Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-02-22

ment, Sixtieth New York, in which [
was Sergeant, was ordered to Har-
pers Ferry, and we encamped on Boll-
var Heights.
One morning, in company with a
young comrade, I started out on little
foraging expedition beyond the picket
lines.
About two miles from camp, down on
the bank of the Shenandoah, we spied
a neat, white house, and began to spec
ulate Oh what we might find there My
comrade, Ben, was anxious to go and
reconnoiter, but I, being older, was
more cautious, and advised taking
another direction.
Our parleying was cut short by two
rebs springing from ambush and de-
handing our surrender. Iappeared to
be defenseless, though l had wicked
little revolver in my vest pocket; but
Ben had a good gun.
/ said, "Well you have the drop on
us, but Ben took to his heels. Poor
boy! He had gone but few PAGES
when the younger reb-a smooth faced
lad of twenty, sedate-looking as par
son-fred, and Ben fell, shot through
the heart.
That young rebel was smart one!
His gun was old, so he went to Ben
and took his cartridge belt and new
! bright gun; then we took up line of
march for their camp. The elder reb,
captain, questioned me concerning
our numbers, ammunition, ETC., and /,
of course, did some tall exaggerating.
The Captain assumed serious air
and said he thought it best to go over
to that white house and confer with
some brother officers who were staying
| there; so I was left in charge of the
young Johnny.
appeared to be very docile pris-
oner, but | was watching my chance,
I can tell you.
1t came soon.
We were entering strip Of woods,
when carelessly lifted my hand to my
vest pocket, and a good deal quicker
than can tell it fred two shots from
that little revolver, and down went the
reb!
Without waiting to see if he was
"sure enough" dead, 1 retook the gun
and belt and made break for camp.
1 never had such run in my life.
AS soon as [ was safely inside Of our
lines, and had regained my breath, I
told my story.
A squad of men was sent out to get
Ben's body. They got the Johnny
too, for he had revived somewhat, and
was calling for help. He was sent to
the hospital, and from that time was
lost to my ken.
Now comes the part of my story that
sounds almost like romance; but truth
is stranger than fiction" you know.
While going from Pittsburgh to St..
Louis to attend the encampment, an
ecdotes and "reminiscences of the war
filled in the time, the passengers being
mostly soldiers and their families.
Seated near me was tall, slender
man, of very clerical appearace relat-
ing to comrade some of his own ex-
perience "endurin' of de wah'-as the
darkies used to say.
I listened with ears PINNED back"
as you may imagine. for we'll 1 knew
the first part Of the story he was tell
ing. 1t was easy to see that he was
just the man one might have expected
that rebel boy to make, and I was not
surprised that he had become a
preacher.
Well, my erstwhile captor went on
to tell that he had preached in many
cities; had attended many reunions,
but never yet met, or learned anything
OF this "Yank' who gave him his first
and last wound.
! l went to the preacher and asked
him if he really wished to see the man
he had been talking about
Looking up eagerly, he said: edo
indeed; for l feel that l owe him a
debt of gratitude. Idesire greatly to
take him by the hand, if he still lives. $
/ could see that he did not dream
that [ was "the man" Said /:
DO you remember that you took my
poor comrades bright, new gun, and
and that | got it back again."
He did remember. Then l said
"Parson, here's my hand shake."
And we "shooh."
PEoToNE, Kansas