The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-08
A Story of the War.

DurlnS UHe Winter OF lSOS i was at
tached to confederate infantry reei-
ment in the Shenandoah valley, says
a writer in the Detroit Free Press.
Sheridan harrassed us some, but after
the cold weather finally set in there
was little excitement along our front.
In placing pickets entire regiments
were called to the front for a week,
and it was about the Goth OF January
that our turn came There were cav
airy videttes on the road by day, but
they were withdrawn at dark, and the
infantry pickets alone were between
camp and the enemy. The federal
picket post, opposite the point where
Istood the first night, was IN the
woods and three quarters OF a mile
away. There was no firing either by
day or night.
Between me and the picket was an
open field crossed by several stone
walls. About the middle OF the field
was large tree. l was given permits
sion to walk as far as this tree. if Ifelt
1T necessary to exercise, and was warn.
ed that would probably be shot at
if l passed beyond it. My turn came
from 10 to 12 on bitter cold night.
l tramped u path about thirty feet
long in the snow and walked it for
hall an hour. There was no earthly
excuse for me to set out for the tree,
which could barely make out in the
starlight, but by and by a spirit of
deviltry urged me that way. / want
ed to run a little risk-to feel that
a Yankee picket was looking and lis
tenlns and making ready to fire at me
if crossed the halfway line. got in
the shadow OF the stone wall and
started out, and when | had made
half the distance l caught sight OF
some one under the tree.
While stood and watched him he
climbed the trunk. He couldn't do
any sharpshooting by night, and I
couldn't make out what he was after.
He came down after a few minutes
and then he mounted large stone
which rested under the tree. l was
wondering what his eccentric actions
could possibly mean when he disap-
peared off his perch and 1 saw him
suspended in the air. 1t was some
one who was hanging himself, and it
did not take me many seconds to
traverse the rest of the distance and
reach the side of blue coat who was
twisting and kicking about in a very
lively manner.
had him down in no time by cut
ting the rope. but it was no small lob
to revive him. He was more than
half dead, and | worked over him for
a quarter OF an hour before he opened
his eyes and asked:
"Where am II"
"You are still on earth"
"Who are your"
ga Johnny Reb."
"And didn't hang myself?"
"Iou tried to, but cut YOU down.
1t seems as if you are in an awful hur-
ry to be planted. Why don't you
wait to be shot2"
'Well, what did he do but sit up
and began to cry and sob like q griev-
ed child, and it was five minutes be-
fore he explained;
"l belong to the -th Ohio. got q
letter from home this afternoon, and
after l read it | diln't want to live
any longer"
But an old soldier shouldn't be so
affected. Is Your wife dead?"
"Worse-a hundred times worsel
She run away with a blacllleg, leaving
my two little children to be cared for
by the town"
| talked with him for quarter OF
an hour, and made him feel that he
must live for his children. The hang.
ing had weakened him good deal,
and by and by he got up, clasped my
hand like wise, and exclaimed:
Johnny, I'll do it! 1 was coward
to thing OF leaving the children to 90
to the poorhouse. Pm going to live
for them"
Bully for you, Yank, Take an
other sip of this, and I'll be going"
He drank again from my flask, gave
my hand another grip, and as We
turned to walk to our posts he called:
Heaven bless you, old boy. esrll
let the base woman go and try to for
get her. You've saved me to my chill
dren, and God reward you!'
l thought the reward had come
when, one day in 1868, received a
letter from Ohio from the man I cut
down that cold night. Enclosed were
the photographs OF the children.