Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-12-20
A YOUNG HERO.
Bravery and Patriotism Was His Expiring
Inspiration.
How Young Soldier. Almost With His Last
Breath, FULFILLED His vow-There il New
er-Forgotten Inspiration in Such Death

How Young Soldier, Almost With His Las,
Breath, FULFILLED His vow-Thers il New
er-Forgotten Inspiration in Such Death
Col. Henry Jordan retains clearly
many recollections Of his army expe-
rience. and no one is more entertain
ing In telling them, says the Indian
apOlis journal. 1t is the out-of- the
way incident that gives his stories a
zest; the incident that would be forgot
ten and crowded out of the record by
those OF greater historical importance.
''Soon after Wilder's Brigade" said the
Colonel TO a reporter recently, "had
been armed with that implement of de-
struction the Spencer repeating rife,
the confederate women whom we
CHANGED TO meet along the line OF our
expeditions told us that John Morgan
had determined to arm his forces with
repeating rifles captured from Wilder S
brigade. This taunt had its desired eff
feet 1t enraged our men, and conse-
quently delighted our fair tormenters.
But it had another effect, unforeseen by
Gen. Morgan and his female allies. 1t
made our men solemnly resolve never,
under any circumstances, to sure nder
gun to the confederate forces.
But there was a danger against
which provision had to be made
Often our line. moving toward our
point OF destination. would be ten miles
long, sometimes even longer Such n
line could not be maintained unless
the men were widely separated, and
wide separation made easy commune
cation and rapid concentrations impos-
sible. Capture of single men or small
attachments was not only possible, but
probable, and it was against this dan
ger that provision had to be made. How
10 save our guns in the event OF cap
ture, and thus defeat Morgan's design.
was the problem that confronted Off
GERS and men alike. The latter, group
ed around their camp-fires at night,
discussed the matter with great earn
estness, but their deliberations were
without result. Finally it was sugges-
ted by one man that as their guns
would have to be given up in the event
of capture, all that could be done
would be TO destroy their effectiveness,
in some way or other, before surrend-
ering them. Investigation disclosed
the fact that by removing a single
screw the whole loading apparatus could
be removed in a single piece, and, this
piece thrown away, there would re-
main nothing but the stock and barrel
OF the gun 10 be surrendered. This
discovery made, the men gave, each
10 the others, a solemn VOW that, in
the event Of capture. the effectiveness
OF their rifles should be thus destroyed.
wilder led the advance Of the
army of the Cumberland, and sweep
ing through Hoovers Gap with his
horsemen. carrying everything before
him, stood at bay at the further end.
He held it against overwhelming num-
bers until the infantry, which he had
left far in the rear, came TO his sup
port. Standing in the ranks of the 18th
Indiana that day was young soldier
beloved by all his comrades for his in
telligence, manliness and splendid
courage. A mere child, with u wo-
manly expression upon his face. one
could only regret that the war should
have dragged him away from his home
to be sacrificed on the field Of battle.
Unmindful of everything but duty. he
stood there, that day, bravely fighting
against the overwhelming forces that
were hurled against US. Suddenly he
was seen to fall, and lie motionless up
on the field. After awhile, in a lull in
the battle. he raised himself upon his
elbow, took out his little screw driver,
removed the screw and threw tho piece
away. Not content with that, which
his fast-failing strength he emptied
his cartridge-boX and scattered his
metallic cartridges among the leaves.
Then, looking up at the comrades who
had gathered around him, he said:
Boys. they have killed me, but you
can whip them yet Don't give up the
fight And then, as he sank back to
the earth, we saw that the spirit OF
that brave boy had assembled to the
God OF battles.
Thus died Christopher C.. Mercy
nolds. There is inspiration in such
life; there is inspiration in such death;
and, in the dark days that followed this
event, when one disaster to our arms
was quickly followed by another; when
discomfort and avowed opposition to
the war was to be seen in many OF the
states of the north, and when foreign
Intervention, which meant the success
of the rebel cause, seemed almost in
evitable. and when. discouraged by
these things, | was almost prepared to
sit down and give up all as lost, it
seemed 10 me that | heard that little
blue-eyed boy still whispering. Col.
Jordan, don't give up the fight The
highest reward ] ask for the poor SER
vice ] rendered my country is that it
shall be remembered that did not give
up the fight until the 1lg for which
that young hero died waved in triumph
above his lonely grave on the mount
ainside in Tennessee"
AM EhuEC nDnDDEp,c FATE