Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1881-05-18
BROTHER JOHNNY.

1t was the third day of the battle OF
the Wilderness. Down TO the south
east of our brigade, the thick pine
woods inclosed the little opening in
front of US, and there were the John
MES" in force under A, 2. Hill. 1t
was one of the few opportunities where
artillery could be used in that strange
battle, and our five batteries swept and
raked that belt Of woods with shell,
grape and shrapnel. Down went
whole trees, topping one across the
other, their trunks cut sheer off. Still
the Confederate stuck there, half bur-
ried in the branches and boughs.
Then the command Charge was
given, and we went for that woody
belt-what was left of it-across the
open stretch, at headlong run, and
rushed into the thick, brush.
There we drew the enemy's fire. In
our very faces came the smoke, so hot
that it fairly scorched.
We had no time to see who fell, but
of the forty-seven men in my company,
only twenty-one reported that night.
There were the boys in gray under our
noses, crouched on the ground, with
rifles aimed at us from over logs and
beside trees, and not an inch would
they bulge. Our line went over them
like an ocean breaker.
saw two men run back from us.
On we went with loud hurrah, to
carry and clear the woods. After pass
ing a hundred yards through the dens-
est of the pines, we came to much
thinner growth, with clumps of old
dead grass Here the reserve Of the
Confederates and two or three batteries
caught Us on the Ay-shells, rockets
and grape, a terrific outburst from the
left and front, almost in our very
faces.
With the first explosion | was struck
by fragment of shell on the right
leg above the knee, which whirled me
round 30 violently that l fell. For a
minute my limb was numb. sat up,
and put my hands on it. The bone
was broken, and there was white,
gaping wound where the blood gather
ed rapidly. With the first throbs of
pain, the crimson life tide gushed out.
Such pain. 1t is an agony which
none can know but the poor fellow who
sees his good leg or arm lying, piece
of shattered Aesh before his eyes, and
feels the awful hurt of well nigh NOR
tai wound, while the blood gushes as if
in a moment or two il would drain his
heart. To save my life, l bound my
handkerchief quickly and tightly
around the leg above the wound.
For an instant / writhed, then turn
ed faint; so that but dimly remem-
bered the counter charge of the Con-
federates, and the wild yell with which
they chased back our broken and
routed line, leaping over me where l
lay like eager bloodhounds.
Following this may, indeed, have
lain unconscious for some minutes, for
the next thing that l recall was the
cracking and smoke of the burning
pine brush and grass close by. Raising
myself little, / saw that all out to
the right it was blazing like a furnace,
and the men were running back through
the smoke. The shells had set the
woods on fire.
The roar and cracking grew louder
and then the horror of my situation
burst upon me. Summoning all my
strength, / tried, forgetful of my broken
leg, to get up; but / fell back, toe
weak TO even creep.
Nearer still roared and famed the
frightful fire. ! shouted, and prayed
Heaven. ! envied even the poor fel
lows about me who laid so still and die
not stir.
At last | got upon my hands anc
one knee and tried to crawl, but soor
pitched forward on my face. Just then
three "Johnnies," came hurriedly
through the brush, stopping for an in.
slant, ht-N and there, to go through the