, 1873-07-06

From the Ntlo York Epeutng Past.
In novel lately publislod entitled "Mark
Giderbleeve," the horo, IN officer In the Union
army during tho late war, is represented as
performing m exploit which, although aeons-'
ingl; fauciful aud o1travagant, is, uevertheless,
tho recital of an actual occurrence which took
recording Us an extraordinary instance Of cool
courage and Btoodinosa OF nerve In situation.
Of extreme poril. IS
In the fictitious narrative Capt. Mark Gilder-!
sleere is made, while in q veuturesome mood to
nond, directly, in the face Of tho one
my's sharpshooterB. Now, tho true horo
of this feat waa not ourled darling In ahoul-'
dor-atraps," az Capt. Marx is Represented
tho First Now York Volunteer Engineers, ind
tho Bcono OF aotion was not in Virginia, but in
South Carolina, on Morris Island, III July, 1903,
after the disastrous attack on Fort Wagner.
whon the gallant Shaw met his death at the head
Of tho Fifty-fourth Massachusetts (co1orod).:
Dattlod In that assault, Gilmore lost no timo in
TALKING means to reduce tho fort by regular APP
proaoLes, and in 9 few days after the bloody ro-
pulse the first parallel bad been oponed and
sestanaseiy o''n daring as night %st.e& on tic
Union works, tho rebels succeeded in
driving the men from their posltion md spiking
the guns in tho battery This wns serious
check, "a tho rebol sharpshooters. ensoonoing
themselves in rlao-pits. ol1eotual1y stopped fur
ther progress on tho part Of Tue engineer corps.
Ono Of the spiked guns 200-pounlar Parrott,
completely rnked tho riflo-pits, and II waB OF the
utmost importance TINT It should bo brought
into action but evogy httompt made by the
Union men to effect this mot With murdaro1s
1olley from the yigilant rebol matkbnen: IN
this difficulty the Chief Of Ordnance called for
volunteers to restore tho pieco to service.
To do thla 1t WAS necessary to mount the call
non and drill out tho spike obstruct!ng the vent
while the foo woro diligently occupied, on their
part. In picking off the yonturosoulo workman
from his perch. As no ono seen1od ambitious to
undertake tho venture, the Ohief Of Ordnance,
Col Moraecai, applied to Stray, who. b'sides boz
oral occaAions OF unusual coolnost nnd daring.
At the request of the Colonel no inplooted tho
gun, but tho ahowos OF bullots which
greeted his appearance was not calctllat-
Cd to encourage him, and ho reported
that ho did not think .any QUO could live long
enough OIL the cannon to nssplke it; aid having
Of making tho effort. Without trying to ln.
auenc0 him against hls inolnatlons, tho Colonel
replied that II ho were willing to make tho at
tolnpt' and should bo Mllod ho (tho ColonoD
would sec that his family woro provided for.
IhiB promise docidol STRAY, md he concluded
to try and achieve tho foat. At nightfnil 4o
with bruce and blta. Htraia1ing tho brooch Of
tho n.onstrous piece, and orouulhuG ~ low as
possiblo ho piled tho drill vigorously. No
Hoonor lal he begun to work than
tLe enemy perceived him, eud Is, fasl
pits. It III ono thing to exhibit
prowoss AMID tho clash and rla Of battle, fired
another to bravo death slugly nud deliberately.
Stray could aee, ~ he worked, the long rii'a-
pits Of tho robalB, not hundred yards Distant,
ab!azo with the light Of fifty rAna. and feel tho