftly and deadly back and forth, they screamed and yelled like maniacs.

Particular pieces of fence or secure positions behind collections of trees were wrangled over, as gold thrones or pearl bedsteads. There were desperate lunges at these chosen spots seemingly every instant, and most of them were bandied like light toys between the contending forces. The youth could not tell from the battle flags flying like crimson foam in many directions which color of cloth was winning.

The soldiers fought over particular sections of fence and sheltered spots behind clusters of trees as if they were gold thrones or pearl bedsteads. Desperate attacks on these chosen spots seemed to come every moment. Most of the spots passed between the opposing forces like light toys. Battle flags flew in many directions like crimson foam. The youth could not tell which color was winning.

His emaciated regiment bustled forth with undiminished fierceness when its time came. When assaulted again by bullets, the men burst out in a barbaric cry of rage and pain. They bent their heads in aims of intent hatred behind the projected hammers of their guns. Their ramrods clanged loud with fury as their eager arms pounded the cartridges into the rifle barrels. The front of the regiment was a smoke-wall penetrated by the flashing points of yellow and red.

When its time came, his depleted regiment rushed forward with undiminished ferocity. When bullets struck again, the men burst into a savage cry of rage and pain. They lowered their heads behind the raised hammers of their guns and aimed with fierce hatred. Their ramrods clanged furiously as their eager arms pounded cartridges into the rifle barrels. A wall of smoke filled the front of the regiment, pierced by flashes of yellow and red.

Wallowing in the fight, they were in an astonishingly short time resmudged. They surpassed in stain and dirt all their previous appearances. Moving to and fro with strained exertion, jabbering all the while, they were, with their swaying bodies, black faces, and glowing eyes, like strange and ugly fiends jigging heavily in the smoke.

As they fought, they became smeared with dirt again in an astonishingly short time. They were dirtier and more stained than ever before. They moved back and forth with great effort, chattering all the while. With their swaying bodies, black faces, and glowing eyes, they looked like strange, ugly demons dancing heavily in the smoke.

The lieutenant, returning from a tour after a bandage, produced from a hidden receptacle of his mind new and portentous oaths suited to the emergency. Strings of expletives he swung lashlike over the backs of his men, and it was evident that his previous efforts had in nowise impaired his resources.

The lieutenant returned from looking for a bandage. From a hidden corner of his mind, he pulled out new, fearsome curses suited to the emergency. He swung strings of curses over his men’s backs like a whip. Clearly, his earlier efforts had not depleted his supply.

The youth, still the bearer of the colors, did not feel his idleness. He was deeply absorbed as a spectator. The crash and swing of the great drama made him lean forward, intent-eyed, his face working in small contortions. Sometimes he prattled, words coming unconsciously from him in grotesque exclamations. He did not know that he breathed; that the flag hung silently over him, so absorbed was he.

The young soldier, still carrying the flag, did not notice that he was idle. He was completely absorbed in watching. The crashing, sweeping drama made him lean forward, his eyes fixed on the scene and his face twisting slightly. At times, he chattered, blurting out strange exclamations without realizing it. He was so absorbed that he was unaware of his own breathing or the flag hanging silently over him.

A formidable line of the enemy came within dangerous range. They could be seen plainly—tall, gaunt men with excited faces running with long strides toward a wandering fence.

A formidable line of enemy soldiers came dangerously close. They were clearly visible: tall, thin men with excited faces, running in long strides toward a winding fence.

At sight of this danger the men suddenly ceased their cursing monotone. There was an instant of strained silence before they threw up their rifles and fired a plumping volley at the foes. There had been no order given; the men, upon recognizing the menace, had immediately let drive their flock of bullets without waiting for word of command.

When the men saw the danger, their steady stream of curses suddenly stopped. There was a moment of tense silence. Then they raised their rifles and fired a heavy volley at the enemy. No order had been given. The men had recognized the threat and immediately fired their bullets without waiting for a command.

But the enemy were quick to gain the protection of the wandering line of fence. They slid down behind it with remarkable celerity, and from this position they began briskly to slice up the blue men.

