Here's a parting shot to ring out the old year.
Over hill, over dale...
bouncing and jouncing down a country road...
rattling window panes...
Battery B 4th US artillery thunders into position.
Pioneers hastily remove rails to allow passage of the limbers and guns.
Freed from the constraints of the road...
the limbers and riders burst out onto the fields.
The battery commander indicates the direction of fire
and the guns are man-handled into position
While the elevation and deflection are being adjusted on one of the guns...
a second gun is sponged and the projectile is brought forth from the limber...
while a third has the projectile rammed home.
The firing lanyard is drawn taut, and at the order "FIRE!"...
the lanyard is abruptly drawn back...
unleashing fire and thunder from the gun.
shells hurtle down-range as...
dumb-struck rebels await their fate.
Soldier on into 2013!
Mannie
