The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-01-02
SECOND BULL RUN.
Interesting Incidents which Happened in that
Action.

"chestnuts." Referring TO the second battle oil
! Bull Run, an entry made Aug %, 1862, reads /;
THE battalion was deployed this p. IN. about
500 yards in rear of an infantry line of battle to
stop the shrks who were sneaking ont of dan
| ger.-An unpleasant duty, with some unpIeas-
ant sights thrown in.-The appeal OF an heroic
soul.-A stray shot kills a canteen- man.-We
retreat in good order at nightfall." etc.
The writer does not know what part of that
disastrous field this entry refers TO, or what
division il was we were depoyed in rear OF ;
but rs these "reminiscences are written rs much
with view of seeking as of imparting infor-
nation, il is hoped that some regimental or
other comrade among THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
readers will furnish answers TO these aud other
inquiries herein made
IL was about o'clock in the evening when
Fitzpatrick had the line of cavalry deployed at
right-angles TO a pike or road which seemed to
be converging point for the wounded coming
20 the rear With drawn sabers, wo had orders
to stop all men who were not wounded, and
send them back to the battle-line or form them
in front of our line. of course able bodied
men carrying or assisting the mOre-desperately
wounded, were allowed TO pass.
1t was novel experience to us to be in rear
of line of battle actively engaged; and al
though we were not positive that it was a
post of honor, we realized that il was at least
post OF danger, without an opportunity TO re-
turn the fire; and the sight of so many wound
ed. added to the spectacle of the skukers de-
sorting their comrades, was not calculated to
make our position pleasant one.
In the course of an hour we had arrested
nearly hundred demoralized men, among
whom were two or three Zouaves few in the
ChaSseur uniform, one or two red -breeches fell
lows mingled with others wearing the regua-
ton blue-sOme with and others without guns
or belts-making a motley collection, though
they were not all towards.
Among the many wounded who passed our
deployed line was a man of rather short stature,
who came marching boldly toward us as
stiff as poker, with his gun at right
shoulder shift, and carrying his belt and car
fridge box in his left hand. He was halted
informed that only the wounded could pass
aud was ordered to fall i'm with the other ar
rested men or 10 return To his regiment. He
partly turned as if he was going back to the line
aud then, with some hesitation, said: " be-
lieye I'm wounded" There was not the slight
est evidence Of his being wounded, nothing in
his conntenance TO indicate pain, and thinking
he was merely trying 10 play off rs Others had,
he was told that he was no doubt badly
wounded in the heart and that his brains were
entirely shot out. His eyes flashed an ndig-
nant look at me, aud in a vigorous tone he
replied: III be dog gon'd il / amt wounded"
Dropping his belt and bringing his gun TO an
order, he turned aud raised his blouse aud
bloody shirt, showing where bullet had cut
a deep groove clean across the small of his
back, from which the blood was running down
into his trousers With as much grace as pos
slble, thousand p1rdons were begged of him
land grantedl, and, without bending his back,
he picked up his belt threw his gun at a right
shoulder, and passed through the line. In
these mellowiug days Of fraternity, il seems TO
me, on meeting him, could apologize to that
man with tears IN my eyes IL this article
should come under his notice, will he make
himself known through TIE NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE, or write to meY
Very soon after this episode man minus
gun aud acconterments came mp huFredy to.
ward US, and on being halted said he was not
wounded but his regiment was all cut TO
pieces and that he about the only man
left On telling him what our orders were he
was inclined 10 20 through any how, and some
rough woods had 10 be used 10 persuade him 10
fall ia with the other halted t.icn. While
parleying with him another man approached us,
holding up his left arm, from which the hand
bad been shot almost as clean as IL chopped
Of with neat-ax. Hearing me talking with
the man whose regiment had bec.; all cut to
pieces and knowing the siatas OF tho motley
line we had collected the mar with his hand
OF yelled to them Go back q the line men
For Gods sake. 20 back III ! had two hands
I'D never lett the line" His iESpiriling appeal
shamed or neTyed quite E.4n'e. OF them. aud
10 death. Who kn0wsg 1t is presumed that
the brave soul vino made that appeal under
such circumstances can be readily identified,
but whether dead or alive il would be interest
ing TO know who he Was Though not positive,
think he wore the red trimmings Of battery
man.
Shortly before the battle ended a man with
at least dozen canteens slung to him came up
70 our line, and said he could not find his rcgi-
ment. Recalling the memory Of him now.
am reminded of the picture OF A Bully Boy q
1 Burden ia 81 Klegg. On being told that his
command was most likely at the front, lthough
there were some troops held in reserve near us, }
/ and that he boys would need the water he had,
he started of briskly, and had not gone more
| than 40 or 50 yards when he was killed by a
shot or shell. which afterward struck the ground
a few feet In front and made a ricOcbet over
our heads.
i have often wondered II his comrades knew
] the fate Of that man If they cusscd because
4 their canteens were not returned; IL he was
/ borne on the company rolls as a deserter or a
/ prisoner or If dear old mother passed anxious
years in looking FOR his return, and then had
her application for a pension vetoed by the
/ immaculate Grover. II is hoped that it will
] not be difficult matter 10 discover his identity,
and il would afford some satisfaction 10 the
writer 10 know who he was, aud if be was
properly accounted for. lie was a thick-set
man with light hair and blue eyes, and had
neither gun nor cartridge-box with him when
| killed.
1t is supposed the enemy held that part Of
the field when we fetrealed just after snndowB
and that the dead and some of the wounded
. fell into their hands. The writer has never
met any Of his rcgimental comrades since we
were mustered out, and has not been able 10 com
pare notes or learn what part of tho line these
incidents relate TO; neither could the informa,
ton be gained from reading Gen. POpe's inter
esiing articles which recently appeared in THT
1 NATIONAL TRIBUNE, but IL always seemed al
II IL was near that part Of the field where the
unsOldierly Fitz-JOhn Porter failed 10 do hii
duty. IL looked, even 10 a high private in the
rear rank, as If somebody should have taken IL
flank the gwarming masses of the enemy which
forced the Union line back
IL any artillery was lost on the part Of th,
held referred 10, the writer is not aware Of 10
but IN the following year, while going through
Maryland on the march 10 Gettysburg, two Of
three OF rs. on private scout. picked up foul
rebel straggers, two Of whom said they belonged
70 the 1th La, one TO tho 23d Ga, and til,
other 10 the l4th S, &. The LOuisiaIlians anC
Georgian were gentlemanly fellows, but tb.
Carolinian was blowing braggart, who talked
good deal with bis mouth aud when his re
marks bordered upon iHs0lcnee and he wa
told that he would be treated fair, but he mus
"stash the racket" he quickly changed hi
tune and said, Well, ! can bear witness To on,
brave man In your army"
Hell! J" retOrted my comrades; lyon are no
the kind OF man to tell what constitutes
brave man"
" But / can In this case for fact said tn,
Carolina man; and he went on telling how a
the second battle Of Manassas bis with othel