Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-09-08
ARMY "REMINISCENCES.
Our First Entrance Into ActiOn---TeSt
Of Endurauce---NiSit to a Division
Hospital.
BY THE EDITOR.


with fury, and at every step we took
we came upon wounded and mutt
lated wretches, either limping along
or being borne on litters to the rear.
A New York major was carried past
us mOrtally wounded in the abdo-
men. y stout lad, about Is, his
cheek terribly swollen and laid open
by a minnie ball, was standing by
an ambulance, cursing almost inar.
ticulately, because the shot that
wounded him had also killed his
captain. The corpse of one poor fell
low lay in our path, partially cover
ed with blanket, literally blown to
pieces with arcbel shell his footless
ankles We're visible beneath the COW
ering. An emaciated little Irish
man lay upon n strctcher, his pinch
ed-up features distorted with the
agonies of death. \ portly, noble
looking ecclesiastic stood over him,
with the host elevated, administer
ing extreme junction. As the man
of God poured into the ear of the
dying soldier the consultations ofour
holy religion, il was painful to see
with what reluctance the poor shriv-
eled sufferer accepted his fate. His
hollow, pinched features were drawn
into querulousness, and he writhed
upon the blood-staincd canvas as
though seeking to relieve himself
from both "bane and antidote."
Rows of amhulances were in wait
ing, which the stretcher-bearers
were rapidly filling with the wound
ed as they were brought Off the
field. One mere lad had been struck
by piece of shell in the groin, and
his feeble remains Of life were rap
idly fiickering out. Two men APP
preached to raise him on "A stretcher,
and he family calculated, "Oh, tell
mother-"But he was interrupted
by the unfceling rejoinder of the
hospital attendant, "Hush upl don't
be blabhing family secrets here"
The surgeons were hastily band
aging wounds to prevent fatal
effusion of blood while the sufferer
was being borne to the division hos
pital. Numerous batteries were
parked at various points, with all
their paraphernalia of caissons,
forges, forage wagons and relay
horses. 1t struck me as we hurried
through this scene of confusion-the
rear as | was informed-that the
non-comhatant element formed a
very large proportion of the total Of
the army.
As these tragic scenes met my
eye, confess to strong inclination
to get back. A saying occurred to
my mind at this moment, uttered
by our orderly some months ago, rs
we were discussing the fortunes Of
war III our safe defenses ofWashing-
ton. Said he, in his nonchalant
philosophy: "Suppose the company
gets into n fight; some are killed, OF
course, but il won't be neither you
nor me-" I accepted this dictum as
prophetic, and managed to derive "A
fair share Of fortitude from its as
surance.
ON THE FIELD or BATTLE.
Arriving at brigade headquarters
we found the regiment occupying "a
strong line OF breatworks, Major
Springsteed and the four companies
he had led on in advance, having
joined the regiment the night pre-
viOus. Col. Morris directed the i'm
mediate reorganization Of the regi-
ment. The men were recalled from
the breastwOrks and formed In col
umn by company; the contingent
we had brought up then took their
places In their respective commands.
The regiment was next drawn up In
close column by battalion, and the
men we're allowed TO rest until fur
ther orders. could not bat admire
the energy and military bearing Of
our youthful adjutant Lieut.. Chas.
w. Hobbsl during the execution Of
this movement. The position was
novel TO US all; the men were
unsteady and 1t required
great prOmptitude and hrmness TO
keep them from crowding and get
ting into confusion. Order was
from chaos, and the regi-
ment was again placed In effective
condition.
The object Of the battle was at this
time a mystery TO us all, but its
result was evidently In our favor.
Gen. Grant, In his hAsty advance