Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
The West Point of the Coufederacy.

contributes to the January Century some
of bis "reminiscences as cadet of life at
"The West Point of the confederacy,"
and gives a vivid account of boys IN bat
lie at New Market, an engagement in
which IS of the boys out of a corps of
225 were killed: Sup to this time I was
still corporal of the guard, In charge of
the baggage wagon, with detail of three
men, Redwood, Stanard and WoodIief.
We had not bsen relieved, in the general
hustle and confusion. My orders were to
remain with the wagons at the bend in
the pike, unless our forces were driven
back, in which case we were to retire to g.
point of safety. When it became evident
that a battle was imminent, single
thought took possession of me, and that
was that I would ne yer be able to look my
father in the face again if l sat on bag
gage wagon while my command vas IN its
first, perhaps it's only, engagement. He
was a grim old fighter, at that moment
commanding at Petersburg, and month
later fighting at odds against Badly
Smith until Lee could come up. He had
a tongue of satire and ridicuIe like a lash
of scorpions. 1 had nearly worried him
oat of his life with applications to leave
the institute and enter the army. If, now
that had the opportunity, should fail
to take part in the fight, I knew what was
in store for me. Napoleon in Egypt
pointed to the pyramids and told his
soIdiers that from their heights forty
centuries looked down upon them. Ny
Grafton, delivered from the baggage
wagon, was not so elevated il tone, but
equally emphatic. It ran about this
Wise: Boys, the enemy is in our front.
Our command is about to go into action.
[ like fighting no better than any body
else. But have an enemy in my rear as
dreadful as any before Us. If [ return
home and tell my father that / was on the
baggage guard when my comrades were
fighting, I know my fate. He will kill
me with worse than bullets-ridicule.
shall Join the command forthwith. Any
one who chooses to remain may do So
All the guard followed. The wagon was
left IN charge of the black driver. Of
the four who thus went, ore was killed,
and two wer wounded.
''We reioined the battalion as it march
ed by the left flank from the pike. Nov
ing at doubIe-quick we we e in an instant
in line of battle, our right near the turn
pike. Rising ground in our immediate
front concealed US from the enemy. The
command was given to strip for action.
KDapsacks, blankets, everything but gun,
o8nteens and cartrjdge-boxes were thrown
down upon the ground. Our boys were
silent then. Every lip was tightly drawn,
every cheek was pale; but not with fear.
With peculiar nervous jerk we pulled
our cartridge boxes round to the front
and frightened our belts. WhIstling
rifed shell screamed over US as, tipping
the hill crest on our front, they bounded
over our heads. Across the pike to our
right Patton's brigade was lying down
abreast of US. 'At-ten-tion-n-n! Bat
talon forward! Guide-Center- p
shouted Ship, and off we started. At
that moment from the left of the line,
sprang Sergeant-Major Woodbridge and
posted himself forty PAGES in front of
the colors, a directing guide. Brave
Evans, standing over six feet two, I'M
furled our coIors that for days had hung
limp and bedraggled about the staff and
every cadet in the Institute leaped for
ward, dressing to the ensign, elate and
thrilliMg with the consciousness that
This IS lCarp We reached the hill crest
in our front, where we were abreast of
our smoking batte~y and in full sight and
range of the enemy. We were pressing
toward him at 'arms port with the light,
Tripping gait of the French infantry.
The enemy had obtained our range and
began to drop his shell unGer our noses
along the slope. Echols's brigade rode
up and were charging on our right with
the rebel yell.
Woodbridge, who was holding his
position as directing sergeant, vas order
ed to resume his place in the line.
"Down the green slope we went, an
swering the wild cry of our comrades as
their musketry ratified out it's opening
volleys. in another moment we should
expect a pelting rain of lead from the
blue line crouching behind the stone wall
at the lane. Then came a sound more
stunning than thunder, that burst directly
in my face; lightnings leaped; fire flash
ed; the earth rocked; the sky whiried
round, and l stumbled. My gun pitched
forward and | fell upon my knees. Ser
geant Cabell looked back at me sternly.
pityingly, and called out, Close up, men,
as he passed on.
81 knew no more. When conscious
ness returned it was raining in torrents.
l was lying on the ground, which all
about was torn and plowed with she'll,
which were still screeching in the air and
bounding on the earth.
poor Httle Captain Hill of co compa-
ny was lying near, bathed in blood, with
fearful cash over the temple, and was
gasping like dying fish. Read, Merritt,
and another, also badly shot, were near
at hand.
"The battalion was three hundred yards
away, clouded in smoke and holly en-
gagged. They had crossed the lane the
enemy held, and the federal battery in
the graveyard had fallen back to the hig h
ground beyond. How came they there p
thought, and why am l hereY' Then
saw that l was bleeding from a deep
and ugly cash in my head. That villain
Gus rlfled-shell that burst liz our faces
brought five of us 10. the ground. 'Hur-
rahT thought, youths dream is realized
st last. I've got a wound and am not
dead yet! And so, real zing the savory
truth, another moment found me on MY
feet trudging along to the hospital al
most whistling with delight at the thought
that the next mail wonld bear the glorious
news TO the old folks at home, with a
rather taunting suggestion that after all
their trouble they had not been able to
keep me from having my share in the
fun"
An Intelligent Dog.
A White Haven (Pa.) dispatch says:
That the dog is an intellectual animal has
again been illustrated by the remarkable
actions of canine known hereabouts as
General. The dog apparently belongs to
] ~ 10 l,