The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-09-06
Sergt, W. E. Kelly,
~ A.. d. NJ " W


This plain, simple inscription bore
evidence that she was now bereft of
father and mother. He was my beau
ideal of soldier. From his eloquent
and able recitals of the cruel oppres-
sions of Ireland 1 learned to hate her
enemies and love such brave men who
were anxious to make such sacrifice
for their native land and the land of
my forefathcrs.
1t might have been considered re-
hgiously consistent with the everyday
life of the soldier of my campaigns, the
soldier from whom poultry, pigs and
unguarded commissary was never safe,
to kneel down and drop a tear, and Of
fer up afervent prayer for departed
comrade, yet in the stiffness of that
night, with no sound save the occae
sional cry, s'Halt, who comes theree"
that which was so often heard during
the quiet hours of the night watch on
the picket line; nothing to break the
awful stiffness that seemed to reign
over the camp of the two armies.
1t was the calm that followed the
storm of the preceding day, and that
which preceded the storm that the
morrow would bring forth in all its
fury.
The time and place was very fitting
indeed; the boys could not laugh at
me- Why should not | beseech by
prayer the Great Commander to be
good to poor Sergeant KellyP
AS l turned from the grave / in
stinctively said: Goodbye, sergeant
| may be with you tomorrow" while
was perfectly oblivious of the words
uttered, yet spoke with as much fer
vency as though his hand was in mine
and the light of life was in his eye.
As our division was maneuvering for
position at the time l was directed to
bury the sergeant, l knew it would be
futile to attempt to find my regiment
before morning, and / therefore con-
cluded to find a ''soft spot" as we used
to say in war times, and having found
such place, there wrapped in my
blanket in sweet repose, bid adieu to
war and its attendant horrors.
The early song of the army mule,
with a confusion of bugle calls, brought
ME to my feet when the gray dawn
was breaking away to the eastward.
Coffee now or never thought for
surely the rising sun will cast its first
rays on surging masses of armed hosts
in deadly conflict, for even at that
early hour could see away to the left,
in the shadow of the timber, troops
forming into line.
/ had scarcely warmed my coffee
over the dying embers of one of the
campfires before the "ball opened" on
the picket line. Away off to the east
on our right as far as could be seen,
troops began to move up toward the
| left of the rebel line, artillery trains
were moving out rather rapidly through
the open fields toward the redoubt we
captured the day previous. The gun.
boat lying at the bend in the river
above the pontoon bridge, commenced
throwing its compliments into the
rebel lines, and the occasional volley
of musketry on the picket line tolG
very plainly of the impending conflict
The sun had scarcely ascended the top:
of the trees, before it was evident tha
another day of intense heat was to b'
experienced. The clouds of dust tha'
enveloped the columns along the road'
on the march followed them through
the fields, and into the timber, making
it almost impossible to distinguish a
any distance one brigade from another
unless the brigade flag could be seel
lazily waving above the dust.
I knew very well what the conse
quence would be if the regiment be
came engaged before reported to N,
company, and / therefore, made al
haste to find the brigade. The troop
were now maneuyering for position al
along the line, batteries could be seel
dashing into ravines, and in through
what seemed to be impossible barrier
| Of timber, all leading of in the sam