, 1859-03-25

feel that am past your help. Yes, doctor, am
q dying man. Oh, is it not glorious thus to die
at ones pOstf But break it gently to them; doc.
tor,-to my friends at home, mean; don't put
my name among the killed but only report me
wounded, dangerously is0unded '-you under
stand. 1t might be too great shock to their
loving hearts, to learn too abruptly that was
killed-sO please, dear doctor; enter ME on your
list as dangerously r0Vnded that's good fel-
low"
"But Captain B." answered, al cannot
report you at ALL until ascertain the nature Of
your injuries "Where are you wounded, sir ?"
l demanded rather cooly, for by this time had
caught his eye, and by its expression, together
with the regular vibration Of the radial artery at
the wrist, Twas becoming suspicious Of his game
The blood upon his face and clothes, was salts
fed, had never pulsated through his own veins
and rapidly coupling the various circumstances
together, was finally convinced that he was no
more hurt than myself but reiterated my in
quiry-" Where are you hit sir 2"
"Why, my dear fellow" said he, as he made
that, l can't say as | was exactly hit,-but-
but"
"But what, sire" exclaimed, now becoming
extremely disgusted with the fellows pOltrOon-
cry. "Answer me quickly-iOr there are many
brace men about, who are actually requiring my
services answer me quickly
But, my dear doctor, you must certainly
know me well enough 10 be assured that would
be the last man,-the very last man in the SER
vice-to-" ~
captain B., tell me, sir, and without any
further prevarication, where and how you are
hurt, if you are hurt at GlI" again demanded,
and this time with much more than my usual
decision Of manner. hs''l
"why, my esteemed friend, think Il was
here" said he, as he again placed his hand upon
his breast-"I think Il must have been round
shot from one Of the enemy's battery guns, for
It seems as II my breast bone was broken in
that is to say, It must have been . spent shot"
"But there is no mark Of Il there, l answered
"0h, no, suppose not, doctor; for now that
think Of It, presume Il was only the WfHd Of u
that knocked me senseless. But, my good doc
tor, to save the feelings Of my dear friends at
home, you may enter me on your morning re
port as only slightly WOHndod"
Indeed, Captain B, never before met
with such an ar" ~. Z.
ayes, yes, doctor, I understand - know It
an extraordinary case, very extraordinary; but
believe there are many similar instances men
toned in your books. You can make . note like
Blank Regiment, in the storming Of Monterey,
knocked insensible by tho 0ind Of a nine pound
shOt, and though rendered AOTs da combat for
the time, not materially injured There, my
good man, that will do; so now go-not another
word-only pray Let my name be entered IN the
list Of wounded. And now, good bye. Some
Of my men will probably find me and bear me to
my quarters-call on me there as you make your
rounds in the morning, DOCTOR"
As turned away, to return to the spot where
my brother surgeons were occupied in dressing
the wounds Of really brave men, was 50 com.
pletely disgusted with the absolutely unnatural
neanness Of Captain B--'s conduct, that de-
termined for the honor Of the noble corps to
which he belonged, and tho service generally,
not to mention It to any living soul but on the
following day reported him in my list Of casual
ties rs very slightly disabled, but not specifying
from what cause y .I lal- ifi11
kept my own counsels, and though could
not help despising the downright cOwardice Of
Captain B. :, his conduct on the present occar
sion renamed unknown to his brother officers /;
and tho next morning as | passed his tent, around
which were q number Of his friends congratu-
lating him upon his lucky escape, was obliged
to disguise my feelings towards him, and return
his very polite, but excessively impudent salu-
tatioh l.-t- 80.
That day, the Captain ascertaining that his
regiment would not be required In any particu-
larry dangerous duty, reported himself sufficient
ly recovered to take command Of his company !
and observed him, when my own duty called
me in his neighborhood, extremely attentive to
all the little minutie Of the service.
At length by some inexplcable means, which
could never divine, the conduct Of Captain
B., at Monterey, began 70 be Whispered
about and his brothers in arms at hrst began
to treat him with marked eOolness But his lund
Of wit and good humOr was so great,-an his
having before been so great hvorite with AZ
who knew him and besides his really soldierly
qualities being 50 numerous that they readily y