Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-08-15

CAS AihC pllo, ouu ~ Who VI tuC uI
most Importance that it should be
brought into action; but every at
tempt of the Union men to effect
this met with a murderous volley
from the vigilant rebel marksmen.
In this difficulty the Chief of Ordi-
nance called for volunteers to re-
store the piece to service.
To do this it was necessary to
mount the cannon and drill out the
spike obstructing the vent,i while
the foe were diligently occupied
on their part in picking off the ven
turesome workman from his perch.
AS no one seemed ambitious to un-
dertake the venture, the Chief of
Ordinance, Col. Mordeica, applied
to Stray, who besides being skill
full machinist, had given proof on
several occasions of unusual cool
ness and daring. At the request of
the Colonel he inspected the gun,
but the shower of bullets which
greeted his appearance was not cal
culated to inspire him with cour-
age, and he reported that he did
not think anyone could live long
enough on the cannon to unspike
it; and having a wife and children
he was not desirous Of making the
effort. Without trying to influence
him against his inclinations, the
Colonel replied that if he were will
ling to make the attempt, he (thc
ColoneD would see that his family
were provided for.
This promise decided Stray, and
he concluded to try and achieve the
feat. At nightfall he went forth on
his periloas errand, armed simply
with brace and bits. Straddling
the monstrous piece, and crouching
as low as possible, he piled the drill
vigorously. No sooner had he be.
gan work than the enemy perceived
him, and flash after flash succeeded
from their rifle pits. 1t is one thing
to exhibit powress amid the clash
and rush of battle, fired by the
contagion Of enthusiastic comrads
and another to brave death singly
and deliberately. Stray could see
as lie worked, the long rifle pits o.
the rebels, not a hundred yards dis
tant, ablaze with the light of fifty
rifles, and feel the wind of their bul
let's as they whistled past him. Oc
casionally one struck the cannon
as he noticed by the peculiar chirl
of the imact. Favored partially b.
the obscurlty and more by goo(
luck, he remained unscathed, saw
one skin-scraping shot. In tifteel
minutes seemed to him al
hour-the vent was clear. AS tn
gun was loaded, lanyard ant
primer were passed up to him, ant
these affixed, he slipped quickl
off. The rebels seeing him DROP
imagined they had shot him, an
set up a yell of exultation, whic'
was suddenly checked as a dis
charge of grape scattered deaf
among them.
The rifle pits were at once aban
doned, and our sappers and miner
enabled to proceed without inte1
ruption. The Captain Of the ba
terry reported twenty-five lead mark
from bullets that had struck tn
piece.
In reward for this exploit Stra
was offered 4 Second Lieutenancl
but being modest man, and nc
fitted by education for that position
he declined it, and was satisfied t
accept the position Of Master Nj
chanic Of the Ordinance Depar
ment.
, This was by no means the onl
adventure of peril that Stray wa
engaged in during the war, and hi
his history would make Il readabl
volumn. He was presented b
Maj. Gen. Gilmore, with the Bronz
Medal for valorous conduct, {
which, we believe, but thirty-nin
in all were ever distributed. Stra
is now an engineer employed in
factory in Jersey City. He is
short, thick set man Of SO or Sc
with gray beard fringing quie
but determined countenance. Man
a less deserving name will be hant
ed to posterity, to become illu:
trious with time, than that Of thi
obscure hero, John Stray.