The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-12-16
Experience Of an Ambulance Man.

Experience Ofan Ambulance Man,
! The driver of an ambulance and
dresser Of wounds, whose first expe-
rience on the battle field was at the
first battle of Bull Run, gives his as
follows:
eve ambulance men knew but lit
tie Of the awful work before US. Like
a great many others, who ought to
have known better, I went ont to that
battle very much as would have gone
to a clam~bake at home-Eith no 9th
er though than the jaunt would be.
pleasant one-perhaps a little excit-
ing, but not really dangerous. But
We we're soon brought to our senses.
'sIn FIVE minutes after the first shot
was fred, Twas called upon to take
a wounded Lieutenant to the hospital.
He was not more than twenty years
of age, and had his sword arm shat
tered. He had tainted as he fell, and
was still insensible when we picked
him up. The surgeon soon made his
appearance, the arm was amputated /
and the boy comfortably disposed of
before the effect Of the chloroform had
passed of. His first question was as
to what had happened, and when told, !
he suddenly rose upon his elbow and
inquired, what did you do with my
ring? The surgeon handed it to him,
the Lieutenant kissed it, asked me to
place it on his other hand, and almost
instantly went to sleep. He was con
veyed safely to Washington, soon re-
covered and did good service after>
wards in a score Of battles.
"When the battle ragged with its
greatest fury, and when we all sup
posed We had gained the da,, 7 was
to remove venerable looking
gray-bearded Major to the rear. He
had been stunned by Il nearly spent
canister, which hit him on the head,
but had drawn no blood. I found
him quite delirious, and I remember
the first words 1 heard as I reached
him were: willie, my boy, 20 right
On with your men. You mustn't seem /
to skulk. Iwillbe with you directly.
[ afterwards learned that this willie
was the Majors son. He had behaved
IS his father wished him, and, after
.he fight, had leave to accompany
lim, He recovered from the effects
If the concussion before he reached
Washington.
4 was soon afterwards ordered to take t
wounded Fire Zouave to the rear. He ,
lad been hit in the hand by minnie ball, :
,ut paid no attention to it, until he faint =
d from loss of blood. As we were lift d
ng him he recogercd, and swore at US Q
erribly for daring to take him from the s
led. He declared he wouldn't 60; and y
surgeon being at hand, two Of his fin
.ers were amputateo and roughly dressed, y
Fhen he broke away from Us and rushed b
,ack into the fight. Three days after d
Eards met the same Zouave in the t
iospital, with a gashed cheek, which he
lad received from the sabre Of Black
Horse oavalryman, whose horse he had
,ayoneted, and whom be declared he t.
.illed with the butt of his musket, after t
e received bis sword cash. met the O
anne brave fellow, with Majors straps on
is shoulders, at Antietam. c
Another case I remember-a tall raw
oned private from Westren State. t
he Eeut-Colonel Of the regiment had 4
cen wouuded in front Of one of the reb-
masked batteries, from before which .
Ut troops had been driven, and lay there
lis men had made several efforts to get
i'm off, in.every case, they we're driven s.
ack. This good fellow told his compan- "
ops he would try to get off the body if o
ley would permit him to 90 alone. +,
'ermission was given; he boldly walked
ut erect to where the Lieut. Colonel lay,
BOX him up tenderly in his arms, inter Il
osing his own body, as much as he could, if
etween the enemy and the wounded II
hcer, and proceeded to carry him off. >
,uring the perilous march, he received Z
lree bullet wounds, but neither made s.
i'm abandon his burtben, which he
rought away safely. Although thus ot
rave in this severe trial, in dressing his Al
ounds which were not dangerous but
ainful, he was as timid as a child.
Ie shrank from the probe as I do not n
elieve he would have done from a bayo- ol
ct, aud seemed as fearful Of being !urt cI
y the doctor as if be was about to be
lked by a chain-shOt. And this sort of
midity is often seen In the brayest men. "
hey would face the cannoh's mouth eI
ithout a shudder, but they cannot bear h
, lie down helplessly. to have their o.
ounds dressed, He is a snperlatively
rave man who fights calmly and suffers :
imself to be tortured by the surgeon with q
lual aquanimity. g