The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-06
WOUNDED UNTO DEATH.
An incident at the Battle Of Fair Oaks
Horrible War"

An Incident at the Battle OF fair oaks.
Horrible War"
A battle is not always whirl 81 con-
fusion and uproar. with men firing at will
or al random At Fair oaks when we
swept down in the gray of morning on
casev's division we found two-thirds Of
it unprepared for our reception. was
a sergeant in my company. and as we
hegan firing noticed federal sergeant
Of M own rank displaying the utmost
energy in rallyir% the men around him
TO check us. Some Of our men noticed
him as well and two OF three called out
that he looked near enough like Inc 10 be
brother. BY his own individual efforts
he rallied enough men TO check us TEN
porariy, but after few minutes we
drove them again and were in the Federal
camis. Then our lines broke and each man
fought for himself had singled out the
sergeant and fired twice at him, and it was
q fact that he had also singled me out
and fired at me alone. We kept adj
vancing slowly, and by and by, as we
crowded them from their shelters, got
fair view of the sergeant. For mo-
ment ! forgot that there was any one
else in all that battle. had raised my
gun when he wheeled and raised his. and
we both fired together. | went down
| like q log, having receivts his bullet IN
the right shoulder, and for two hours !
Rugged the earth beside log TO escape
being hit again by the missiles Of friend
or foe
When the fury of battle had passed on
| was lame and stiff, and as the location
was strange to me, and did not know
whether we were still advancing or in
retreat, / could not make my way of the
field. ! could not tell front from rear,
nor was there one chance in ten Of find
ing field hospital. After pulling my
self up, and holding TO tree for few
minutes, | felt better and advanced to
the spot where ! had last seen the Federal
sergeant. found him lying on his back
Nv bullet had struck him in the side and
he was fatally hit As kneh down be-
side him hs recognized me and said:
you have given ME my death
wound. "
"But you sought to kill ME, I pro-
tested, in extenuation.
Yes, / fired at you. Some Of the
men said you looked like me, and | felt
a desire 10 kill you
LET us be friends, said, as ! knelt
beside him. Il can use one hand and
arm, and perhaps ] can stop the bleed
ing"
ut is too latem he whispered.
So il was. He had lost great guam
tity of blood, and it was still pouring cut
and sinking away INTO the black soil of
the forest AS my hand touched his ne
grasped it and said:
1--WE were enemies. Let US be friends.
Give me water"
| held my canteen TO his lips until his
thirst was satisfied, and then l sat beside
him and held his hand, and watched the
shadow of death coming nearer. lie lay
with his eyes closed for long time, and
at last whispered:
Tell Mary and the children l am
coming"
Nv Heart smote me as ] thought OF
the wife and children who would never
see him again-of the black pail of sor-
row which would settle down over a
happy household.
"And tell father and mother" he
gasped Have them all corne to the
old home to meet me-"
And there was a father-and a mother
and brothers and sisters! And my
bullet would bring tears and sobs and
walls and mourning. And the sunshine
Of life would go out of many hearts for
months and years-perhaps forever. l
PRAYED him over and over 10 forgive me,
and as death came nearer ! dared not
look away from his pale face for fear
that should meet the accusing glances
Of widow and orphans through the drift
ing smoke of battle. As death finally
came he clutched my hand with firmer
clip. looked into my eyes with q last
effort and family whispered:
1T Is war, horrible warl Let us be
fricnds. God bless Mary and the chill
drenr' 81 "Ex-Rebel' in Detroit Free