The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-12-03
A PLUCKY SOLDIER.
DRAGGING A WOUNDED COMRADE
OFF THE FIELD AT GETTYSBURG.

W.T. '''@ V'GSO ~ GC ~ IO0On0'
Drummer Boy Who Had to Shoulder
der the Confederate Tire-A Periloul
Journey.
speaking about pluck" said Col. Higgins
Waverly, OF whom reporter had just
been making inquiries, "there goes a fellow
whom saw do as nervy thing as l wit
hessed while was in the service"
The reporter looked across the street in the
Erection in which the colonel had nodded
md saw Dick Enderlin plodding along, hands
I'm pocket, in his matter of fact, Indifferent
sort of way.
ut was at Gettysburg" remarked the
colonel, knocking the ashes from his cigar.
"You probably knew that Dick enlisted as a
drummer boy He was in my company, and
he beat drum for all that was OUT beat it
so hard that you couldn't find drum heads
enough in the army to keep him supplied,
and 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 it afterward, too.
IN THE WHEAT FIELD
Toward the close Of the first days fight at
Gettysburg our regimental line was stretched
along the crest of the ridge, adown the side
of which was field of wheat almost ripe
enough for the reaper. Much of it had been
cut that day, and more was destined to be
cut on the morrow-cut by shot and Shell
and swept by the musketry of the two
armies. On the opposite side of the field,
and but frightfully short distance away,
were the rebel lines Twice that afternoon
we had charged across that wheat field in the
effort to drive the enemy from their position,
and twice had we been driven back, leaving
many dead and wounded man among the
standing wheat, The wheat was SO 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
the enemy, and receiving as good as we sent
In return. [ couldn't help but be amused at
DICK In Older to save the men as much as
possible, directed them to lie down to do
their loading, and only rise to deliver their
fire. but Dick insisted upon standing up all
the tline Three or four times l yelled at
him TO Keep under cover or he would get hit,
but, III 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
sidesably 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
Jesuit of the morrow, when we heard some
wounded man, way over in the wheat groan-
ing terribly. His means were sickening to
listen to- and it got SO after while that l
couldn't stand it any longer. &c. taking off
my haversack, l handed it to Enderlin, who
was standing by, and remarked that I was
going for that fellow.
T1CKLIsH UNDERTAKING
"This, as every one knew, was a pretty
hcklish 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 human
oeing the Johnnies would send their musket |
md rife balls through it in way that made !
t very unhealthy for any person that might
,e concealed there.
"StfTl resolved to chance it, and getting |
Town on my hands and knees l began to
worm my way through the wheat in the di- |
'ection Of the groans I 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
70 out there. You might get killed, and we
ant spare you; let me co.
"Why, don't believe you could get the
elbow in, Dick l replied; he is probably
lurt SO bad that he has to be carried, and ]
lon't believe you could carry man in that
way and through that wheat
"'Well, you just come back and let me try
t. said Dick, I'll bet you that bring him
n Saying which, Dick bolted ahead,
vorming his way on his belly through the
Wheat, as carefully and cautiously as posi-
lie, so as to avoid attracting attention,
While l returned to the line and awaited
esults.
"He was gone long time, so long that
egan to grow uneasy, but finally he made
lis appearance, crawling on his stoLlach
Trough the wheat, and on his back, with his
rms clasped around his neck, was poor
evil whose hip had been shattered by a
nusket ball.
Where did you find him, DickY l asked
i'm, as we lifted the poor fellow off his back
He was within couple Of rods of
he rebel lines was Dicks reply, as he
rawled to his feet and stretched himself after
is long trip
Dick, said I, you are sergeant OF
curse meant in embryo, for at that mo-
lent there wasn't any vacancy, but there
vere plenty of them within twenty-four
bo 7 4 T.,