The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-07-21
An Incident Of the Va.

All at ~ k4iE
There was 10 better oT Drawer sol
dier in Grant's army before Nfcks
burg than Corporal : s., OF Mckee
SllarpslOoters. His name was ass0
eiated with every Thing that was goo,
and noble.
i few days previous, 20 the mrmur
able charge of the I'D Of May, 1903
upon the encmy's works at VickSburg
Corporal s. became very melan
eholy and depressed in spirits. Tn,
change was quickly noticed, a. tli.
ring Of his joyous laughter was u,
longer heard in camp nor his side
splitting jokes around the campfire
| kumOrs of the approaching conflict
were rife in camp, and tile depression O
his spirits was attributed to this cause
not, however, without good deal Ol
4 reluctance. He was the hero of six
battles, and none liked to think or sag
I that ne had fears of entering the com.
I ing fight, which We all knew would
be no chiId's play. The cause, how
ever, of this sudden depression of spir-
/ its he confded to - friend and chum,
NJ, of the same company, which
! was that he had had a dream, and al
so felt presentment, that if he en-
tered the coming fight he would be
killed. He believed his days were
numbered, and the decree of destiny
must be fulfilled. He would not shirk
the coming fight, neither would he be
rash, but protect himself as much as
possible consistently with the duties
and dangers of the position. He gave
instructions III regard to the disposi-
ton of his effects, and if killed, as he
knew he should be, he desired to be
buried where he fell, aud enjoined Sc
cTecy as TO the nature of this inter
view, as not fit subject for the gos-
sip of the camp.
Every one acquainted with the
movements of the army of the West
knows that the assault on Vicksburg
on the 22d of May, 1863, was one of
the blOOdiest of the war Nine thoUs-
and men were killed and wounded
during the short space of thirty min
utes, and General Grant, for the first
time during that campaign, was hurl
ed back by the giant force Of an army
almost driven to despair. During
lull in the storm, Ransom's brigade
was massed en- echelOu, and the Tegi-
ments We're charged i'll column of
companies. The position of the
Eleventh Illinois was one of the
most dangerous in the brigade. From
the peculiar position of the ground
they occupied, they were exposed to
an entilading fire from each flank,
and while awaiting the signal of as
sault, lying flat on the ground, the en-
emy in the trenches, not a hundred
yards of, were firing on them with IA
tai effect. The officers of the Eleventh
could not restrain their men, who re-
turned the fire, sweeping the breast
works, then turning over on their
backs to load. Our position was now
exposed, and the guns from Fort Hill
opened on us with shot and she'll.
NJ was No. ! in the front rank a
stump about 5 feet high aud thick
was directly in front Ofhim, afl0rding
an admirable rest for his rifle and a
protection from the enemy in front,
but 1ffOTding none from the cnfilad-
ing fire right and left. Corporal s.
was y D. , in the rear rank, and asked
NJ if he could make room for him.
He eplied that there was only room
for one, but remembering the conver-
sation few days previous and his af-
fectiOn for his friend, he called him
to his side, gave him the position be-
hind the stump and moved TO the
open space. s. demonstrated in
vain and with look of gratitude took
and went 10 work The
movement of M was noticed by
the enemy in front, and a shower of
balls rattlcG against the stump
and the little fork of Il limb about one
foot high and scarcely an inch thick
upon which he was resting his rifle,
was cut off while hc was taking aim
at an officer i'm one of the embrasurcs
of the fort, filling his eyes with dust
as if TO hide from his sight the horri-
bile spectacle that soon presented it
self. Corporal s. was using his
rifle with good effect from behind the
stump, when cannon ball from Fort
Hill came plOughing through the left
Of the company striking him
upon the left shoulder, severed
his body i'll twain and then
buried itself in the stump.
The dream of poor was realized
his presentment was fulfilled. M
i'm his endeavors la save the life of
his friend at the risk of his own, was
saved, and s., whoihad the position
Of greater security, perishcd. This
mark of friendshipan self-sacrifice at
such trying moment on the part of
NJ, was witnessed by the advanced
with feelings that can be
better imagined than described. This
singular interpositiOn of Providence
in behalf of NJ is only equalled by |
the verification of the dream and |
of s.. Surely it seems |
rs if ''There's a divinity that shapes |
our ends, rough-hew them how we
will."-W j. " IN Grand ArBly |
Journal.