Eugene Manlove Rhodes

“ Thrice that long, long day a yellow wave swept up the hill to the little rampart; and thrice the dauntless valor of its defenders made the stubborn circle good. And with each wave brave men gave their souls ungrudgingly to God; and the little garrison grew less and less.
The women bound up wounds and gave drink to dying lips; but none complained, none murmured. At each onset The Boy and Ritter fought in the foremost rank; each setting an example of deadly, desperate courage. ”

“ The attack on the house made by comparatively few men had been repulsed.
The Sergeant sent half of the men to dress at a time. At the moment when the second detachment returned, a howling mob of Chinamen charged fiercely up the slope to Ritter's. But Company A hurled a pitiless, unceasing storm of lead into their crowded ranks, and the beseiged kept up a brisk fire from the windows, and after a moment's suspense the shouting, shrieking mass rolled down the hill again. ”

“ When he led his horse up a winding trail on the farther side, they cheered him and then made a dash down the hill. They were greeted with a storm of fire and death. Seventy-five yards they went, then faltered, stopped, and fled back to the redoubt. In sixty seconds they had lost seven killed and many more wounded—the bugler and two others so badly that they crawled back. The Chinese aim was vile, and their ancient guns nearly worthless, otherwise Company A must have been killed to a man. ”

“ There is more pride than sorrow in our memories. And when the haughty Lees and the fiery Wheeler set us the example, we youngsters who know the Great War only in twilight tales and legends could hardly do less than follow. ”

“ Lieutenant Nelson was the last to reach the haven of safety, and Company A marveled much to see that he had torn a rail from the balcony and was carrying it with him.
"Now what is that for?" growled Sergeant Jennings. The answer was not long in coming. A moment later, just as the sun looked over the eastern mountains, the flag of the Confederacy, for the first time in thirty-five years, floated out over a field of battle!
A sound, which was less a cheer than a sob, burst from every throat. ”

“ LIEUT. RICHARD NELSON sat on the veranda with Mr. and Mrs. Ritter and their daughter. Their long afternoon was nearly done, and the little hill upon the slope of which the house was built threw a cool and grateful shadow over them. Mr. Ritter was an American missionary in the little town of Ping-Yurn on the Hoang-Ho, a short distance from the Gulf of Pe-Chi-Li. During the incipiency of the Boxer insurrection, when the United States soldiers were hurried to China, Lieutenant Nelson with Company A, sixty strong, had been stationed here to guard supplies. ”