Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-05
Alefauor1a 6ax&tte
TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 6.
"A Story of the War.

"a SJOfy Ol Guc "uTs
The following is narrated by a correspondent:
At one time during the winter of 1861 l was
on duty at the headquarters of the Department
of Western Virginia, then in charge Of Gen.
+. w. Lander. One day it was reported to
me that certain prisoners 10 building near BY
were suffering for food, fuel, medicine and
chance to wash. l Immediately visited th,..
and found them to be West Virginia Co1ied'
crates in charge Of the West Virginia Unver'
sity, and between these two classes there was
no love lost.
went back to headquarters and soon found
myself engaged with the generals and colonies
there assembled in an animated discusslon. l
maintaining that though it was impossible for
US to give all our own sick the attention they
ought to receive, and our own soldiers must
necessarily suffer from the cold, that, nevertho'
less, our honor demanded that We see to It that
our prisoners had every comfort. was 10 the
minority, but not alone in the debate, and 1t 1t
had not been for General Lander l could not
have carried my point. Iu few hours | had
the, prisoners and their quarters well "ashea
and fed, an abundance of fuel, the SICK made
as comfortable as possible, and the guard
changed. In few days the most of them had
taken the oath of allegiance to the United
States and been released. They were mostly
men who had been arrested on suspicion of BE-
ing spies or bushwackers. They took occasion
to call upon me in squads and thanked me for
what had done for them, till | got heartily
sick of it and used to avoid them.
On the 18th of Sept, 'G2, lay ou the battle
field of Aptietam, faint, bleeding and help.
less. Our lire had been driven back from
where fell, aud the Confederate ambulance
corps was busy at work near me. raised
myself on my elbow, and in doing SO, attracted
the attention of two men who were about to
carry off wounded Southeruer. They imme-
dia.ely abandoned him. and calling me by name
made themselves krown to me as two Of the
men whom had bcfliended in Western VIZ
ginia. They carried me off the field and de-
positco me in the rear Of straw stack; then
one Of them went away moment and returned
with Stonewa Jackson and his staff.
The headquarters surgeon examined my
wounds and gave me braody. One OF the aids
knelt down beside me and made record OF my
name, company, residence, etc., and asked nc
who was 10 command CT our army that day.
and if | knew the number Of men We had and
what that number was. TO which l replied
that Gen. Mcclellan was in command, that J.
knew how many men we had but should not
tell the number, but that he would find before
night that we had enough TO lick him out OF
his boots
lie rose up in haste, and stepping to the side
of Jackson's horse, gave in the Information he
had obtained and knew from the quick glance
and half smile Of Jackson when he was report.
iDg to him that he knew the exact number OF
men We had on our side. Then the surgeon
had moments conference with Jackson, and
returning to mo said: Gen. Jackson tells me
to say to you that you will be Immediately start
ed for Richmond n an ambulance and with
guard, that you will be detained 10 the city til!
the close of the war, under guard or on parole
as you choose"
He then mounted his horse to procure sn AMI
bulance, but had ridden but few PAGES before
horse, which reared and threw itself over back
ward breaking the neck of the surgeon and
causing instant death. The shells came thick
and fast. and Jackson and his staff rode forward
to the line. But my two West Virginia friends
stayed by me and gave me every care and at
tention, till cannon shot passing through tho
upper part of the straw stack set 1t on lire. when
one of them went up and put it out; but as he
was sliding down another ball passed through
and entirely severed his head from his body.
Still the other one remained faithful, and, as
night came on, he told me that orders had been
given to fall back, and asked me which l would
choose-to be left to fall into the hands of my
own men, or to be taken back and receive d
great deal better care and attention in Rich,
mond than would in my own lines. 1 told
him my kindred lived North and, if l was left
on the field, l should, if l lived soon bo q!
home, and I chose to be left.
From that time forward had 10 further ro-
collections until some time the next day, came
to myself and heard voices. and, calling out to
them. it was discovered that stakes from ths
fence had been set against the stack, and tho
straw had been pulled down over them, 80 that
I was sheltered from tho cold night air, and con-
cesled. A canteen full Of water, q full haver.
sack and loaded revolver were beside me. and
my watch and pocketbook wero under mo-
in hl0n6