Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-06-28

| begged the Captain for the honor Of hi-
corps. which at that moment were h,roi =
ally con'clliug with five times their mum
hcrS. for the honor of his family. not to b,
/ found by the brave General thus Shirkin"
his duty. and showing the whitc-ica! her:
hut before he had lime 10 withdraw from
thc spot. the General had arrived, anil.
/ observing mo alone upon the edge of The
ravne. inquired why was there.
could not be guilty of prcvaricatiEg
and pointed to the ravine below, whe re-
! still remained the >kulking officer.
"Who is that person, Doctor" he de-
manded, on seeing the Captain entirely
alone.
Captain Jones. sir" replied.
lis he wounded? Here, my men," call
in% 10 some strctchCr-bcarcrS; "aS>iSt that
gentleman from the r;Ivine Ia the plateau
here Then turning to me: doctor. have
the goodness 10 examine his injuries: and
as the General was giving some order u
one of his aidS-de-camp. the men sprang
to the bottom of the ravine and. placing
their arms under those of tn. Captain,
dragged him 10 the upper world.
Immediately proceeded 10 examine his
person. really hoping. in pity TO him, 10
find some injury. but the result was aS
expected.
We'll. Doctor, hope he is not badly
hurt:' commiseratingly inquired the kind
hearted General.
shook my head
What is it serious - he asked rs he
-prang from his horse and approached
The spot where the Captain was still
stretched upon the ground.
Alas General" | said. II am sorry
I" say it-hc is not injured at all. but is
aS sound and well aS either you or |. And.
wi'h shame, sir. have to ada. this is not
the first time | have been called upon 10
examine him under like circumstances.
and with a similar result"
- Is il possible thai a craven heart beats
in an American bosom to-day? Here. ser
%cant. turning toa squadron of dragons
III attendance. take this officer under ar
rest. Not word. Sir-not a word from
you. rs the impudcnt scamp attempted
{" explain. Il will not hear "A word from
yOu," and the brave old Rough-and-
Ready stamped passionately on the
ground. Bear him to the rear. and
then turning 10 his staff. IL would not
have believed this, gentlemen, if | had not
seen il with my own eyes.
AT this moment. attracted by the 'ght !
of general officer surrounded by his |
staff. the enemy had directed one of his |
mortarS upon the spot. and rs the SER
gcant was about obeying the order. an |
eight inch shell burst directly over our |
heads and scattered shower of death |
dealing missiles into our ranks. The SER
geant was killed upon the spot. and one |
OF the horses of Major Bliss. Taylor'S |
Adiutant General. was wounded.
Scarcely had the report of this shell |
lied away wh'n it was followed bT an
other that struck just upon the verge of |
the ravine. Simultaneous with the report |
| frighttul shrek of mingled pain and ter
ror burst upon our ears. and the lifilcS.
md manglcd form of Captain Jones fell
ilrtctly between the feet of "Old Whitley"
.Gc General's noble war >tecd.
Is it poSSiblc!' exclaimed the old |
,hcf. Poor fellow he has escaped a
erriDle exposure; one that would have
ieeply mortified his comrades. as well as
liS worthy family AT home. Let us hope.
that at the Great Court above
his sentence will be more lenent thanwoud
nave been the finding OF Court Martial"
And forgetful of his anger few minutes
Dcfore. and wiping off an unbiddcn tear
or the Captains father was one of the
most intimate friends--he gave
,rders for the body TO be conveyed to the
ear, and waving his hand TO me. moved
IF 10 another part of the field, where his
presence turned the tide of bat
lie which had began to surge against u.s.
:. Compton Smith, IN Milcaukee MonthIu
Dr .IUle.