Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-12-02
A PLUCKY SOLDIER.
DRAGGING A WOUNDED COMRAOs
OFF THE FIELD AT GETTYSBURG.

OFf lfe FlelD Al Se ' SSOhS.
4 Drummer Boy Who Had to Shoulder
Musket-His ENcitabilIty While Tn
der the Confederate Fire-A PeriIous
Journey.
Speaking about pluck, said Col Higgins,
Of NaveTly, Of whom a reporter had just
been making inquiries there goes a fellow
whom saw do as nervy thing as l wit
messed while ! was in the service"
The reporter looked across the street in the
direction in which the colonel had nodded,
and saw Dick Enderlin plodding along, hands
IN pocket. in his matter OF fact, Indifferent
sort Of way.
1t was at Gettysburg" remarked the
colonel, knocking the ashes from his cigar
You probably knew that Dick enlisted as Il
drummer boy. He was in my company, and
he beat drum Tor all that was out: beat it
so bard that you couldn't find drum heads
enough il the army To keep him supplied
and a short time before the Gettysburg fight
he came to me for the sixth or seventh drum
head, and just gave him gun, He kicked
little, but took it, and made pretty good
use Of 1t afterward, too.
IN THE WHEAT FIELD
I Toward the close Of the first days fight at
gettysburg our rcslmental line was stretched
] along the crest of the ridge adown the side
: Of which was a field of wheat almost ripe
/ enough for the reaper Much of il had been
/ cut that day, and more was destined to be
| cut on the mOrrow-rUt by shot and shell
and swept by the musketry of the two
( armies. On the opposite side of the field,
ami but frightfully short distance away,
were the rebel lines Twice that afternoon
We had charged across that wheat field in the
effort - drive the Crcmy from their position
and twice had We been driven back, leaving
many Il dead and wounded man among the
standing wheat. The wheat was 50 high that
when lying down one Could not been seen by
the enemy, and for some time before the
charge was ordered We had occupied the
position described, keeping up sharp fire on
ths enemy, and receiving as good as we sent
in return. | couldn't help but be amused at
Dick. In order to save the men as much as
poSSinIe, directed them to lie down to do
their loading, and only rise TO deliver their
fire; but Dick insisted upon standing up all
the time Three or four times / yelled at
him 10 keep under cover or he would get hit,
but, in a few minutes, excitement would get
the better of him and he would be on his
feet again, loading and firing as rapidly as
he could handle his piece.
When the sun had gone down and the
shades Of night had checked the firing con
siderably several OF us were standing
grouped together, looking out over the field
Of wheat, wondering what had been the re
suit of the days work and what would be the
Of .b.,r
wounded man. way over in the wheat, groan-
inG terribly. HIS moans were sickening to
listen 70, and it got 50 after a while that !
couldn't stand it any longer. So, taking off
my haversacb, l handed it to Enderhn, who
was standing 10y, and remarked that was
going for that fellow
A TICKLIsH UNDERTAKING..
This rs every one knew, was a r.etty
tickish piece Of business, for, although it was
then night. the moon was shining, and at
every rustic of the wheat that indicated the
possibility OF its being moved by a human
being the JohnnieS would send their musket
aud rifle balls through it in a way that made
1t very unhealthy for any person that might
be concealed there.
Still resolved to chance il, and getting
down on my hands and knees | began TO
worm my way through the wheat in the di-
rection OF the groans. had got but Few
yards, however, when felt some one grasp
ne by the leg. and heard Dicks voice:
Look here, major he said, you mustn't
go out there. You might set killed, and we
amt spare you; let me go
"Why, | don't believe you could get the
fellow in, Dick l replied; be is probably
hurt 50 bad that he has 10 10 carried, and /
don't believe you could carry a man in that
way and through that wheat
Wei, you Just come back and let me try
it, said Dick, I'll bct you that bring him
in Saying which, Dick bolted ahead,
worming his way on his belly through the
wheat, as carefully and cautiously as posi-
ble, 50 as 70 avoid attracting attention,
while / returned 10 the line and awaited
results
He was gone long time, 50 long that
began TO grow uneasy, but finally he mads
his appearance, crawling on his stomach
through the wheat, and on his back, with his
arms clasped around his neck, was a poor
devil whose hip had been shattered by a
nusket hall.
Where did you find him, Dickr asked
him, as we lifted the poor fellow off his back
He was within a couple of rods Of
the rebel lines was Dicks reply, as he
crauled to his feet and stretched himself after
his long trip
Dick, said l, YOU are a sergeant OF
course | meant in embryo, for at that mo-
ment there wasn't any vacancy, but there
were plenty of them within twenty four
hours. ."-CldlLcotbe Leader Interview.