The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-30
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY AUGUST 80, 1861.

tatlOn among the surgeons DelOre referred
to was over, and most of the retreating
doctors had already left Long after our
regiment had gone, there was, likewise,
plenty of time for me to have retreated, as
from this period fully an hour elapsed be-
fore the enemy appeared at the church door,
and cut off al escape had any onestil intend~
ed to fly. Not only was there thus plenty
of time in which to get away, but l had
the means OF rapid locomotion away from
all Imprisonment and all danger, to where
no parole would be required of me-to
Washing ton, instead of to Richmond-on a
good horse, which ready saddled and fully
equipped for the road, was standing await
ing me at the church door, had only to
mount and away, and no doubt would have
been praised for lucky dog, by those mean
e. sort of people who now censure me for
not doing that which they, no doubt, would
have done-fun away from their duty.
THE ENEMY APPEAR AT THE CHURCH AND
DEMAND SURRENDER.
But, to continue. Between six and sew
en- o'clock, the enemy at length appeared,
(having by that time, it seems, found out
he had victory, or at all events, that our
army was falling Dack.) | was outside the
church Oh my knees extracting a minnie
ball out of the head of an Alabamian, when
a squad OF cavalry rode up to the church.
1t was commanded by Lieutenant Cum.
miugs, of Col. Stewards Virginia Cavalry,
who, leaning from his horse and placing a
pistol at my head, and cooking it with a
sort Of dsagreeabIe click said de-
mand you to surrender"
HEAD.
had lust cut down to the ball and felt
indignant at his treatment, especially as he
saw me engaged so busiy. | drew my
head out Oh the range Of his pistol and said
to him sharply: "Use little more care in
the handling of that article, as my eXper-
fence the past few hours makes me extreme
y sensitive to the even careless use OF fire
arms" He retorted, "God d-n your soul,
answer me more civil, or will put bullet
through your head"
This piece of agreeable information, ac-
companied by bis very prepossessing ap-
to request him, politely, to defer that little
operation until had com ple;ed mine-my
language being: "Just wait, sir, first, until
| extract this bullet out of this patient 5
head, as he is one of your own men, OF the
Four Alabama.
He Immediately replied, 81 beg your par.
don and did manage to wait until | had
extracted the bali.
DR.. 8. AND OTHERS GIVE PAROLE NOT TO
ESCAPE.
Ia a few seconds had the mimic in my
hand, and the Lieutenant then very politely
asked me if 81 would give my word of hon.
or not to escape"
replied, Il have voluntarily remained
to take care of my wounded and, of course
will not leave them," and SO pledged my
self.
He then wished me to pledge that "none
of the other Surgeons and attendants would
escape"
said, they could speak for themselves
Il would call them out of the church"
| went in and called them out. He rode
up to the door, and asked them ito give
their parole not to escape" which they
readily did.
OkDERIIf WILLIAMS AND HORSF
| CAPTURED.
might as well here mention that some
| fifteen minutes previous to Lieutenant Cum.
ming's arrival, had told my orderly, pri
vate Williams, to take my horse aud make
his escape, if he could, but the same cavalry
mad intercepted his retreat by short cut
and brought both him and the horse to the
hospital with them, which was the last
saw of either until met Mr.. Williams d
prisoner in the tobacco warehouse at Rich
mond.
TIE SURGEONS ORDERED 10 MANAssAs-UN.
PLEASANT JOURNEY.
Having in this manner formally surren
dered, the attending Surgeons busted them
selves taking care of the wounded during
all of Sunday night and all of Monday, bul
in the afternoon of Monday we were mott.
fed by Col. Stewart, of the Virginia Cav
airy, that the orders from headquarters were
to take us to General Beauregard, at Ma.
nassas Junction, some ten miles distant fol-
which point five or six of US were started
at between FIVE and six o'clock in a small
one horse two wheeled rickety old apbu
lance or cart, with the bottom partF mt
no seats, over miserable road, the I. "a
very dark, and the rain pouring dowN il
torrents, as it had been doing ever since thu
latter part of Sunday night, and continued
in fact to do so most necessarily until Tues
day morning. On our journey we were un
der the charge Of Lieut.. Cummings and
squad of his cavalry. Along with us, fol
lowing in the rear, was another ambulance
a two horse four wheeled affair, loaded wit
other prisoners non~medical officers of gu
army.
THE BATTLE F1ELD-GATHERING UP TIL
WOUNDED.
Our course of travel lay over the battle
field, and on the road leading from it. A
long as daylight permitted as to see, whic