The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-05-10
STORIES OF THE WAR.
Three Interesting Episodes OF the Great Civil Con.
htct-The Rival SharpshooteTs-A Volunteers
First Experience or Actual Service--An Alligator
Adventure.

Three Interesting Episodes OF the Great Civil Con
hict-The Rival Sharpshooters-A volunteer'i
First Experience or Actual Service--An Alligator
Adventure.
tSan Francisco Call
MI. Thomas d. iIoskins, gentleman connected
with prominent local Insurance company relates
,h l a,oowing Incident which, he states gave him
nus nrst experience Of the actual horrors of war,
though already no stranger TO open conflict In battle
Al one time during The campaign In Tennessee
vance or the main body of troops the enemy's out
posts being also advanced until the two lines were
nnt a short distance apart one morning, while the
members OF the company were carelessiy lounging
about In the shelter OF few trees In an otherwise
clear HELD no foe being In sight, one of the men
suddenly uttered cry and fell dead, while q
moment later the report of a rifle was heard from
the direction of some farm outbuildings some dis
lance away and known to be too near the enemy TO
A light cloud OF smoke floating Just above the
ROOF OF achcEen.honse showed the position of the
dent that sharpshooter had seized the opportunity
TO exercise his deadly profession, and as matter Of
course the position Of the pckets was anything but
comfortable. Even before the dead man could be
properly examined another man was badly Injured
by the concealed marksman, whose position, how
ever, was now known the shot was seen TO be red
over the rdge-pole of the building referred to- show
Ing that the reman was lying upon the further side
Of the roof. AS is common in farm buildings Of
TINS character, the upper row of shingles projected
on one side above those on the other, and 1t was
easy for the marksman TO conceal his exact position
by these projecting ends, even while frlnc thouph
there were plenty Of cracks through which he could
whole volley was fired at him without effect. the
mnskets lacking In range, followed by general mis-
cellaneous Efforts TO no more purpose. Meanwhile
from the roof, and failed of most serious eff.
fec three men being killed outright in the course OF
az honr, and others more or less badly wounded.
Inc trees, winch were OF small size, afforded little
or no shelter, such was the fatal accuracy of his
aim, and the officer In charge was seriously Consider
ssye to the
their own side, attracted by the sound OF the ring
stT sire, up. lie was quiet sharp-featured man,
higher walks of life. A'
He touched his hat to the officer In command and
asked, " Shall try him, Captain"
mFor Gods sake, yes' was the answer
Ihe sharpshooier took his stand behind one of the
a Few moments OF breathless suspense passed, when
the white pun OF smoke again showed itself over the
rooi and the Captain himself sank to the ground
badly, though not fatally, wounded AT the same
instant the report OF the second remans piece was
heard, the spllnters were seen to fly from the
falling forward half the ridge OF the roof and
lying there motloness, evidently having been In
s,tanty Killed The successful marksman gazed at
the result OF his work moment, and then remark
Ing: % thought I'd do 1t. Hope you're not badly
hurt, Captain" stroled carelessly from the spot.
Ihe narrator states that though several of his COM
rades lay dead or wounded around, the victims of
the enemy just slain: yet. as he looked upon his
his life had been TAKEN he c0nd hardly avoid turning
from the sight of the man walking 30 careessy
with something of the same feeling Of loathing
long, under the blazing Southern SUM- the body ~
the dead man lay upon the roof.
HE LOST HIS BOOTS.
Another war story is told of the first experience In
actual service Of dashing young volunteer from
New Orleans, Maurice Crowell by name. He was
captain OF company which he had raised among
ms OLD schoomate friends of his boyhood, all OF
them burning with martial ardor, and yearning for
the hour or battle. For some weeks their expert
ence included nothing but marching and ordinary
camp me- and II was not until sent north Into Ten
nessee that they were brought. within striking dis.
lance OF the foe. One night, while the regiment to
upon the slope OF range of hills, the men were sud
denly awakened by an alarm of intended surprise
on the part of the enemy
All was immediately hustle and preparation with
more or less inevitable confusion. Our young cap
tain mad lain down to rest among his men, wrapped
Of pair OF boots rather too tight 10 seep In COM
lortably; In the first moment of confusion they
were ,e ether accidentally appropriated by some
placed them. In vain he felt wildly around In the
They were not to be found. He
Ieet but all to no purpose The drums were beating
% arms and the ranks were forming. FaR In line!
