Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-10-09

Sprung.
On the night when our regiment the
One Hundred and Thirty fifth Psnnsyl-
vania infantry, marched from Aqua creek
to Widow Gray's farm below Fredericks-
burg, ON the north side of the river, We
received orders to support the First New
York Independent battery. The COM
mander was little Hishman, one Of the
bravest officers I ever saw. We were
stationed in field situated high above
and overlooking the river Just west of
Mrs. Gray's brick house. An old frame
barn stood little distance from the
house, near the steep incline leading
down to the river. This was filed with
farming implements Of all descriptions,
carriages, wagons, etc. As night drew
near wo,reoeiyed strict orders to keep
quiet and be on the lookout for any
movement on the part Of the enemy
along the other side of the river. The
night was beautiful; the quiet was un-
broken, and watching the river and
the opposite bank became rather mono
tonons. Some of our bad boys land
what company did not have thems soon
began brooding over scheme to make
things lively. We had dug trenches
along the bank, 90 as to get out Of the
range of the sharpshooters ON the other
side, whom we expected to face in the
morning. As soon as this work was
done we proceeded to the execution Of
our deviltry. With as little noise a.
possible we brought all the wagons and
carts from the barn to the edge Of the
hill, loaded them with. tools, barrows,
and plows as high as we could, and
placed heavy roller alongside.
Nobody had noticed us; the stiffness
of the night was undisturbed, and sleep
had spread his wings over all, far and
near. Then the word was given, "Let
CO." The loaded wagons were pushed
over the edge, and all at once the most
unearthly noise of rumbling, tumbling,
cracking, and smashing that was ever
heard rent the air. There was no more
rest after this. We could hear the John
MES on the other side call ito arms"
muskets were discharged by some Of
the timid guards on the bank below, and
our brigade was called to quarters. The
work of the skirmishers began. At day
break we were at it in full feather and
kept 1t up until the order came Ito Chan
cellorsville." The next afternoon we
crossed United States creek, and many q
poor comrade who was active in our
''racket' at Gray's farm was left on the
field at Charlottesville, for we swung
into line just at the time of Jackson's
great charge. A little incident happen
ed after the fight. On the evening Jack
son was killed our company Coy was Or
dered into the skirmish line. While ly-
ing low we suddenly heard cry Of
'.help /! helpr' penetrating the night air,
strong at first, then weaker and weaker.
We listened until the piteous cry became
unbearable, when Charles Maggie, James
Demming, Sam Pickle, with one or two
others, including myself, went to the Of
Ger in command and asked his permits
sion to go out and investigate. The col
onel fatty refused to give it, as he feared
that it was but decoy, and in this opin-
ion he was backed by General Hooker's
chief aid. Again we listened to the
voice; again that pitiful wall for help
struck on our ears, and finally we deter
mined, cost what it might, to 60 to the
rescue. We followed the sounds eau
tiously and stealthily. We reached
small clearing in the woods, and at tho
farther end of it saw what appeared in
the dim light an improvised tent, made
Of blanket set on poles. 1t was the
spot from whence the sounds came. We
crept up closely, and finally discovered
as the only occupant Johnny" who
was shot in the hip-the only living soul
which had been left on the spot where
the day before the fierce fight had ragged.
We wrapped him up in his blanket and
carried him into the rear Of our skirmish
line, where we found him to be man
by the name of Newall, belonging to the
Twentieth North Carolina infantry.
hope he is alive now for think he
will remember that night. We had
hardly come inside our lines when fire
was opened and soon became general
along the whole line. The order being
to fall back we were anxious to Join our
company and we therefore had to lesve
our Johnnie friend to his fate. On Mon
day night our regiment was placed in
front and because of the hard fighting
and the fatigue gone through during the
previous few days, we were allowed to
put up shelter tents. 1t was the first
chance at sleep we were given since the
fighting around Charlottesville began.
Shortly before daybreak an adjutant
came riding up in gallop with the
order to be up and ready, for the rebels
were on us. It il needless to say that
we 'tumbled'' at once. We took up
our march backward in drenching rain,
thinking to find the main part Of the
army where We had left it the day before.
What was our surprise when We found
the old line deserted, the oommissary
stores scattered all around, and general
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