"'For a moment all we does is stand an' look; the surprise of it leaves
no idee of action. The lancers swings across the grassy levels.
Thar's not a shot fired; Edson's people ain't got nothin' but them
reedic'lous spears, an' the Yanks, who seems to know it, stands like
the rest of us without firin' an' watches 'em come. It's like a
picture, with the thin bright air an' the settin' sun shinin' sideways
over the gray line of mountains fifty miles to the west.

"'I never sees folks more placid than the Yanks an' at the same time so
plumb alert. Mountain lions is lethargic to 'em. When Captain Edson
an' his lancers charges into 'em the Yanks opens right an' left, each
sharp of 'em gettin' outen the way of that partic'lar lancer who's
tryin' to spear him; but all in a steady, onruffled fashion that's as
threatenin' as it is excellent. The lancers, with Captain Edson, goes
through, full charge, twenty rods to the r'ar of the Yankee line. An',
gents, never a man comes back.

"'As Edson an' his troop goes through, the Yanks turns an' opens on
'em. The voices of the Spencers sounds like the long roll of a drum.
Hoss an' man goes down, dead an' wounded; never a gent of 'em all rides
back through that awful Yankee line. Pore Edson shore has his wish;
he's cut the trail of folks who's cap'ble of aimin' low an' shootin'
half way troo.

"'These sperited moves I've been relatin' don't take no time in the
doin'. The hairbrain play of Captain Edson forces our hands. The Old
Man orders a charge, an' we pushes the Yanks back onto their hosses an'
rescoos what's left of Edson an' his lancers. After skirmishin' a
little the Yanks draws away an' leaves us alone on the field. They