Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-11-08
TWO w A INCIDENTS.
Brave Men Whom Death Could Not Frighten.
fFrom the Philadelphia Times.l


(From the Philadelphia Times.l
Captain John S. Cutler was on the
ronvalescent list, and so was left behind
at Brashear City with some two hundred
other convalescents, among them
soldier known as sold Clip. When
our boys drove the enemy from the field
with an exultant cry, the assallants,
who understood the country thoroughly,
turned their faces toward the almost I'M
protected camp at Brashear. At early
dawn on Monday morning, the 23d OF
June, they deployed suddenly upon the
camp from large wooded swamp III the
rear of the little town, and took the men
entirely by surprise. Under Captain
Cutler an attempt was made at resist
ance. but the onslaught was SO sudden
and unexpected that the men could not
be brought together, and the attempt at
defense was feeble. "Old Clip" was
man of iron frame, slow to move, always
good-natured, but with the grit of
bulldog III his honest face. He was one
of the last to yield; and this he did not
do. although covered by three cOnfeder
ate rifles, until, shielding himself behind
a hogshead, he laid one of the rlt1emen
low, and before he could reload for the
others they rushed upon him, and, dis
arming hm, demanded his surrender.
Even then he refused, and was I'M
mediately knocked down by dubbed
musket, when one of the enemy, placing
a foot upon him, plunged a bayonet
sheer through his body and into the
ground under him.
The bayenet was so rusted it was only
with considerable effort that he could
slthdrax ii. He raised it for second
plunge-theR for the first time the
sturdy old soldier cried, Enough"
The appraised ann was stayed and the
desperately wounded man managed to
crawl to building a short distance
away, where the confederate surgeon
was attending to the wounded brought
in, and was cared for by him. "You
don't stand more than one chance in
thousand of living, though" said the
surgeon when he looked at "Old Glp."
The wound was In the region of the
stomach, but its exact location / am not
able to give. Strange to say, he did not
die, but recovered sufficiently to return
On crutches to his home in Sherburne,
ChenaRgo County, N. Y, where he
finally died of the wound about eight
years ago. ''Old Clip" never could walk
without his crutches after that fearful
bayonet thrust.
About the time the scene just related
was being enacted, or directly after it,
that still more bloody one [ set out to
relate took place. Captain Cutler, as
soon as he saw the utter uselessness of
sal attempt at defense of the camp,
withdrew to house IN the back part of
the town. and seating himself IN chair
upon an open s6oOp or veranda, dressed
IN full uniform, with his sword and re-
yolyer by his side, coolly waited the Ger
tain coming of the victors. He had not
long to wait. AS soon as the resistance
ceased the enemy broke up into squads,
and began looking for Union soldiers,
taking prisoner all they came across.
a squad of FIVE Of them approached the
house where the captain was quietly
sitting, each armed with s. rife and
flushed With victory. As soon as the
captain was spied the five rifles were
brought TO bear upon him, and the
customary demand was made to surren-
der. The captain deigned no reply, but
drasping his sword In one hand and his
revolver III the other, he returned the
summons with look of stern defiance.
The enemy halted, forthey saw they had
determined spirit to deal with. Again
they demanded that he surrender, while
the five rifles pointed threateningly at
his head.
Gentlemen, [ shall never surrender"
vas the only reply they received.
The captain was fine soldierly-look
ing man, of tall, commanding form, hair
slightly tinged with gray, cleanly-cut
features, and resolution stamped in every
lineament. His would be captors were
men of hearts, and they could not but
admire bis unfinching bravery. But
the rules Of war are memorable. The
yanqulshed must yield to the victor. The
southerners first demanded, then begged
of the captain to give up his arms and
not throw his life away. They stated to
him that unless he surrendered the five
would be obliged to shoot him. But his
purpose was unalterable. Said he:
'sWhen | enlisted | swore I would never
surrender to confederate, and, so help
me God, [ never will" And he did not.
The crack of rifles broke upon the air,
and the tall form of the brave man sank
hteless to the floor. He died grasp1ng
firmly the hilt of thesword he would not
surrender, and his very death-lock was
one of stern defiance.