Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-28
Ghost ON the Battlefield ~ Murfrees-


The second story is one OF a marvellous
personal experience by soldier in the hurry
and scurry OF battle, when HE mind was pre-
occupied with his personal safety and was as
far removed possible from thoughts OF
gbostly visitents or visitations II is the
experience OF man who is not spiritualist
nor believer in modern spirituslism, a SOL
der who in the time OF duty during all the
hardships oil the dreadful civil war shrunk
from no order, was deaf TO no call, but fear
lessly offered his life for his country and it's
cause. He declares that he saw the spirit
plainly enough to identify il ss that from
PROSTATE body, over which he fell, and
distinctly heard its mild reproof, and
that his companions in the race
for life afterward confessed to feeling
"queeI" at the time. This man is Mr.. Henry
Moode, at present foreman Of the APPEAL
composing-room, and he confidently refers
Tor confirmation of this strange story to
George Striker, of Winchester, Va, his sur
viving fellow-soldier. who shared with him,
and with George Fowler, of Georgetown,
KY. (who was afterwsrd killed., the hard.
ships and hair.breadth escapes Of the second
days contest at Murfreesboro. He says:
MR.. NOODLES STORY.
1t was during the war the circumstance oc.
CURED, and on the night of the I'd Of January.
1858, at Murireesboro, Tenn. What survivor OF
remembey the terrible battle of tho last day Of De.
cember. 1862 and the fierce skirmish of the evening
Of q s6en each sSd every man nm me conneceS
with that army at that time had 70 take hand one
posted between the turnpike leading to Iaversne
and Stone river, and those on the immediate line
OF .he railroad. does not remember the battlefield
thicket where the ambush fights were made, the
open fields where Bragg and Rosecrsns parked
range and the nights when the poor soldiers laid
tneis weary Dodi on shsrpedged fence-rails i'm
bedds In ankle-deep mud? But go sstray from
my ghost story. 1 always do when / talk OF these
two hsttles. My encounter with tine ghost occurred
IN the neck OF woods across the field from
the burnt brick house and beyond the railroad.
occupied this little piece of wood will remember
and thick, the result of the COMMANDMENT of the
ftrst day; how their entrails protruded through
shell holes In the bodies; how legs and arms were
know how our own dead were left unburied how
both foe and friend lay with their faces upturned
cold forms The night before the I'd my brigade
lCnalmeIss Missisippi) mufiied and crossed the
railroad to this neck Of woods, aud built tenn
porary works against picket and stray shots. On
the evening OF the I'd we were called out to fill
gap between Breekinridge's left, with our left
resting on our old ine-lhe line we last formed
just at right augle with the one previously
occupied. After few preliminary executions of
military orders were ordered TO charge and the
charge resulted in a repuse A second charge was
ordered and this also resulted in q repuIse and a
division OF the whole brigade line, This last move
was demoralizing, and the left half of the brigade
perhaps three-fourths, found their way back
70 quarters. The squad / was In was halted
of Federal troops had cut us off, and weresinaking
efforts to take us prisoners. We quickly turned,
and epdeayored 10 make our way to Breckinridge's
tweenus,we again encountered body of men who
also hailed US IN uniriendly terms. This was the
last hope we had and we turned for the river and
jumped in, receiving in our a yolIey of mus
kerry. While We were in the river, struggling for
the other shore, we were comp imented by shots
from the enemy and also received fire in front
from our friends, who believed us a few of.the
enemy crossing INTO their line. What else could
be expected than that the exctabilitSs of the SOL
der should be aroused, and his imaginative
powers wrought to such pitch that he saw only
safe delivnrance from such a fearful trap as we
were caught in. Well, got safely into our lines
lot of struggling soldiers from other commands
who were, like US, looking for home" Fowler,
ssIyss anu nnr sse. oeEam 70 eongTatSate our
of those lost, and what the thoughts might be of
our absence. So we put off for point to recross
short time we found that point, Just
opposite the burnt brick house, and almost on the
%aeS the yer ana ses ON tbe %e saR r
a few moments TO gather together and to col
lect our memories Of the route to quarters After
front. and at times by flank. But what q terrible
sight to behold. In front OF US the faint glare OF
the dying embes Pickering on the upturned
faces the uplifted arms and the raised legs of the
dead of both armies. We were commenting on
the shameless act of leaving bodies unburied and
what soldier is there who has not murmured at
the speedy burial of the officer, the soldier
Mason, the soldier Odd-FelloH when known and
leaving to the sun and rain. and almost to the last
hour OF rot The brave private soldier. While we
were thus decanting on these musages, the mar
row escape OF that present. evening and the pros
psct of the future my foot struck the side of a
dead Confederate. In doing so I lost my balance,
ana IN Trying 70 regain my equilibrium threw
the muzzle oil my gun across the body, and that
act threw me into STOPPING posture with his
white upturned face staring me. At the sam
time heard gurgle and great God there stood
before me that same d. ad soldier enrobed
in spotless white. His robe seemed 10 be
like that OF an Episcopal minister and of pure
white gossamer, gathered Ground the neck and
opened a. the foot This soldier stood before me
with head bowed. and gaZed at me with a wound
ed look, saying, "Tou should not have done this -
as IL waiting for an apology, at the same time
on a wound from whish flowed a scarlet stream OF
blood. could not speak; could not move;
strained my eyes as one naturally would to catch
second glimpse, and II is hard for me to say
which left first, but 1t didn't take long to make
time" on the honest etch for quarters / be-
heve ran over every dead body on that field
that is, between the one / encountered and the
| camp of my company-and cleared all Of them
with ten-foot bound every step. 1t makes me
whatever you call II, every time recall the event.
as plainly as see you now. don't wonder at the
chilly sensation often told of by one experience
ing narrow escapes and assure you never want
10 see smother ghost, be II genuine or counterfeit
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