The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-23

said he, found 1t yesterday. / did not know
1t was in existence" Sentence by sentence he
read it to the veterans around him. 1t was dated
Battlefield, Sept. IL, 1862" and, in short.
vivid sentences it told of the struggle which
they had just gone through; how his comrades
had fallen beside him, and how he had been
spared The letter sounded strange on such
bright, peaceful May day as yesterday, and the
grey haired soldiers were silent for moment
when he had finished.
Colonel Dudley then Joined the party. He
told how the ground had been covered with the
dead and dying pointed out the spot where Gen.
Mansfield fell, and, from his commanding posi-
tion on horseback. indicated the various points
of interest within sight. The little church Of
the Dunkers was next visited. 1t was used as a
hospital for a time. but the shells toro
down its walls until they actually
buried the wounded soldiers 40 had
sought shelter within them. 1t has
since been rebuilt, and on its steps yesterday
little bovs, to whom the war is even now ira
dtion, had spread out for sale varied collection
of relics-bullets. bayonets, swords and pistol.
'sThese are new pews," said the man in the
church, ''the old ones were used for collins
From the cemetery good view obtained
of the fields where Fitz John Porter lay with his
Is, 900 men. and of the road where Burnside
crossed the bridge in the afternoon of the 18th,
continuing the fight of the morning Where the
party stood-the crest of Cemetery Hill-there
had been a confederate artillery company. but
the men had left their guns 1t was the key TO
the situation, but the federal forces did not
occupy it Burnside came up the hill, but he
was too late. The confederates had been re-
inforced and General Hill. striking his flank.
turned him back The little party Of officers
who looked over the field yesterday
argued over again the questions which
the battle Of Antietam was fought,
Why were not Fitz John Porter's men
brought into actioni Why did not Burnside
make an attack with his left wing simultaneous
- A. AZ ss~1k H.. 40
only been here, said one officer with sigh OF
regret Even keeper of the cemetery caught
the spirit of criticism. "When General Hooker
paid his last visit to the field. some years ago."
said he, "he was driven down to the bridge
which Burnside crossed. Paralyzed as he was;
he raised himself and stood upright for mos
ment, although trem bling with weakness why
did he delay so longT the driver of his carriage
heard him say as he fell back in his seat"
There was more humor than there was criti-
cism, however, among the veterans General
Bragg, who was in the party, proved himself an
excellent story-teller. A colonel, so one OF his
incidents went invited him to dinner one day to
taste s'the finest quarter of mutton that the
country afforded General Bragg, with grim
humor, sent out a forager, and the mutton was
soon in, his tent To the Generals tent
again came the colonel. He hemmed and
hawed. and he talked about everything
except the dinner. Finally, as he was about to
go, he remarked. casually: by the way, General,
you need not come over to dinner tomorrow. It
was just as you predicted would be the case.
Somebody has stolen that muttouP
How unfortunate" said General Bragg, sym
pathetically. "But why can't you come and dine
with me- have secured fine piece of mutton,
also.r
'Not as good as mine, General
"Come and see it," was the only reply, and
the colonel went out to inspect the mutton.
pretty fair, General" said he but mine was
better"
The next day the colonel dined with the Gen.
era
How do you like the muttonW said the Gen.
era
''Ah," said the colonel, with sigh. ''ah. Gem
era, if you could only have dned with me,
would have shown you piece of mutton even
better than this"