Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-08-31
4 PsihsiIe war incident.

IL
from La Moille, Ill, to Chicago pa
per: Much comment has been made on
the bravery Of an English marine who
caught up shell from the deck Of a
bombarding vessel at Alexandra and
dipped the fuse into a pail Of water,
thereby preventing its explosion and
its accompanying disasters, for which
he is to receive special decoration from
the hands Of the queen. Since which
there has been many comparative
cases Of similar bravery mentioned
among our own Yankee soldiers dur
ing the late war. There are few per-
sons whose fortune it has been to be
under fire but have observed much Of
the same kind Of coolness; indeed, it
was SO common that only the cases
coming under the notice of newspaper
writers or officers high in command
were ever noticed in print or official
reports.
My thought in writing this was to
tell story Of different character, but
one in which the courage Of a young
lad was not less marked under sadder
surroundings.
On the second day of Antietam I
was ordered by DR. Samuel Rollins, p.
r. V. R., to find a place where there
was water and shelter sufficient to ac-
commodate field hospital. "A place
having all the requisites, close to our
line of battle, was found upon the
farm of Mr.. John Snowman, and his
barns, sheds, house and yards were
quickly filed with rows Of wounded
men.
Though out Of range Of the enemy's
guns, it was place to try the courage
Of those in attendance. Every move
Of the surgeons was watched by scores
Of men, and upon arising from as
many lips would come the much used
salute, For Gods sake, doctor, attend
to me now
One little fellow, about seventeen
years old, was particularly urgent in
his calls. Upon going to him I found
that he had been struck in the right
side Of the abdomen with a grapeshot,
making two wounds-one Of en-
trance and another Of exit
through both of which a large
knuckle Of bowels was protruding.
The case looked SO hopeless that
passed him by with a promise that
would call again, and went to work on
cases where there was more promise Of
doing some good. But every time
arose from patient his pleading eyes
would meet me. and his pathetic APP
peal could no longer be resisted; 50
hunting up DR.. Rollins and enlisting
his ready sympathy and able hand, we
placed him under the influence of chic
roform and made a faithful attempt to
replace the protruding and infamed
bowel, but found the injury. so great
that the case was beyond the help of
the surgeon. We left him to the care
Of a comrade. Upon his return to
consciousness he asked the result His
friend declined to give him the infor-
nation, but summoned me- sat
down upon the ground beside him and
told him of the sad results of our eff
forts, and assured him that the end
was surely and speedily coming.
Then," said he, "there is no hope.
must die" Upon being assured that
such was the case, he asked for his
knapsack, took from it some keepsakes
and asked that they be sent to No. I1O
Chestnut street. Phila., the home of his
mother. He requested that / would
write his mother, telling her Of his
death, and where the body might be
found; that / would say to his mother
and sister that he died with heart
tender with their precious memories,
and that he died without fear or re-
gret, giving his life for his country,
which they had taught him to love so
well. His name was Bryant-W William
H., I think. I have forgotten the COM
pany and regiment. After making his
arrangements, he lay with the greatest
patience and cheerfulness awaiting the
final discharge which came in a few
hours. Not a murmur or complaint,
but perfect resignation until the last.
This is one Of the tenderest Of many
sad recollections of army days, and in
my opinion showed courage Of a
higher character than the wetting Of a
fuse OF the hasty putting Of a shell out
Of the way of doing personal damage.