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

tatl0n among the surgeons before 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 llescape had any one still intend>
ed to fly. Not only was there thus plenty
of time in which to get away, but had
the means of rapid locomotion away from
all Imprisonment and all danger, to where
no parole would be required of me-to
Washington, instead of to Richnond-on q
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
er sort of people who now censure me for
not doing that which they, no doubt, would
have done-run away from their duty.
THE ENEMY APPEAR AT THE CHURCH AND
DEMAND SURRENDER.
But, to continue. Between six and sev-
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 back.) l Twas outside the
church on my knees extracting a minnie
ball out of the head of an Alabamian, when
squad of cavalry rode up to the church.
1t was commanded by Lieutenant Cum
Mugs, of Col. Stewards Virginia Cavalry,
who, leaning from his horse and placing
pistol at my head, and cooking it with
sort of disagreeabIe click" said " de-
mand you to surrender"
DIR. s. OBJECTS TO PISTOL BEING NEAR HIS
HEAD.
had Just cut down to the ball and felt
indignant at bis treatment, especially as he
saw me engaged so busily. l drew my
head out of the range of his pistol and said
to him sharply: "Use little more care in
the handling of that article, as my exper-
ience the past few hours makes me extreme
ly sensitive to the even careless use OF fire
arms" He retorted, "God d-n your soul,
answer me more civil, or 1 will put bullet
through your head!"
This piece of agreeable information, ac-
companied by bis very prepossessing ap-
pearance and amiable manner, induced me
to request him, politely, to defer that little
operation until l had com pleted mine-my
language being: "Just wait, sir, first, until
l extract this bullet out of this patients
head, as he is one of your own men, of the
FOur'h 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.
In few seconds l 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"
l replied, II 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 to give
their parole not to escape" which they
readily did.
ORDERLY WILLIAMS AND DOCTORS HORSE
CAPTURED.
l might as we'll 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
had intercepted his retreat by short cut,
and brought both him and the horse to the
hnonitol NTH fhono vub:nk Lo L. 7
saw Of either until met Mr.. Williams a
prisoner in the tobacco warehouse at Rich
mond.
THE 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, but
in the afternoon of Monday we were noti-
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 for
which point five or six of US were started
at between five and six o'clock in small
one horse two wheeled rickety old apbu-
lance or cart, with the bottom partk' mt
no seats, over miserable road, the 9, ut
very dark, and the rain pouring down; in
torrents, as it had been doing ever since the
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. Alcng with us, fol-
lowing in the rear, was another ambulance,
a two horse -Four wheeled affair, loaded with
other prisoners, non-medical officers of our
army.
THE BATTLE FIELD-GATHERING UP THE
WOUNDED.
Our course of travel lay over the battle
field, and on the road leading from it. AS
long as daylight permitted us to see, which