Fa IN iine /" was heard on all sides, His own com
ind the missing boots. The Colonel, ery Old eray
beard came dashing along the line, waving his sable
Fail IL Gap as 81 Pa
The whole regiment was now formed, and Still the
hopeless search continued. young relative of the
.ake. Maurice, take your placeI' "Buf can't ind
ny boots, y answered the unhappy young onicer.
"pM your boots returned his cousin; fall In
With Sigh for the missing foot-gear Maurice at
as Welded TO theinevitabe, and, drawing his sword
ne gallant fellow he was, he led on unfnchlngy in
two.mile march over rough, stony ways, among |
'rers and brambles, II he were not shoeless and
movement. uo
we'll
His bravery in the skirmish which followed de- |
)rlved OF It's sting the Joking to which he was SUBJ
ected for weeks aferward, Joking whlch-alas, that
he narrative should end ihus.-w brought to a |
arried the Young fellow home to New Orleans, with
bullet through his body, to die among his Kindred
cnolng with his last breath the words Of another |
'alant soldier had only one other life to give
or the cause!n
AMONG THE ALLIaAToRs.
stu another story, this OF different tenor and
tosa, law partner OF the present Congressman,
Barclay Henley, and, when mere boy, attached TO
he Confederate service.
His brigade was encamped for some weeks In a |
narshy district OF Alabama, and about quarter OF
mile from the lines was deep pool of water, some
ny yards In diameter, upon one side OF which a
mail Knoll rose abruptly to an altitude OF perhaps
wenty feet the slope next the water being very
teep and perfectly smooth covered with a short
md II was daily occurrence for some OF the men
ocllmbupo the opposite side OF the hiock and from
he oser-fringed summit watch the gambols OF the
lngainiy saurlans. one morning, while Mr.. Oates
ND Young companion were enjoying the spectacle,
ne latter made a sportye feint OF throwing his
omrade down the hill, which, TO his horror by some
lccident proved too perfect a success, our hero
Hope
In vain he dug his hands into the earth. The
hope was steep and as smooth as glass almost, and
u an instant he plunged into the water in the very
or moment, and they darted TO the other side OF
he pool, but az the hapess soldier wildly clawed al
ne bank IN the effort to keep from sliding still
urther ana entirely under the water he expected
very moment 10 feel their Jaws close upon his mind
egs, MS companion WAS rendered parayzed and
ome moments gazed yacantly down on hls SPLASH
ng comrade, whose efforts were every Instant grow
ng ieeber. Finally the cause OF the accident col
nd as the next best thing he tore down a long
Keeping yine and Hung the upper end to his friend.
me latter grasped II Instantly and with surpass-
Dg activity, born of the horror of his Condition
lambered rapidly up the slope.
His companion only needed to see him safe once
more, when fears Of his own safety arose in his
nind, and not caring to face his comrade
o incontinenily took 70 his heels. The sight OF his
ompanlon upon the idea OF exacting satisfaction.
nd ~ he recovered strength aud breath his indig'
alton began TO fairly boil and he started In pursuit.
nat he was pursned to be incited te redoubed en-
n,'s, ana Tue TWO ran race to camp entirely with
" record ~ point OF ne time made The sight OF
lampede. The pickets were called in ana the
rlgade put under arms, IN readiness 10 repei any
regiment or two With all manner OF threats OF the
uard-honse and court-marlial, 10 protect the
nd was one lime Sefore ibs alo oss pa,sa,er
ISL OF his bath with the alligators.
Young Men!-Read This.
The yoltac Belt Company, OF Marshall. Mich.
ns sl 70 seaa leer Celebrated
men young or old) AFFLICTED with nervous debility