The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-07-22
A Letter From Col. A. D. Shaw,
U. 8. Consul to England
Manchester. Eng. June 2Stf

U. 8. Consul to England
Manchester, Eng. June 2sth, 1880.
EDITORS FARMER.-In reading your
issue of 10th of June 1880, I noticed
the Rame Of s. S. Gardner, formerly a
Corporal in Co. A., 35th Reg, N. Y.
Vols.
Two Incidents connected with his
service have impressed themselves in
delibly on my mind, and ith your
permission 1 will present them to your
readers:-The first took place on the
disasterous battle Of Fredericksburg.
Va. where our splendid army lost SO
heavily, and at last was compelled to
retire across the Rappahannock, de-
creased in numbers and greatly weak
ened in morals.
The covering Of the retreat was en-.
trusted to the 38th n. Y. Vols, and
Go. A. was the rear guard. Corporal
Gardner was attacked with fever two
days before we advanced across the
river, but to all appeals that he should
so to the hospital he turned q deaf
ear. Go he would with his company,
and 90 he did, although he looked far
more fit for a bed than for bivouac.
His sunken eyes, pale face and trem-
bling step told all too plainly that the
fever held him in a firm grasp,-anl
yet he could not be prevailed upon to
leave his company. I frequently ap-
pealed to him to allow me to 90 with
him to the hospital and to see him
safely cared for, but he sternly refused
all assistance. lie would ''stay until
we beat the rebels or re-crossed the
river" l shall never forget that
weary night march silently back to
the northern shore Of the river,-the
last remnant OF Il baffied army, and
last Of all came Corporal Gardner,
just barely able to aoalk, with two de-
voted comrades in company, one carry.
ing his gun and the other his KNAPP
s;,ck-in addition to their own. FIRE.
quent :'rests" had to be made, and
finally, after trying march, just as
the pontoons were about to be raised.
we reached the river and trudged
wearily across,-the last Of our army
to do so! Here Corporal Gardner was
placed in an ambulance and his COM
rades left him, with his last words
ringing in their ears, ''Thank you,
boys, and may God bless you for your
Kindness; feel very sick but | aoould
ruth,r haze died than to haze been
thought cowurd.' Three months af-
forwards Corporal Gardnerre-appeared
in his cid place in his company, fully
restored to health.
The second incident took place at
the second battle of Bulls Run. The
35th Regiment was formed IN the sec
Ond line, which struck at the rebel
center, on that nevcr-to o-be-torgotton
day. The first line pressed on through
the woods in front to ;ln embankment
two hundred yards in advance, while
our second line halted in the edge Of
the woods. \ terrific fire opened up
on us, from rebel battery III front.
and for a few minutes all was con-
fusion. We received the order to lie
down. which was oheyed with alacri-
ty. and Just afterwards some Of our
regiment began to fire OH the first line,
which was sheltered by the railway
enbankment from the enemy's fire,
and in clear view Of our troops. In
the confusion and smoke the color of
our soldiers clothing was mistaken,
and q hot fire was being poured in up
on them. At this juncture, and un-
der \ withering fire, Corporal Gardner
seized his gun and running down our
line shouted at the top Of his voice,