The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-01-16

"ln a few moments all was quie
: ..fn1,n.. 80 L., : :, gro sssss:... :.
realize that less than an hour prpvi.
ously had been riding at the head
of my brigade. mounted on good
horse. Now my division had heen
driven back. Between it and me
were the enemy. / was riddled with
shot and alone. The heat was op-
pressive. l looked around for cool
er spot. Near at hand was a tree
with sprouts growing out around in
a ledge Of:r0cks bedded with leaves.
Slowly l crawled around and lay
down in a hollow of a rock ia the
shade. Here Was a slight movement
of the air, cool and refreshing.
thought of snakes when | got in, bot
had left my belt, sword and pistol
where 1 l;'y first. / was just erj,y.
ing As much as could the cooi breeze
and he'd of leaves when l espicd a
Federal straggler coming through
the woods. He saw my weapons,
stopped, then discovered me.
"Where are you wounded?' he
asked.
II told him "a we'll as could.
"'Haye you any greenbacks p he
demanded.
"N0ne.'
"'I will see!'
He kneeled down and besan TO
search my packets. l have since
thought perhaps 1t was well that my
weapons were out of reach. Weak as
| was from loss of blood my indigna.
tiOn made me forget pain. He took
my pocket book. watch, some letters,
knife which had been presented me
in 1s59. A Main gold ring which l hat,
worn for many years. and my nice
new slouch hat, leaving his old bat
tered hat behind as he departed.
"A few moments later another
Federal soldier came up. He was an
lrishman. He did not want to rob
Inc. He inquired all about my inju-
ries, and finding / was suffering from
thirst, went to n spring tnree-quarters
of mile away for some water. A
group of Averill's cavalry came up,
They ranged around me in semi
circle and inquired about our com.
mand, numbers. etc. / IavOided Civ.
ing any information that would be of
any service to them. Then they be.
gan to see how desperately l was
wounded and how much was suf.
fering. They looked at my tloody
sleeve lying by my side, saw my
bleeding leg. and then began convers-
ing with each other. While they
were occupied among themselves,
heard something moving in the dead
leaves among the rocks above my
head. / tried to persuade myself
that 1t was ground mouse, but
noticed that it approached with a
sliding motion. 1t was a snake.
The reptile glided past my ears. up
my temple and across my forehead.
and stopped in the sprouts, its tail
hanging down near my face.
"'Please come and kill the snake
and not let it bite me- called to the
soldiers.
Iney n"5Ne'i ai0un,i anu -ti55Syii IL
me In amaZement and then at each
other, evidently thinking that was
delirious. called out again and a
big young fellow bent over me and
saw the snakes tail hanging from a
rock among the Leaves, near my
face.
"'There is a snake. boys, sure
he cried.
"The soldiers gathered around to
kill it. / thought the reptile would
urn and bite me. 1 raised myself to
sitting posture and begged of SOL
lier:
Please stand over me and hold
~ my head. so it can't bite me?'
"He complied good-naturedly and
t was a great relief to have him stand
here and hold my head with his
'rawny hands. When the snake was
Iilled, it was found to be a large moe.
.asin."
"Genersl," was asked at this point.
'were you not unconscious during
his trying ordeal ?"
"Only once that WAS when the
urgeOns had me stretched Oh table
nsds Of door and under tho inAu.