Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1898 — A CHARGE AND A RETREAT. [ARTICLE]

A CHARGE AND A RETREAT.

“ “—s'Turkish Army. Old Mustapha Bey waved his sword and sang out to me to come albng with them; .so I forgot that I was a simple medical officer. I drove the spurs into my horse, and in half a minute I was riding alongside Czetwertlnskl In a wild charge against the flying Russians. • * * There was a large field of ripe maize on our right as we wait down the hill, and I could see the Russians running through it as hard as their legs could carry them, believing, of course, that a strong body of cavalry was swooping down to cut off their retreat. * * * In a moment more the Russians suddenly faced around, and, recognizing that they were attacked by a mere handful of men, took np a formation and poured their fire Into us in earnest. Hassan Labri Pasha, who was watching the whole thing, foresaw that our retreat was likely to be cut off, and he sounded the retreat We wheeled our horses just in time, drove the spurs In and galloped back for our lives.

Probably no man except one who has been in a similar position can even faintly guess at the rapid change of feeling which comes over qne at such a crisis. A few moments before, while we were galloping forward against the fugitives, I felt as brave as a lion; but when once I had turned my back to them and heard their bullets whistling round me. a mortal dread came over me, and if I had had a hundred millions In the bank I would have given It all to be a furlong further from the muzzles of those Russian rifles. It was every man for himself, of course, and we did not attempt to preserve any sort of formation. The Instinct of a hunted animal flying for cover made me turn toward the maize field, and I galloped into the friendly shelter of the tall stems, bending my heaid low over my horse’s neck and urging him forward with voice and spur. The maize was tall enough to conceal a horse and man completely, so that the Russians could not take aim at any individual mark, but they poured Incessant volleys into the field, and many a bullet fired at random found Its billet. As these hundreds of bullets cut off the maize stalks In all directions around me, I must confess that my previous recklessness had given place to p. ghastly, overmastering terror. Wherever I turned danger was lying by my side, and I could only press blindly forward and hope for the best. A trooper close by me suddenly threw up his arms and seemed to spring several feet up from the saddle before he fell with a thud among the blood-soaked maize stalks. It occurred to me then that he must have been shot through the heart.—“ Under the Red Crescent,” by Dr. Charles S. Ryan.