Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-06-25
John STRAY.

John STRAY.
Ina novel lately published, entitled "Mark
Gildersleeve,'' the hero, an off GER in the
Union army during the late war. is repre-
sented as performing an exploit which, al
though seemingly fanciful and extravagant,
IS nevertheless the recital of an actual occur
renee which took place un Ter other circum-
stances, and is worth recording as an ex-
traordinary instance of cool courage and
steadness of nerve in q situation OF extreme
peril.
In the fictitious narrative Captain Mark
Gildersleeve is made, while in a venturesome
mood. TO uuspike cannon during the siege
of Richmond, directly in tine face of the
enemy's sharpsh0oters. Now the true hero
of this feat was not sc curled darling in
shoulder straps as CAPTAIN Mark Is repre-
sented to be, but sturdy old John Stray, a
private in the First New York Volunteer
Engineers, and the scene OF action was not
in Virginia, but in South Carolina, on Morris
Island, in July, 1868, alter the disastrous
attack on Fort Wagner, when the gallant
Shaw met his death at the head OF the Fifty
fourth Massachusetts, (colored). Baff1ed in
that assault, General Gilmore lost no time In
tai ing means to reduce the fort by regular
approaches, and in a few days after the
bloody repulse the first parallel had been
opened and preaching battery was in posi-
tion. Unfortunately, during a night attack
on the Union works, the rebels succeeded in
driving the men from their position and spik-
ing the guns in the battery. This was Sc
rious check, as the rebel sbarpshooters,
ensconcing themselves in rifie-pits, effectual-
| ~ stopped further progress on the part OF
I'M nj ha -ed
200-pounder Parrott, completely raked the
rife-pits, and it was Of the utmost impor
lance that it should be brought into action
but every attempt made by the Union men
ID effect this met with numerous voley
from the vigilant rebel marksmen. In this
difficulty the chief of ordnance called for VOL
unteers to restore the piece to service.
To do this it was necessary to mount the
cannon and drill out the spike obstructing
the vent while the foe were diligently occu-
pied, on their part, 10 picking off the ven
turesome workman from his perch As no one
seemed am bitious to undertake the venture,
the chief of ordnance, Colonel Mordecai, ap-
piled to Stray, who, besides being skIlle d
machinist, had given proof on several occa
sions of unusual GOODNESS and daring. As
the request of the colonel he inspected the
gun, but the shower OF bullets which greeted
his appearance was not Calculated to encour-
age him, and be reported that he did not
think any one could live long enough on the
cannon to unsplke it and having wife and
children, he was not DESTROYS OF making the
effort. Without trying TO influence him
against his inclinations, the colonel replied
that If he were willing to make the attempt
and should be killed, he (the colonelj would
see that his family were provided Tor.
This promise decided Stray, and he cjn-
cluded to try and achieve the ieat. Al night
fal! he went forth on his perIlOus errand,
armed simply with brace and bits. Ssrad-
ding the breech OF the montsrous piece, and
crouchng as low as possible, be Piled the
drill vigorously No sooner had he begun
to work than the enemy perceived him, and
fash after flash succeeded from their rifle
pits. 1t is one thing to exhibit proves
amid the clash and rush OF battle, fired by
the c0ntagiJn of enthusiastic comrades, and
another to brave death singly and deliberate
". Stray could see, as he worked, the long
rit1e-pits Ut the rebels, not a hundred yards
distant, ablaze with the light of fifty rifles.
| and feel the wind OF their bullets as they
whisted past him. Occasionally one struck
the cannon, as he noticed by the peculiar
chirp Of the impact. Favored partly by the
obscurity, and more By good luck, he remain
ed unscratched, save by one skin-scraping
shot. la fifteen minutes-it seemed to him
an hour-the vent was clear. AS the gun
was loaded. a lanyard and primer were pass
ed up to him, and these sfixed, he slipped
quickly off. The rebels seeing him drop in
| agined they had shot him and sent up Il yell
OF eXuitatioD, which was suddenly checked
as discharge of grape scattered death among
them. The rine-pits were at once abandon
I'd, and our sappers and miners enabled to
proceed without further interruption. The
captain of the battery reported twenty two
lead marks from bullets that had struck the
piece.
la reward for this exploit Stray was offer
ed a second lieutenancy but being modest
man and not fitted by education for the posi-
ton, he declined it and was satisfied to accept
the appointment of master mechanic in the
ordnance department.
This was by no means the only adventure
of peril that Stray was engaged in during
the war, and his history would make a read
able volume. He was presented by Major
General Gilmore with the bronze medal for
valorous conduct, of which we believe but
thirty-n;ne in all were ever distributed.
Stray is now an engineer employed in fac
tory in Jersey City. He is short, thickset
man of fifty or 50, with gray beard firing
ing quiet but determined couatenauce
Many less-deserving name will be handed
down to posterity, to become illustrious
with time, than that of this obscure hero,
John Stray.