Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-12-31

more wounds, even II they should NOT
prove fatal at once. / felt as
large as man looks who weighs
800 pounds. ! wanted to give orders
to have my brigade withdraw, but even
from my solitary position l could see It
move away in good order under the
cover OF smoke caused by RAPID nrlng on
ootn SIDES ihe Federals followed the
retreat, moving cautiously at trst for
they nad been much shocked ana sur
prlsed Dy the nre from my men, As 'ne
Federal line passed over me- the omcers
urged thelr men forward, anu ! was
I Eobhged TO near them say, we nave them
started now and must keep them gong.
MY arm began to pain me lrightiuilY ano
looking up | iouno tnal one OF lhe ohlon
soiulers was trging 70 get my neiu-g glass
ana my snattered arm was tnrougn 'ne
strap ana resting upon IL.
Wait, said, until can lnt my
arm through.
"Be quick, then, replled the sol
der.
"No doubt he tried to be careful in
taking off the glass: but he got 1t as
quickly as possible and hurried to his
place in the ranks, at the same time
placing the prize over his neck.
'sIn a few moments all was quiet
around me. lay there trying to realize
that less than an hour previously I had
been riding at the head Of my brigade,
mounted on good horse. Now my
division bad been driven back. Between
it and me were the enemy. / was riddled
with shot and alone. The heat was op-
pressive. l looked around for cooler
spot Near at hand was tree with
sprouts growing ont around in ledge
of rocks bedded with leaves. Slowly I
crawled around and lay down in hol.
low of the rock in the shade. Here was
a slight movement of the air, cool and
refreshing. / thought of snakes when
got in. but had left nv belt sword and
pistol where / lay first. 1 was just en-
joying as much as Icould the olbreeze
and bed of leaves when / espied Fed
eral straggler coming through the woods.
He saw my weapons, stopped, then dis
covered me.
"'Where are you wounded2' he asked.
Il told him as well as could.
Have you any greenbacksg ne de-
manded
q None
s.I viii. sect
CHE kneeled down and began to
search my pockets. Ihave since thought
perhaps it was well that my weapons
were out of reach. Weak as was from
the loss Of blood my indignation made
me forget pain. He took my pocket
book, watch, some letters, a knife which
had been presented me in 1859, plain
gold ring which | had worn for many
years, and my nice new slouch hat, leav-
ing his old battered hat behind as ne
departed.
ssA few moments later anothe, Federal
soldier came up. He was an Irishman.
He did not want to rob me. He in
quired all about my injuries, and finding
that was suffering from thirst, went to
spring three quarters Of a mile away
for some water. A group of Averilps
cavalry came up. They ranged around
me in a semi-circle and INQUIRED about
our command. numbers. etc. avoided
giving any information that would be Of
any service to them. Then they began
to see how desperately l was wounded
and how much was suffering. They
looked at my bloody sleeve lying by my
side, saw my bleeding leg, and then
began conversing with each other.
While they were occupied among them
selves, l heard something moving in the
dead leaves among the rocks above my
head. I tried tospersnade myself that #
was ground mouse. but noticed that it
approached with a sliding motion. It
was snake. The reptile glided past
my ears, up my temple and across nv
forehead, and stopped in the sprouts. its
tail hanging down near my face.
g please come and kill the snake and
not let it bite mel called to the
soldiers.
They looked around and down at me
in amazement and then at each other,
evidently thinking that was delirious.
called out again and big. young fel.
low bent over me and saw the snakes
tail hanging from rock among the
leaves, near my face
xxsyr, t bs.~s