The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-30

wet through, slept, or tried to sleep, until
morning +; but the cursing and quarreling
amongst the guard, and the changing of
sentinels every two or three hours, 'mur-
dered sleep" most effectually.
DISCOVERY OF TWO WOUNDED MINNEsorIANs.
In the morning, on going from the barn
over to Beauregard's headquarters, l passed
in the barn yard, the four wheeled ambu.
lance which had accompanied us from the
battle field the night before. Observing
that two men we're lying in it, looked in
curiously to see who they were, when, to my
astonishment, found them to be two of our
own boys"--private Cannon of company
l, (the same whose wounded leg Capt. Pell,
when ordered so peremptorily to retreat,
stopped behind to bind up before be left
him) and Corporal Pierson, of company B,
of Saltwater, who had received two balls
through his right thigh, fracturing the bone
The astonishment of the poor fellows even
surpassed my own, for they did not imagine
| was within fifty miles Of them; and the
joy of all three of US at the meeting cannot
be adequately expressed. They had lain out
in the rain on the field all Sunday night and
managed to crawl during Monday between
two and three miles from where they fell,
towards Manassas, to the spot where the
rebels had picked them up. They were the
same two men we had ordered to be trans
ferred to the ambulance, on our night jour-
ney, in which they were compelled to sleep
all night, having their blankets to cover
them. Immediately procured their remo-
val to one of the Confederate hospitals,
where l dressed their wounds, and left them
pretty comfortable, and 1 did not behold
them again until saw them at hospital in
Richmond, some two weeks afterwards and
when 1 left the city to come home, Cannon
was nearly recovered, and Pierson doing as
well as could be expected of a man with a
fractured thigh.
BREAKFAST.
Returning to our quarters in the barn,
we partook of breakfast, consisting of cold
cooked fitch and crackers, but without
drink, all of which we understood had been
sent US from the Generals quarters.
COL. PRESTON AND THE PAROLE.
We were now waited upon by Colonel
Preston, one of Beauregards staff, who
brought the parole, before quoted, and so
much carped at, for US to sign.
Holding the paper in his hand, Colonel
Preston said to us: L" Gentlemen, have
here for your signatures, the parole usually
required Of prisoners of war !; and the sur
geons only are to be allowed to sign it."
There were other of our Army officers
present.
He then read it to us. After he had
finished the reading, the privilege was asked
of examining and reading 1t for ourselves.
1t was handed to US, and being satisfied as
to its exact nature, I asked for the rest that
we might take it with us, and retire by
ourselves and consult as to what we should
do Colonel Preston replied, "Certainly-
take what time YOU want"
THE SURGEONS CONSULT ON THE PAROLE.
On this we went inside the barn, and in
one corner of it, by ourselves, held our con>
sultation. In about fifteen minutes we re-
turned and addressed him as follows:
"Sir, will you allow US to return to Sud.
ley Church and attend to our wounded
there, and wait few days before signing
this parole, to see if our Government does
not send to make arrangements for our pro
lection, for the burial of our dead and the
care of our wounded
Colonel P-(With emphasis) answered
"No! am authorized to present this pa.
role for your signatures noac-and cannot
promise that another opportunity will be
afforded for this purpose after this morning {:
the object of your signing it is TO allow
you to return and take care of your wound
ed, if you desire to do So"
The conversation was further carried on
by myself, as senior Surgeon, speaking for
the rest as follows:
Surgeon" Is signing that parole the on.
y condition on which we will be allowed
to 60 back and attend to our wounded?"
Colonel p" 1t is, SIR"
Surgeon" What disposition is to be
made of US if we do not sign it?''
Colonel p" am not authorized to say
Il am only authorized to speak with you
as TO your signing this parole-to the med =
ical officers only"
Surgeon" We ask you, then (not ir
your official capacity in this particular duty
but) as an officer, what will be done with
US if we do not sign it."
Colonel f." on are prisoners OF war,
and prisoners of war are placed under guard
and sent to Richmond at once"
THE SURGEONS AGAIN RETIRE TO CONSULT
DIR. STEWART DECIDES TO SIGN.
We now asked and obtained permission
to again retire and|consult together.
A good deal of feeling entered into our
private discussions.
Two questions presented themselves.
Four Or five hundred of our wounded were
lying in critical condition in the Hospi-
tails near the battle field, needing all our
care and attention. If we signed the parole
we could 60 back and attend to them, re-
lieve their sufferings, and save the most of
them from dying the death otherwise most
probably inevitable. But, on the other
hand, if we signed it, it practically cuts Us