Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-08-19

the grass to rest. On looking about
he was startled by seeing a hand
lying on the ground that had been
torn from the body by some terrible
missile; but the BODY whose pulsa~
tions had warmed it was nowhere to
be seen. When the battle was re-
newed he went again ernestly TO
work. The enemy, strong and we'll
supported, pushed fearlessly for
ward, while the Union force had
out one thin line, and that now fear
fully decimated. Burns took little
care of bis person, and he was
finally struck in the side by two
musket shots that eventually pro-
duced rapture; but still he would
not yield Again he was struck. now
on the buckle of his belt, the shock
bending him nearly double, aud for
few moments he could not speak;
but be recovered himself, and might
then have retired with honor and
safety, the Brigade with which he
had been fighting having already
gone. But now the enemy were
coming nearer, and his chances for
shooting were rapidly improving,
and he stood at his post firing away
until the Rebel line was close upon
him, when he received a severe
wound in the arm, an artery being
severed, from which the hemorrhage
came near proving fatal, and another
in his leg, the limb being completely
paraIyzed, and be could Go no moro
neither retire nor even stand. His
first thought was to divest himself of
every appearance Of combatant,
we'll knowing that be could not hope
for mercy with the evidence Of bav-
ing participated in the fight found
upon him. He accordingly threw
away his gun and the four cart
ridges which still remained in his
pocket he buried, digging for the
purpose with his pocket knife.
Weakened by the loss of blood, be
soon became oblivious, and when the
final charge of the enemy was made
he was insensible, and was passed
for dead At six o'clock in the
evening sergeant and six men en-
gagged in gathering the wounded,
attracted by the strange sight of
an old grey-hcaded man in his ordi-
nary dress, bleeding from numerous
CHASTITY wounds, approached and
stood spell-bOund before him. After
moments silence they turned him
upon his side, and seeing he was still
alive, inquired, g How came you
here" "My wife," answered Burns,
"was taken suddenly sick this morn
ing, and | started off from the town
to cross this field in search of girl
who lives out beyond hero to come
and take care Of her, and was caught
between tho two lines, and ~ you
see am badly wounded" 81 believe
be is an old liar" said the sergeant,
"but he will never harm Us any
MORE" said the sergeant; and passed
on, leaving him in his misery. He
then dragged himself along on the
grass to where two dead Rebels and
a Union man with thigh all crushed
by cannon shot were lying Not
long after burying parties came and
covered his three dead companions
with earth whore they lay, to whom
be repeated the story of hunting a
girl; but they were alike incredulous
He finally fell asleep and rested till
eleven when he was awakened by
the tramping of sergeant posting
his guards It had been raining and
be was chilled. We called to the
guard for drink of water. which
was given him and blanket in
which he wrapped himself.
CAT dawn he heard the cocks crow
ing and saw a guard not far off, TO-
ward whom he began to roll and pull
himself along. An officer approached
and told him to get to hospital.
BY great exertions and with excru-
ciating pain for bis clothing was
stiff and rasped the lips OF the un-
dressed woundS-he reached a little
og-house and pulled himself upon
the cellar door when his strength
failed him and he faintod, and it was
some time before BIO recovered. He
was taken up and carried into the
loft of the house, which was full OF
wounded. Seeing his exhausted
condition be was offered some black
berry vino by the good woman, but
be stubboi ply refusod it from rigid |
sens Of his duty in view of his
pied Je to total abstinence. He sent
a message TO an old friend who lived
near 10 come and take him back TO
towr; but before he arrived, "a
neighbor Anthony Sullivan, was re-
turning with his family, and laying
Burns gently in his wag IN carried
him to his own homo, arriving about
two O'Clock on the afternoon of he /
second of July. The report had
spread that be was killed, he having
been last seen badly wounded, and
it was with a thrill Of joy and relief
10 heart hardened with anxiety and
grief that he was met at the cottage
door by his wife But his home was
now a hospital crowd d with mutlll-
ted soldiers A place was made for
him in an upper room, and his
wounds were dressed by the surgeon
in charge, Major of the Confeder-
ate army from North Carolina. As
Gen, EwelI was passing his window
the doctor asked Burns if he had
ever see n the General, and Kindly
raised him up to look out. Barns
gazed an instant, and then, as though
not impressed with the Generals APP
pearance, exclaimed, "Humpbl The
old boogor has only one leg, and has
to be strapped to his horse" On
Friday Captain and Lieutenant
visited The house and approaching
him inquired, "Well, CID man, how
did you como wounded?" Again he
had recourse to the story of his sick
wife. "Bat who shot you your own
n,~e9fi 81 aarfs N sba+ -