Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-03-14
The Little Confederate.

coming to death and defeat. We had
been driven back from the Chicka-
hominy, step by step and day by day
fighting fierce battles at every rally
ing point, but this was the end. Nal
vern Hill, crowded with troops and
briStling with cannon, was impree-
nable. l was posted on the point
looking toward the Crew house in the
dry bed Of 4 creek 1t was a capita
rifle pit, and we were packed in there
so thick that We scarcely had elbow
room. As the legions in gray attacked
our rapid.ire, assisted by the batteries
above Us, was enough 10 demoralize
lines without the infantry, higher up
firing a gun.
Magruder must have been insane
that afternoon TO send his men TO
their death across that open ~ he
did. We could see them come out OF
the forest in splendid formation, and
as they got the order TO advance
their step was like clock work. There
was meadow with hardly q stump
in il stretching away before us FOR
half mile and the Confederates
hadn't the slightest cover. Being so
low down we could see under the
smoke, and il was enough to make
our flesh creep TO see the havoc
worked BY our shells before the lines
got within gun range. The man on
NV left laid down his musket and
prayed God that the Confederates
would go back and thus put an end
to the horrible work Then, when
they pushed on and got within range
there was a flame all along our mile
front-flame after fame-and not a
Confederate got within a stone :
throw
The last charge, made just ut twi-
light, was the most desperate oil all.
The lines started with a yell and
charged on the run; and though
hundreds won't down other hundreds
kent on. We shattered and scorched
and withered them with our musketry
fire, and | finally heard them sound
retreat We sprang up, gave them
a last volley, and then dashed forward
a few rods with the bayonet Out OF
the smoke and darkness suddenly
appeared figure on my front. There
was a blaze, and man on my right
went down, shot in the shoulder.
There was whiz-z-z and the butt OF
a musket just cleared my head and
knocked the man on my left flat TO
the earth. | had my musket at u
charge when voice called out:
Hold on, | surrender
| went forward and took hold OF
him, and who or what do you suppose
he wasl A boy not 10 years old and
as pale-faced and as gentle spoken as
girl. More than that, he was
wounded in the side, in the leg and In
the head. We had them driven back
to stay, and our boys were cheering
and yelling, and / took the boy upon
NV Lack and carried him beyond the
creek into our lines. He must have
been suffering painfully from his
wounds, but he never uttered n
groau. l heaped two or three
blankets together and made him a
bed, but | could get no one To do Tor
him. There were dead and wounded
men almost without number around
us, and that last desperate charge
had hardly been driven back before
Mcclellan issued his orders 10 fall
back 10 the river under cover OF the
gunboats. AS my brigade was near
est to the Confederates We were the
last to move, and it was long after
midnight before We got the
word.
Meanwhile / had inspected the boy =
wounds and soothed them as best al
| could. Ii was plain he was fatally
hurt, and when he realized this he
said
II don't care for myself, but
mother-poor old mother And sis
ter Maryland little Jim-it will break
their hearts"
BY and by he fell into stupor'
which lasted for a quarter OF an
hour. Then he reused himself and
exclaimed
1T was glorious charge We
knew that we were going TO death
but never a man hung back-never a
man lost the step! Were they driven
backT'
Yes"
But we reached your lines 2
"Yes, a few"
And ! was one?
Yes: poor boy. Never one
came nearer than you,
That's grand! They said ! would
be afraid, but wasn't. | didn feel
il when | was hit. We were on the
double quick. was cheering. Hur
rah Hurrah!'
Half an hour later he was dead
There were three OF us bending oyei
him when he suddenly sat up, waved
his arm and sought to cheer, but the
blood choked him and he fell back
dead.
Twenty long years after, in
Georgia farm house, i found hi
mother, old and bent and gray, anc
little Jim, now grown 70 manhood
and sister Mary, now woman. wife
and mother. They knew he fell a
Malvern Hill, but he had been burie'
among the unknown, and how h
died they knew not.
"Mr .Jaysnith,n remarked tina