The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-05-09
ALEXANDRIA, La, WEDNESDAY, MAY D. 1888.
UNWR1TTEN HISTORY.
AN INCIDENT OF THE BATTLE GF MUIR
FREESBORO.

lie NuSuSlllC y '"N >"N''
interviewed eek Confederate" the
other day on war matters, and among
other things he related the following
incident:
One of those circumstances which
show that man under all cases Is
akin. occurred at the battle OF Muir
freesboro, It was on Wednesday
night after Cheatham brilliant
charge by which the Federal light
was doubled over on its centre, and
Chea,ham's corps lay at right an
yles to the Confederate lines. The
n,uosts of the Cnnfederates were
far within the recent lines OF tue
Fedcrals and the ground was strew
ed with Federal dead and wounded.
1t was a bitter cold night, clear ana
frosty. a terrible time on the victims
Of mans passion. The extreme out
posts were formed by the Twentieth
Tennessee, ana SO close were they to
the enemy that they were forced 10
lie down in the dark without fire or
light, and even then an unwary sen
linel paid for The forfeit of his rest
lessness, for the enemy fred at every
object which had any motion about
it. and the relief had TO crawl to his
post on his hands and knees. AT II
the line OF seulinels were replaced,
and among others, Frank Battle, son
of the Colonel, then lad OF sixte n,
e took his place along the line. lie
!: had not been long at his place before
e his attention was attracted ny tue
E bitter means and grouns of wound,
(. ed soldier his front. The wounded
X man seemed to be in the agonies OF
q death from cold AND wait of wa'er-
q a common suffering with the wound,
y ed. His cries had continued since
II dark, and he swore and begged fo'
help, implored and execrated oy
l. turns, and his cries were heart-rend
$ ing in the extreme. Franks sympa
u thjes were at once enlisted for thl
|d poor enemy, and he remarked to hi
Il associates his determination TO go t.
S his relief, but his friends told HIN
r. would be certain death, as the enem.
III were only short distance oey'n
IN the wounded man, aud If they woul
he not relieve their own man, it was u
he husjness of theirs to do it. Fran
N listened TO these just reasons, an
he for a short time acted on them, bt
ia in q short time he announced his II
e" tention to try it anyway, "for, sal
ny he, ."that cry will haunt me to N
las grave unless l do something tor b
IN relief" Seeing be could no long
''o' he persuaded, his friends begged hi
'ks at least to- be as cautious as poss'b
los and told him they would cover III
ers to the best of their ability. Thel
rty. fore, stealthily creeping on all lou
ur he started out, guided by the groa
the now become faint. Fortunately
port mo,id(is were unnoticed and he slo
his IL made his way to the poor FEEDER
ems and finally reached his side, and
mi close were the enemy 10 him
not could see them family in the St
lden light. Whispering TO the man '
res was nearly dead not to make
here noise, lie put his canteen to
ton. mouth, and the poor fellov aim
will exhausted it's contents. He t
De stripped his blankets from his sh'
over ders and carefully wrapped it arc
my the man and put chunk under
nina head. The poor fellow grasped
close hand and whispered; "God bless
,e no and preserve you for this grac
ween act; you are thousand times be
they than my own people," After u
hate inc him as comfortable as poss
IS are under the circumstances, Franz
rthur the same cautious manner, retu
He to his associates, who little expe
and to see him alive again. Wheth'
n any not the man survived that a
ilarIy night, fatal to so many wounded
of a Who might otherwise have recov'
mali. no one knows, and only the ey
Dana One witnessed this brave and c
e civ table act of boy.
ccom. There are thousands Of such
revo- unknown and unrecorded in th
Luence nails of that cruel war, but He
onspi gives love to His creatures rev
public. them for such noble deeds.
,. "A dispatch from Washingt
80 the Times Democrat says: Mr..
of the wv la,tar -
tor Gibson, in which he says tt
croton is watching the suit at New o.
ey are involving the question whe'b
lie ex donation for educational purpo
virtues Louisiana are to be taxed or nj
es are will make another donation, ht