Middletown transcript., 1888-09-06
THE CHARGE AT ROUND TOP.

almost a half hour ne stood there gaZ
ing with what might have been the alb.
straction of retrospection upon the one
point in the picture. IL l"..'
/ Presently short, thick-set man de.
tatched himself from the crowd and
paused by the side Of the tall man.
The short man had a stubble face, gray
eyes, a wide, loose mouth and more
than adequate chew of tobacco. He
stood close to the tall man, joining his
silence to that Of his companion for
five minutes or more. Then he said
| "Howdy, stranger
The tall man looked down rather
solemnly but not displeasedly, /" Howdy
| yourself l'' he replied.
."Purty far pictur,'a remarked the
short man casually.
| +" You bet % said the tall man.
Ever seen it afore ?''
You beti'' SO
Reckon mebbe you fit in the late
war 2''
"You bet.'' p ~
"Confed?n
:" You bet not l''
ST wuz ~
The tall man did't answer for some
time, during which he seemed to be
rejecting deeply. Finally he drew q
long breath and said : '' All right ~
"Wus you thar p'' inquired the
short man, indicating the picture in a
general way.
/" You bet i'' said the tall man.
"Whar pn queried the short man.
There l'said the tall man, point
ing toward the spot which had seemed
to rivet his attention forso long a time.
"When ?'
The tall man showed signs of ami
nation. I" Say, stranger . he began,
it pears to me you are mighty curl
GUS like. What Il I was there an
what # I wasn't there another p,
The short man laughed good
naturedly. Well," he answered,
nothin'. Only was thar too.''
You ?''
"Meln
Where p''
Thar 70 exclaimed the short man,
pointing to the exact place before
designated by the tall man.
The tall man looked closely at his
companion and then at the fascinating
location in the picture. That there's
Round Top" said he, at once asserting
his own information, and inquiring
into the validity of the others.
Exactly" asserted the short man
" That thar's Round Top"
Neither spoke for a minute or two.
Then the tall man turned again from
the attractiveness of Round Top to
the consideration of his companion.
"Looky here," said the tall man,
slowly, 81 want to tell ye somethin.
I fit at Gettysburg on the day It Sykes
and Longstreet's men were raisin' hell
to git hold of that there little ridge.
1 was there with Sykes. I'd been laid
off for while sick, but got to work
fore Gettyburg. Looky here III I
ever killed airy one twas at that there |
Round Top. I hadn't been in no other |
battle to speak of, and hadn't never
shot to kill anybody in pertickler, jes'
lettin' fly in gineral way IS you might |
say, but that day durin' the charge I
seen a little drummera boy, reb, It ID
got hold of gun some way an he was
a pintin' at me, close range. Ilet him
have it fust, an be rolled over nigh |
onto stump an ketched there, an I
got just one glimpse into his big gray
eyes fillin with tears, am heard just
one little sob from his white throat,
which you could see on account of the
Dustin open of his shirt, an then the
charge come right up onto me an
was lifted clean often my feet an
never seen the boy no more. No,
never seen him no more. But stranger
I can't git that boy out o. my mind.
Pm always dreamin' Of his eyes an
his throat with the sob into it an al
ways wonderin' If he died. If I'D
killed more of, 'em it wouldn't bother
me so much. but to think of fellow
goin' to war an killin' one poor little |
gray-eyed drummer boy-say. stranger,
I'd give thousan'so' dollars II I had
e'm to know It that kid got wellp'
The short man had listened with
keen interest at first -afterward with
the quietness of one who knows ex-
actly what his companion is going to
say. When the tall man concluded he
looked up.
"Ya'as," said the short man,
. you've got it right. You all shot me
n the lung, an though it took me a
light smart while, 1 pulled through.
So can forgive you, don't you see.
ran,t as if I'd a died. I don't git no
,ain from it, neither. Yes we can
'orgive you all now."
That tall mans face beamed. "Is
t true ?' he cried. "Be you the
drummer chap ?''
"Sure," said the short man. 4.
"Come 7, commanded the tall man.
"What pn said the short man.
"Let's liquor"
"No, stranger I don't drink. See
'ou later. y
The tall man vanished with tender
The short man stayed
while longer, and as he passed out he
aid to Capt. Barney, the manager of |