Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-01-31
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
WOUNDED IN BATTLE
John Wise Feared His Fathers Tons
More Than Shot and Shell.


"reminiscences as a cadet of life at The
West Point of the Confederacy," and
gives vivid account OF boys in battle
at New Market, an engagement in
which ffty-six Of the boys out of a
corps of 225 were killed: up to this
time was still corporal of the guard,
in charge of the baggage-wagon, with
a detail of three men, Redwood, STAN
ard and Woodlief. We had not been
relieved, in the general hustle and con-
fusion. My orders were to remain with
the wagons at the bend in the pike, IN
less forces were driven back; in which
case we were to retire to point OF
safety. When it became evident that a
battle was imminent single thought
took possession of me, and that was
that l would never be able to look my
father in the face again if ! sat on a
baggage-wagOn while my command
was in its first, perhaps its only en-
gagement He was a grim old fight
er, at that moment commanding at Pc
tersburg, and a month later fight
ing at odds against Badly Smith
until Lee should come up. He had a
tongue of satire and ridicule like lash
of scorpions. had nearly worried
him out of his life with applications to
leave the institute and enter the army
If, now that i had the opportunity, /
should fail to take part in the fight, l
knew what was in store for me. Ma
poleon in Egypt pointed to the Pyramids
and told his soldiers that from their
heights forty centuries looked down
upon them. Ny Grafton, delivered
from the baggage wagon, was not so
elevated in tone, but equally emphatic.
1t ran about this wise: Boys, the enemy
is in our front. Our command is about
to go into action. l like fighting no
better than anybody else. But l 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 fight
ing, know my fate. He will kill me
with worse than bullets-ridicule. l
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,
one was killed and two were wounded.
1--WE rejoined the battalion as it
marched by the left flank from the
pike Moving at douhle-quick we were
in an instant in line of battle, our right
near the turnpike. Rising ground in
our immediate front concealed us from
the enemy. The command was given
to strip for action. Knapsacks, blank
cts, every thing but guns, canteens and
cartridge boxes were thrown upon the
ground. Our boys were silent then.
Every lip was tightly drawn, every
cheek was pale. but not with fear. With
a peculiar nervous jerk we pulled our
cartridge boxes round to the front and
frightened our belts. Whistling rified
shell screamed over US as. tipping the
hill-crest in our own '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
talliOn forward! Guide-Center-r-r
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 as directing guide. Brave
Evans, standing over six feet two, I'M
furled our colors that for days had hung
limp and bedraggled about the staff. and
every cadet in the institute leaped for
ward, dressing to the ensi N, elate and
thrilling with the consciousness that
this is war" We reached the hill-crest in
our front, where we were abreast of our
smoking battery and in full sight and
range of the enemy. We were press
ing toward him at arms port with the
light tripping gait OF the French infan-
try. The enemy had obtained our range,
and began to drop his shell under our
noses along the slope. Enoch's brigade
rose up and were charging on our
right with the rebel yell.
Woodbridge, who was holding his
position as directing sergeant, was or
dered 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 its OPEN
ing volleys. In an other moment we
should expect pelting rain of lead
from the blue line crouching behind the
stone wall at the lane. Then came
sound more stunning than thunder,
that burst directly in my face; light
nings leaped; fire flashed; the earth
rocked; the sky whirled round, and
stumbled. My gun pitched forward and
l fell upon my knees. Sergeant Cabell
looked back at me sternly, pittingly, |
and called out, Close up, men, as he |
passed on.
Il 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 shell |
which were still screeching in the air
and bounding on the earth.
Poor little Captain Hill of &C. COM
pany 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 |
engaged. They had crossed the lane
the enemy held, and the Federal bat
terry on the graveyard had fallen back |
to the high ground beyond. How came
they there?' 1 thought, and Why am 1 |