The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-24
THE LIbUTENANTS REVENGE.
\ True story.


"a, Hc ErouUg T-'egrqW.
~ After / got the second wound, through my
nkles, crawlcd down to the edge of the river
4nder the bluf, and looked out for a chance to
D. over. But it was impossible. one Of the
! est swimmers we had tried it, but after swim
Ming some distance he came back and reported
he current too strong. ] knew then that escape
by swimming was out Of the question for me,
ith both ankles shot through and a bullct
hrough my shoulder, so lay quiet until it was
~ over. At length the Rebels began creeping
8ound, looking for such as were hidden under
Pc river bank, and one Of them, powerful fell
Ipw, one of the largest men l ever saw, with
&pge black beard came up to where lay and
Hkdered me to get up. / told him was badly
+, flrt in the ankles and could not walk.
WThe brute gave me three prods with his bayo.
et in the back, ordering me 10 rise at each stab.
could not, and he finally gave it up, and was
Alken away. j swore never TO forget that man.
M9w hated that man no one can realize who
byAs not been in similar position. oh It seemed
~ devilish to cowardly stab me with his bayonet
ASSen could not rise. / swore TO be revenged
yeyer that man came into my power Well, it
IasAa long time afterwards l had been ex-
banged, and had got we'll enough TO be on duty
gain, when one day was ordered TO conduct
Ome Rebel prisoners to Fort Delaware.
Judge how my heart leaped when recognized
by tyrRnt, himself prisoner, but unhuTt, and
boming up as large ever He was changed in
'pthing, save that his Jthes were the worse for
lear, and he had the downcast air that always
bmes over a brave IN when he finds himself
his enemies hands ! looked him full in the
8ye, with much the same feeling, imagine, with
Khich cat watches captive mouse, felt all
he cruelty of his act to me, and in my heart of
vearts vowed that he should never reach Fort
Delaware alive. l left the others to the care of
ERe sergeant and the men; took this man in
Hharge myself. l would not leave him out of my
8ght moment. He did not betray the slightest
recollection of me, and began to think that he
I'D not recognize me at all.
4 had fully made up my mind to kill him, and
fter the boat started walked aft to think how
II should do it. In the meantime he lay down on
4he deck and went to sleep. L had resolved to
4ell him who was, and then blow his brains out,
X6pple him over into the river, and lay his death
$n his having attempted to escapes for knew
4hat our Government would not have allowed me
,fp shoot him merely from revenge for his cruelty
rs me. But when came to him. and saw him
Eseep, hesitated. He looked sad and careworn
Dill the proud, defiant look was gone. He seemed
70 helpless and miserable that l could not do it
&hen.
Then 1 sat down in the dark, and began to
hink. "PoOr DEVIL" thought, che has been led
kRway by those In whom he has been brought up
TO trust all his life. He may have wife and
khildren." thought of my own. Well, after a
Hong debate between me and the devil, | made up
Wmy mind that would treat him ms he ought TO
Have treated me. If he has any heart at all, ID
Nmay be the means of saving somo Union soldiers
from bad treatment. | knew he was hungry, so
~ woke him up. He slightly started when woke
Ehim, but in moment he was as cool as ever.
L took him TO the side of the boat, and looking
nhim full in the face, with my hand on my re,
hVolyer, said, "Don't you know mel" Not a
muscle moved as he answered that he did not
FDont you belong to the - Mississippi ?
f'Yes." "You were at Balls Bluff" eyes
t'And you don't know me /" "No." 'Well,
xafd /
Ahe best could, gave him good drink Of
2,yhisky, and turned him over at the fort with as
4srge a share Of the small sum in my pocket as
could conveniently spare. Well, bade hin
{good night, and promised to see him in the
Enorning.
thought he looked queer as l went up TO him
thext morning and held out my hand. He tool
Biz, and burst into tears. 1t amt pleasant thing
Jto see man like that cry, and felt affected my
self. "Well," said 1, "do you know me now 2
F'Yes," he answered, "and l knew you the mo
iment saw you, but feared you would revenge
Iyourself on me as l deserved. And, indeed,
The continued, ''you have reyenged yourself, anC
bitterly too, but give you my word as mar
kand a soldier that you have done your side nc
injury. So help me God, if ever Federal falls
kZinto my hands again, will try TO repay to hin
Ithe kindness you have shown to me. Goodbye
kand may God bless you, and keep you out of Ou
hands again Goodbye" l shook his hand
4 rand we parted.
Y have never seen or heard Of him since, but
felt thatl had fully reyenged myself on him
Il don't you think so FL told the noble, gallan
Jfellow that his act was one that any man living
y ilmight be proud of, and that honored hin
Hmore for what he had done than If hi
yhad reYenged himself by killing all thu
Il Rebels in our prisons. And l could not bu
feel glow Of pride to know that l too wore th,
itnniform of the army In which such men served
SOf such men as Lieutenant - our country
lmay well be proud And surely such acts as hi
Imust have good effect ON the minds of thos
who have been led into this wicked Rebellion b,
the traitors who have 50 long blinded the people
L of the South.
" This is no fancy sketch. I have detailed
lalmoss word for word, in all essential points JUS
has it was told me by the Lieutenant himself, a
i3Ye rode side by side in the cars on our way Il
Yperform the duty for which we had been detailed
] only wish | could give ii the life with which
was told, and make II affect my readers as mucl
ias 1t affected me. u. q.