The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-03-24
s'ITDID BUSTARTER ALL"
The Remarkable Experience of Soldier
With All Old Confederate Shell.

The Remarkable Experience of Soldier
With All Old Confederate Shell.
While the Union army lay at Harrison, S
Landing, in July, 1862, quite an amusing
incident occurred, which will bear relating.
It is we'll known that the river forms
loop about the landing, enveloping some
considerable territory, and that the neck
connecting with the mainland is quite mar
row. Across this neck, Immediately upon
our occupation, we constructed breast.
| work, mounted guns, etc., for defense, and
to guard against surprises OF sudden attacks
on the part of the enemy maintaineda heavy
picket-line still in advance.
Upon one of these posts there happened
to be stationed, along toward the middle Of
July, q detail Of some half dozen men
from different regiments, and among the
number raw recruit from the back woods
of Maine.
The day was exceedingly hot, and, ap-
pretending no danger, the old vets" with
drew to cool retreat, leaving there cruit on
guard in the edge of an open field, from
whence he could observe the approach on
the unwelcome visitors.
We had just gotten into a comfortable
snooze, when bang went shell, the pieces
of which cut the branches above our heads
for our comfort of mind.
Immediately everyone was on his feet.
The works in our rear were manned and
every preparation made to meet the enemy,
whom, it was supposed, was close at hand.
One thing rather puzzled all hands. No
one had heard the report of a gun preceding
that Of the exploding shell-what could it
mean?
Forming skirmish line we moved eau
tiously forward toward where the recruit
had been left. The point was reached, but
the embryo soldier had disappeared. There
was slight hummock or knoll in the corner
of the field, close up to the timber, which
attracted the attention of one Of the men.
Examination showed the imprint of spher-
ical body, and the freshly torn up earth and
other signs Immediately assured us all that
a shell had burst there.
Prosecuting the search still further, the
gun of the missing conrade was found
resting against tree in the edge of the
woods, and in few moments the body of
the owner Of the weapon was found lying
senseless-dead to all appearances-un-
der a fringe of bushes few feet from
where the missile had evidently exploded.
His clothes were torn into shreds-he was
covered with di1t, blood and powder stains,
but vet upon rolling him over and carefully
examining his person no wounds could be
detected further than those made by grains
of powder, and other fine substance, which
had punctured the skin, and numerous
scratches, principally about the face.
One of the boys poured a canteen of Wa
ter over him, and another produced small
flask and allowed few drops Of "commis-
sary'' to trickle between the half closed
Jaws down his throat. In five minutes all
were rejoiced to see the eyes of the seem
ing dead man unclose. Lifting him up in
sitting posture one poured water on his
head another whisky down his throat,
and everybody piled him with questions,
but to these he made no response.
There was vacant far away look in his
eyes, and when asked whats the matter?'
he only answered: "Damino!" Where
are YOU hurt" "Damfno!" the po-
tent liquor had taken firm hold on him.
Presently, sitting upon the ground, his
feet straight out before him, one hand rest
ing upon the earth by his side, he raised the
other, drew it across underneath his nose,
wiped it upon his hip, and drawled OUT" Gaul
darn the old thing, it did bust, arter all. y
That was all to be got from him. He
Was sent to hospital where he remained fo1
some little time, for he had been fearfully
Suaken up,ae "de euooe4AonVly "HooA Se1AAoo
It appeared that he had found an unexplo-
ded shell-one of those thrown at us by the
small detachment of confederates which
followed our retreating column-and hav-
ing partially removed the fuse-cap, which,
according to his story, was intact, had bro.
ken a cartridge into the cavity and entered
upon series of experiments with burn
ing glass he Glanced to have.
He had flashed two charges by focusing the
rays of the sun, and sat upon the ground
with the shell planted upon the hummocl
between his legs, and when the third flash
went off-himself with it. That was the
way it happened, and it is doubtful if sim
liar occurrence could again take place, pro-
viding person willing to make the expert.
ment could be found, with as little rea
damage as resulted to the raw recruit fron
Maine in his pursuit of knowledge.