The Columbus journal., 1884-01-02

YOUNG SOLDIER
Confederate Lead wo nd Not
Kill.
There came before the examining
board at it's session In Columbus this
week a man who was q young sol.
der in . Michigan regiment during
the late war. His case is an excep.
!! tional one.
Twenty years ago the battle of Get
tysburg was fought.
Among the many regiments and
brigsdes that fought in that memors-
BILE battle and others that followed it
to the close Of the late war and the
surrender Of Lee at Appomstax, was
tie Fifth Michigan cavalry in the old
First cavalry brigade. That regiment
WAS one of the four that formed the
brigade with which Gen. Custer earn
ed bis reputation % q hard and dash
ing cavalry fighter. 1t was the first
in the United States army that fought
with Spencer repeating rifles.
In its ranks was one Samuel K.
Vsnderksrr, q besrdless youth who
was more conspicuous for bis sttenu-
ated form than for bis personal at.
t~ractiveness. He was six feet, two
inches high when standing without
boots and weighed only AS to $50
pounds.
In appearance he was . frsil, slen.
der boy whose physique was the very
opposite of thse chosen for . hardy
soldier.
The second day after the close of
the battle of Gettysburg, where the
regiment lost heavily in killed and
wounded, the Fifth Michigan were
pressing the columns of Lees army,
and by attacking the enemy sharply
brought on an engagement at Smiths
burg, Md.
Skirmishers we're deployed dis
mounted, and advanced on the enemy
through q piece Of timber to an open
field. The volleys Of musketry csme
thick and fast, and men were falling
along Gil parts Of the line. A sergeant
had just fallen MORALLY wounded by
Vanderkarr's side, and died where he
fell. "A soldier also had just fallen
neal him, pierced through the breast
with q ball, while many were wound.
ed less severely aud we're being help
ed from the line.
Among the last who fell was Van.
derkarr. A A cslibre musket ball
struck him in the left breast, and
passed through the lung and lodged
in the muscle near the spine.
The surgeons Of most regiments
had all they could do to care for the
thousands who were wounded at Get
tysburg during the two days of that
terrible slaughter.
The Fifth Michigan had no surgeon
to attend their wounded at Smiths
burg. Two soldiers were ordered to
take Vsnderksrr to the rear, and as
soon as time would allow, his COM
handing officer rode back to examine
him. Cutting the c0arse army shirt
from the soldiers back the young
officer, who had not reached is 2lst
year, found that the ball had passed
through the lung and lodged in the
muscle near the spine where it had
made q bad confusion through which
the blood had ceased to circulate. 1t
was q hot July day aud the muscle in
which the bali lodged was 80 swollen
that it was seen the bali should be re-
moved at once. Time was precious,
for the regiment to which the soldier
belonged must "mount" and follow
up Lees %retresting columns.
The officer referred to having learn
ed enough of anatomy during his
school.boy days to assure him it
would be safe to cut for the ball, re-
solved to do so at once. Learning
that a country doctor lived near by,
an orderly was dispatched for him,
and the two amateur surgeons at once
placed the soldier on his face, and
then and there, with rude instruments
of torture without an snesthetic or
stimulsnt to administer to the wound
ed boy, they cut the ball from the
soldiers back.
The patient was still strong and re-
sisted vigorously, but two determined
doctors were quite enough to carve
even the stoutest soldier when held
with face downward. Time was an
object, however, and the incision was
made long and deep; the ball was
soon found aud taken from the back.
Hemorrhage ceased from the mouth
rs the patient was placed on his back,
for the new opening allowed the
blood q more direct passage.
The acting surgeons had performed
their part. The captain had placed
the heavy ball in his pocket, when,
calling q number of soldiers to the
side of the rude bed on which their
wounded comrsde lay, with looks
that betokened sorrow, all bid him
goodbye"
They mounted and rode toward the
front. As the horses galloped on the
boys courage during the day was
spoken of, aud all felt they would
never see him again.
Time passed on, the war continued
and the officer who had acted the part
of y field surgeon, though wearing
but bars then, was oon made q COL
onel by Gen. Clusters recommends
ton and written request, on account
of handling his regiment so effectively
when in command during the battles
recently fought.
That regiment continued to serve
in the field during the war, following
Generals Sheridan and Custer thro'
all their campaigns. Wand erkarr was
often spoken of by the colonel and the
company officers, all agreeing that he
certainly must have died.
Eight months or more elapsed, when
there appeared at the headquarters Of
the Fifth Michigan cavalry in the
front, the soldier whom it was sup.
posed had died. Though he had but
partially recovered, yet he was able to
ia HYL~- Al >~A @, A.