The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-01

started together for their rife pit. watched
through an embrasure and saw one fall In
stantly he began to dig little hollow with his
hands in tho sandy soil. and instantly the rebel
sharpshooters went to work on him. Tho dust
few upon ono side Of him. then on the other
Tho wounded soldier kept scrapinR his little
trench in the sand. We called to him. lie an
swored that his leg was broken below the knee by
rifle ball. From the ri1o pit we heard them
call to him to take of his canteens, tic tho
strings together. and set them on ono side. Ho
did so. and the thirsty mon In tho pits drew lots
to see who should risk his life for the water.
get kecnly Interested in this dicing with death
and watched intent. soldier springs out OF
tho pit. Running obliquely he stoops as he
passes tho canteens, grasps the strings. turns.
and in n flash is safe. Looking out see the
dust rise in little pufrs around tho wounded
man. and with quickcninR breath feel that his
minutes are numbered. l motto a conspicuous
man in tho rife pit and recognize him as the
comrado OF tho stricken soldier. He calls to his
disabled friend saying that no Is coming for
him. and that he must rise as no comes near.
and cling TO him when no stops. Tho hero
leaves the pit on run tho wounded man rises
up tho runner clasps him in his arms tho
arms OF the wounded ono twino about his neck.
and he is carried into our battery at full speed.
To the honor Of the rebel sharpshooters be- 1t
| shlu lnht WUcn tncy unucfblOOu what was polnk
| done they ceased shooting.
One day few Of Bcrdan's sharpshooters
came to our battery and took position to shoot
| through the ombrasures. l walked over to an
old grayhairod man who had ahcavy telescope
| rifle and entered into conversation with him.
| mentioned that was n good shot with rife.
and suggested that he let me shoot. Ho re-
fused. gently accused him of being n greedy
| old man. selfish in his gray hairs. aud finally
| worried him into letting me look through the
telescope on his gun. OF course his resisting
virtue was gone. Twas easy TO coax
powder and balls out OF him. Loading tho
rife l hunted for rebel game. Spying
through tho glass I saw n number Of
men dressed in butternut and gray clothes
walking about. men in souchod hats loaling in
rifle pits. but could not single man to shoot
at. After while o fellow in n red shirt APP
| pcared. That shirt distinguished him from tho
rest and came very near causing his death.
lie stopped TO talk. l put the cross-hars
directly on his breast and pulled the trigger.
| Watching. saw him duck his head to the right.
| called TO the sharpshootcr in the next embra-
sure that had shot at the chap in the red shirt;
had shot at an elevation OF 500 yards; had over
shot and shot a little TO tho left. and called to
| him to try for tho red. so tho red shirt was
shot ut again. Tho wearer realized that some
thing WAS wrong and ran for the rifle pits Ho
got of that time.
| took q stick and poked away tho dirt on
one Side Of the embrasura until | could SEQ tho
great chimney Of some planters house. stand
| ing guard over the ruins Of the mansion. Look
| lng at the chimney saw thrce holes in it, and
saw pufls Of smoke issue from them every now
and then. So l knew there were three sharp
shooters in tho chimney. | laughed to think
what a Joke it would be 10 shoot a ball through
the topmOst hole. kill the rebel there. and make
him in falling carry tho others down with him.
So lwentto work TO produce this laudabe result.
| shot. and cleaned my borrowed gun and shot
again. l saw the red dust ny from tho bricks
near the opening. and was encouraged and
also saw a responsive pun Of smoke from tho
chimney. and soon heard a rifle ball "spat"
into the log by my head. Another pun from n
lower hole. and another ball sank into my log.
I shot a couple OF more balls. and then grew
disguised with the knowledge that the three
men in the chimney were bent on killing me.
Satisfied that they would succeed If | continued
fOoling around that embrasurc. | gracefully re-
tired. restored tho rifle TO its aged owner
thanked him for the amusement furnished me.
walked over to my gun and lay under II. and
slept tho sleep OF those who have done their
duty. am sorry to tell that my gray haired
frianI vraS snot through the head before
night.
a battery Of Cohorn mortars was brought up
into the ravnc behind us. Tho Captain Of this
battery was a tail. handsome man. Hc used to
be In our earthwork q good portion Of his time
watching the fire Of his mortars. Hc would
jump on q gun and look over the works or he
would look out Of tho omhrasure Ho seemed
to bo pleased with the position OF No. gun. and
spent hours there. Boy like talked To him.
II would have talked to a Field Marshal IL | met
one.) He told me many things about the NOR
tars and in turn. | showed him how TO got a
fair look Mt the rebel line without exposing
himself He playfully accused me of being
afraid, and insisted that at GOO yards n sharp
shooter could not hit q man. But had seen
too many men shot in our battery 20 believe
that. SO he confidently continued TO jump on
guns and TO poke his head into embrasures.
went 10 the spring after water one day While
walking back met four men carrying body
in n blanket Who IS that Z" | asked The
Captain Of the mortars" was the reply Stop
ping, they uncovered his head for me. | saw
where the ball struck him in the eye and saw
the great hole in the back Of his head where 1t
passed OUT.
was very young, aad therefore soft and tho
lack Of good food and loss Of sleep told hard on
me. Indeed, got utterly used up. So. one af-
ternoon Of this battle that lasted nearly week.
when but little was going on. said to my SER
Reant: So am played out. and want q nights
sleep. will dig a trench back here. II posi-
bic let me sleep tonight or will be on the sick
list Ho promised to let mo sleep unless
something urgent happened in the night. ate
my supper, wrapped a blanket around me. and
lay down in my trench. Tho guns roared
} about me. tho bullets whistlcd over mo; but.
overcome with utter exhaustion I fell into n
; deep sleep. was awakened with strong grip
, on my shoulders. was lifted up and violently
shaken. and the earnest voice OF the gunner
told mn to run TO my gnn. They have got an
enhlnding fire on US the sergeant cried to me,
; Dazed. half awake stupid from the deep sleep
, and coming sickness. sat on tho brink OF my
trench and wondered where l was. heard.
" Ho Frank! YAH No l." sharply screamed.
heard the shot crash into our horses. l saw a
caisson shoot Rloft. a cloud of flame and smoke.
, Still not awake. | started for my gun. saw
the blaze of the fuses. OF the shelis rs they
y whizzed by. ! saw countless nrciics and. in
my exhausted. half-awakened condition.
COMPOUNDED tho shells and flrcncs together
and thought they were all shells. Tho shock to