Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-08-09
MiscellamenMs.
Knew His Time Had Come.

In the Autumn of $50 Gen. Mcclellan
was relieved from active duty in the
Army of the Potomac and Gen. Burn
side assumed command. This change
was very unpopular with the boys, who
loved little Mac. and who felt great
degree of uncertainty in the ability of
the commander. Added to this the in
vinciblo strateSists we're still clamoring
for forward movement, regardless Of
time or favorable opportunity.
In view of these facts, it was deemed
absolutely necessary that battle should
be fought under tho new leader at the
earliest possible moment The first bat
tic of Fredericksburg was the result.
On the day Of that battle our brigade
climbed the heights on the southeast
ernly bank of the Rappahannock, oppe-.
site fredericksburg. and halted upon the
summit near some heavy batteries. As
we looked down upon tie river, with
its slender pontoon bridge, with the city
upon its opposite margin, and as We
raised our eyes to corresponding heights
just back of the city, frowning with can
non and breastworks and swarming with
Confederate soldiory, painful and over
powering sense of the impossible task
before us and the deadliness of the I'M
dertaking in all its horrible magnitude
forced itself upon the minds Of all pres
ent. A sense of duty, tho imminence of
the greater danger before us, and the
nearncss of the conflict, served to close
up the ranks and to keep nearly every
man in his place.
| had been detailed with a small
squad to act az Provost General to pre-
vent falling out and struggling to the
rear. During the short march across
the river, several of the boys came to
the rear of the column TO leave with the
chaplain valuables and messages to their
friends in case anything should happen.
Among the number came Mike. a
large, powerful, and courageous Irish
man, a great favorite in the regiment,
and man who always laughed at dan
ger and had rejoiced Mt the opportunity
of having "scrimmage" with the
enemy.
On this occasion he appeared to be an
entirely different man. lie approached
the chaplain with tears in his eyes; he
gave him a picture of his sister living
in Portland, his Catholic catechism, and
in choked voice gave the address of his
friends, and what ho then declared to bo
his dying message to them.
The chaplain endeavorcd to cheer and
encourage him, but in vain.
chaplain" said he, II am not afraid
to fight; I'm not afraid TO die; I'm not
coward but there is something here
(slapping his breasD which tells me my
time has como Chaplain will you please
write my sister kind letter She is u
Christian Catholic and / love her dear
ly."
Soon the word forward" ran along
the line, and Mike, with tears coursing
down his checks, grasped the hand Of
the chaplain and requested the good
man to pray for him. He then took his
place in the ranks. The long column
began to move slowly down the river,
and soon increasing its speed to the
doublc-quick over the pontoon bridge,
across the river into the streets Of the
city, out on the plains and hillside be-
yond it, and smoke and shot and shell
and death wounds up to the very frown-
ing jaws of death on the heights beyond.
The terrible charge. the murderous re-
pulse, repeated again and again that
afternoon the night cannonade, the
long day following of the skirmish and
movement, the succeeding night and the
early morning abandonment and retreat
across the river have been many times
told AS soon as possible after the bat
tie the chaplain made earnest inquiries
for Mike, but no Mike was there to an
swer him
In the terrible charge he was seen TO
fall in the forefront of tho battle, and
was borne from the field fatally wound
ed. His boisterous, cheerful voice, good
naturcd countenance, rich brogue, and
burly form were never again seen with
US. His was the most marked and start
ling case Of presentiment Of coming
death or disaster that came under my
observation in the army.
Army life and its dangers made many
of us believe in fate, that the degree o.
that Great Author had fixed the span o.
life for each one We are sometimes
constrained to believe that very thiI
curtain was stretched between the sect
and unseen, and that few mortals wer'
permitted to look beyond the visible
and to receive the absolute assurance o
the future fate in store for them an,
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