But the enemy quickly reached the cover of the winding fence. They slid behind it with remarkable speed. From there, they began firing rapidly at the men in blue, cutting them down.

These latter braced their energies for a great struggle. Often, white clinched teeth shone from the dusky faces. Many heads surged to and fro, floating upon a pale sea of smoke. Those behind the fence frequently shouted and yelped in taunts and gibelike cries, but the regiment maintained a stressed silence. Perhaps, at this new assault the men recalled the fact that they had been named mud diggers, and it made their situation thrice bitter. They were breathlessly intent upon keeping the ground and thrusting away the rejoicing body of the enemy. They fought swiftly and with a despairing savageness denoted in their expressions.

The men of the regiment prepared themselves for a great struggle. White, clenched teeth often shone in their darkened faces. Many heads swayed back and forth, floating on a pale sea of smoke. Those behind the fence often shouted and jeered, but the regiment kept a strained silence. Perhaps the new attack reminded the men that they had been called mud diggers, making their situation three times as bitter. They were breathlessly focused on holding their ground and driving back the rejoicing enemy. They fought swiftly, and their expressions showed a desperate savagery.

The youth had resolved not to budge whatever should happen. Some arrows of scorn that had buried themselves in his heart had generated strange and unspeakable hatred. It was clear to him that his final and absolute revenge was to be achieved by his dead body lying, torn and gluttering, upon the field. This was to be a poignant retaliation upon the officer who had said “mule drivers,” and later “mud diggers,” for in all the wild graspings of his mind for a unit responsible for his sufferings and commotions he always seized upon the man who had dubbed him wrongly. And it was his idea, vaguely formulated, that his corpse would be for those eyes a great and salt reproach.

The young soldier had resolved not to move, whatever happened. Some cruel insults had pierced his heart and stirred a strange, unspeakable hatred. He saw clearly how he would have his final, complete revenge: his dead body would lie torn and shining on the battlefield. This would be a painful retaliation against the officer who had called them “mule drivers” and later “mud diggers.” In all his frantic attempts to find someone responsible for his suffering and turmoil, he always settled on the man who had wrongly labeled him. He had a vague idea that the sight of his corpse would be a bitter reproach to the officer.

The regiment bled extravagantly. Grunting bundles of blue began to drop. The orderly sergeant of the youth’s company was shot through the cheeks. Its supports being injured, his jaw hung afar down, disclosing in the wide cavern of his mouth a pulsing mass of blood and teeth. And with it all he made attempts to cry out. In his endeavor there was a dreadful earnestness, as if he conceived that one great shriek would make him well.

The regiment bled heavily. Grunting bundles of blue began to fall. The orderly sergeant of the young soldier’s company was shot through both cheeks. The structures supporting his jaw were damaged, so it hung far down. In the wide cavern of his mouth, a mass of blood and teeth pulsed. Through it all, he tried to cry out. He tried with a dreadful determination, as if he believed one great shriek would make him well.

The youth saw him presently go rearward. His strength seemed in nowise impaired. He ran swiftly, casting wild glances for succor.

The young man soon saw him go toward the rear. His strength seemed completely unimpaired. He ran swiftly, looking around wildly for help.

Others fell down about the feet of their companions. Some of the wounded crawled out and away, but many lay still, their bodies twisted into impossible shapes.

Others fell at their companions’ feet. Some of the wounded crawled away, but many lay still, their bodies twisted into impossible shapes.

The youth looked once for his friend. He saw a vehement young man, powder-smeared and frowzled, whom he knew to be him. The lieutenant, also, was unscathed in his position at the rear. He had continued to curse, but it was now with the air of a man who was using his last box of oaths.

The young soldier looked for his friend. He saw a fierce young man, disheveled and smeared with gunpowder, and recognized him. The lieutenant was also unharmed in his position at the rear. He had kept on cursing, but now he sounded like a man using up his last supply of oaths.

For the fire of the regiment had begun to wane and drip. The robust voice, that had come strangely from the thin ranks, was growing rapidly weak.

For the regiment's gunfire had begun to fade and sputter. Its strong voice, which had come so strangely from the thin ranks, was rapidly growing weak.