The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1863-05-22

Deen extremely cold. Among the sad ac-
cidents of the camp may be mentioned
that of Moses G. Warren, the drummer
boy in company A, Goth Maine. On We'd
nesday, about noon, he was standing be-
fore the fire heating coffee, when, taking
an old musket, he commenced to poke
the burning embers together, when the
barrel exploded, shattering both hands.
he was Immediately carried to the hospi-
tai, and, after both hands had been ampu-
tated at the wrists and the bandages ap-
Piled, he recovered from the stupOr of
chloroform, and, looking at the bandaged
arms, slowly raised them up and kissed
them, saying at the same time, 81 shall
never drum any more" He was quite a
sprightly lad, about fifteen years of age,
and great pet with the company.
WHO OBTAINED GENERAL FRENCH's RIFLE.
Speaking of presentations "reminds
me-" as the President says, that shortly
after the Maryland campaign, Messrs. Mo-
rell, Thomas & Go. of Baltimore, forward
ed to Gen. French magnificent rifle, to
be presented to the bravest man in the
command. Gen. F. selected, after the
battle of Fredericksburg, the color bearer
Of the Fourteenth Indiana regiment, who
had bravely carried the colors througout
the battle, and by his GOODNESS and intre-
pidity earned high commentator. This
rifle has since been the idol of the regi-
ment, and would be defended with as
much tenacity as their battle flag.
1T WAS USED TO ADVANTAGE.
On Sunday afternoon rebel sharp
shooter posted himself in tree, and COM
menced firing at Colonel Carrolls head
quarters, much to the discomfort of those
in that neighborhood. The Fourteenth
Indiana rifle was sent for, and the color
sergeant made his appearance with his
trusty weapon, and, advancing until he
could get good "bead" upon his man,
took deliberate aim and fired. The rebel
tumbled headlong from his perch, and
Colonel Carroll was relieved f,om his
annoyance.
PAINFUL SCENE.
At the general hospital on Monday, a
soldier from Pennsylvania, who was Sc
verely wOunded-so much so as to be be-
yond recovery-was lying on the floor.
When the examining surgeon, Mr.. Dexter,
came along and looked at the condition
OF the sufferer, expressing his hopeless be-
lief as to the recovery of the man to his
assistant, he raised his head and said
-"DoctOr, will / recover; is there any
hope for me? for, if not, 1 want you to
kill me-" The surgeon tried to calm him,
and he appeared to drop into doze. In
a few moments he took revolver from
his pocket, placed it resting against his
temple, and fired; being so feeble he could
not hold it firmly, md the ball just CLAN
ced over the skin without starting blood ::
but the discharge blackehed his face. The
pistol was Immediately taken from him,
when he said-''I do not want to linger in
pain without hope" In half an hour he
was dead. And SO we could go on relating
many such circumstances.
THE RETREAT.
On Wednesday morning, when we were
retreating to the United States Ford, it
reminded one of the crowded state of
Broadway, with travel increased and the
street narrower There had been rain
for twenty hours, and the roads, never
good, were in dreadful condition. Long
trains of ambulances, filled with the
wounded, and representing all the different
corps that had been in the fight, were
being sent to places of more comfort,
while supply trains, ammunition wagons,
commissary stores, pack mules, artillery
infantry, cavalry, stragglers and Bohemi-
ans all mingled together. Locomotion
was slow but forced, and great confusion
of course, was in order.