The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-02-09

troops rushed over him with shout and
cry, an officer threw up his arms and
fell directly upon the wounded sufferer,
his life-blood spouting in his face. The
assault failed as did every other during
the day, and the little column fell back
to the protection of the hollow, leaving
large proportion dead on the field.
Lying on his back, his face shielded
from the sun by the body that had fall
len upon him, the corporal passed sew
eral hours of terrible suffering. He
knew that he had the strength to walk
or crawl out of range of the fire from
the works, but since he had lain thus,
he had seen the wounded who had tried
to escape from the ground shot dead.
1t was neither merciful nor humane;
but with mems blood raging at fever
heat on the field of battle, mercy and
humanity are apt to be sighted. His
thirst was almost intolerable; his
tongue and mouth were parched and
dry; he was stiff and sore from long
continuing in one posture, and the
dreadful weight of the corpse that lay
like lead upon him; but he dared not
shake it of, lest the movement should
draw the ready bullets of the enemy to
him.
And thus the long hours of that we'll
remembered day dragged on. He lay
within fifty feet Of the hostile rifles; a
tempest of bullets rained over his body,
and now and then he heard the dull hud
Of one Of them striking near him.
Once, as his right leg tingled and stung
beyond endurance from cramp, he drew
it up and threw it out again for tempo
rary relief The movement was OBJ
served, and the crack Of dozen mus
kets quickly followed it. One of the
balls cut the corporal's left sleeve two
entered the dead body above him-death
protecting life from death
A piece Of bark peeled from stump
by bullet lay near his head. By ted
ious and imperceptahle advances he
moved his hand to it, grasped it, and
carried it to his mouth. Tormented
with thirst as he was, his caution was
so great that half an hour was occupied
in this. 81 know that it was at least
half an hour" the corporal said, in re-
lating his story. "If | judged by my
feelings all that horrible time, should
say it was half day. He chewed the
bark eagerly, and the excitement of the
salivary glands greatly mitigated his
acute thirst A cup of cold water to
this poor sufferer would have been a
boon beyond all the wreath Of the whole
world; and he was but one Of the hun
dreds who lay enduring these indescri-
bable agonies all over that field But
such is war.
The long summer day ended at last,
and the shattered regiments Of the as
saulting columns were with drawn be-
yond musket-range. The corporal
patiently waited until darkness had set
tied upon the scene Of blood, and then
he veutured to relieve himself of the
dead weight that held him down. He
sat up and stretched his arms, with the
feeling Of such relief as the man knows
who is released from the chains that
have long bound him. Still fearful that
he nigh. be observed, he would not rise
to his feet, but was about to crawl
stealthily dawn to the hollow, whence
he could easily make his way back to
our lines. He moved in this way but a
few yards when he discovered crouch
ing figure, just in advance of him, hold
ing a musket.
He knew it could not be one of our
army, for the troops that were engaged
in the assault had been drawn off an
hour before, and a picket so close to the
enemy's Notifications would not be
thought Of. Suspecting the character
and employment Of this man, Jack
turned and cautiously made off at right
angles with the line Of his first move
ment. A few yards in that direction
brought him to another picket-for such
he was certain they were. The Conied-
crates had thrown out chain Of SOL
diers to make certain that the assault
had been abandoned for the day; and
the corporal was inside the lines.
"I'll lay low and trust to luck, was
his thought. A few moments only pas
sed before another Confederate, cor
poral, he thought, came around with
orders for the pickets to return to the
works.
"The Yanks have gave it up for to-
night" he heard him say to the man
nearest him. ave been down past the
hollow, and almost to the Bayou Sara
Road, and their lines are back where
they were yesterday.
The soldier thus relieved took three
steps toward the works, and stumbled
over the PROSTATE body of corporal
Wells. As he fell, his hand passed
over Jacks face, and its warmth in
stantly told him that the man was
alive
"Ho, Yank| he exclaimed. Cit
ND here. Can YOU walk ?
Jack realized that there was no time
for artifice, and at once decided TO sur
render without any trifling, for fear Of
worse consequences than capture II he
was detected in any deceit. And be
sides" he said, Il was almost mad with
thirst. Yes | can walk; amt much
hurt; I surrender, said, all in one
breath; but for Gods sake, give me a
drink"
81 spoke from my heart then. ii |
ever did in my lite, and the appeal NOV
ed nv captor at once. He unslung his
canteen from his shoulder as he march
ed me over the dead bodies OF my COM
rades, through the ditch and up into
the stronghold; and eagerly Selling it
from his hand, l drank its blessed con.
tents, three good pints of pure, cold
spring water, without once stopping to
take breath. 1t seemed as though life
itself were restored to me with that
draught; never knew so happy
moment in my life.
Inside the Confederate works the cor
poral was allowed the liberty OF certain
bonnds ON giving his parole not to at.