Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-02-04
Brother !" Johnny"


the Wilderness. Down to the south
east of our brigade, the thick pine
woods enclosed the little opening in
front of us, and there were the john
MES in force under A. P. Hill. 1t
was one of the few opportunities where
artillery could be used in that strange
battle, and our five batteries swept and
Yaked that belt of woods with shell,
grape and shrapnel. Down went whole
trees, topping one across another, their
trunks cut sheer off. Still the Confed-
crates stuck there, half buried in
branches and bougha.
Then the command "Charge! was
given, and we went for that woody
belt-what was left of it-across Che
open stretch. at a headlong run. and
rushed into the thick brush. There
We drew the enemy's fire. In our very
jaces came the smoke, 80 hot that it
fairly scorched.
We had no time to see who fell, but
81 the forty-seven men in my company,
only twenty.one reported that night.
There were the boys in gray right under
sur noses, crouched on the ground,
with rifles aimed at us from over logs
and from beside trees, and not an inch
would they bulge. Our line went over
them like an ocean breaker.
saw but two men run back from US.
On we went with loud hurrah, to
carry and clear the woods. After pass.
mG q hundred yards through the danaAat
d the pines, We came to much thin
7er growth, with clumps of old dead
grass. Here the reserves of tho Con-
1sderates and two or three batteries
nuRht us on the fy-shells, rockets
md grape. terrific outburst from the
hft and in front, almost in eur very
hoes!
With the first explosion was struck
by fragment of sholl on the right leg
above the knee, which whirled me round
10 violently that I fell. For a minute
my limb was numb. / sat up, and put
my hands on it. The bone was broken,
and there was a white, gaping wound
where the blood gathered rapidly.
With the first throbs of pain, the Grim
Bon life-tide gushed out.
Such painl 1t is an agony which
none can know but the poor fellow who
sees his good leg or arm lying, a piece
Of shattered flesh, before his eyes, and
feels the awful hurt of a well-nigh
mortal wound, while the blood gushes
~ If in moment or two it would
drain his heart. To save my life,
bound my handkerchief quickly and
tightly around the. leg above the
wound.
For an instant I writhed, then turned
faint; so l can but dimly remember the
counter charge of the Confederates
and the wild yell with which they chased
back our broken and routed line, leap
ing over me where I lay, like eager
hoodhounds.
Following this I may, indeed, have
lain unconscious for some minutes, fol
the next thing that I recall was tn,
cracking and smoke of the burnins
pine brush and grass close by. Raisinf
myself little, saw that all out to thu
night it was blazing like q furnace, ani
the men were running back through the
smoke. The shells had set the wood
on fire.
The roar and cracking grew louder
and then the horror Of my situatio,
burst upon me. Summoning all my
strength, Tried, forgetful Of 1y broker
leg. to get up; but fell back, too veal
to even creep.
Nearer still roared and famed the
trightful fire. I shouted, and PRAYED
Heaven. l envied even the poor fel
lows about me who lay SO still and dit
not stir.
At last I got upon my hands and on,
knee and tried to crawl, but 500,
pitched forward on my face. Just thel
three "Johnnies came hurriedl,
through the brush, stopping fer an in
slant, here and there. to go Though th,
pockets of our dead-as the custom
was.
"Hallo here!" I heard. dead
your" and one of them gave me pok,
with his rife butt.
tried to raise my head.
Yes, that's hard; but got any green
backs?"
I shook my head; then, gatherin,
strength, partly turned. Two of tn,
men had started on; the third stood j,
The smoke, regarding me for a moment
Fresh from the charge, his face ant
hands were smeared' with powder stains
and his clothes were torn.
"For mercy's sake" cried, "dra,