Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-05-01
GEN. SCHENCK'S KINDNESS.

GEN. SCHENCK'S KINDNESS.
HOW HE HELPED PRIVATE SOLDIER
RECOVER HIS KNAPsACK.
Chillicothe Leader.
1.-THE death of Gen. Bob Schenck," :"
said Col. Dick Enderlin, "brings to my
mind very vividly bit of personal ex-
perience that 1 had with him during the
days of the 'unpleasantness,' which has
caused me to think kindly of him ever
since, and to watch his movements and
the events of his subsequent career with
no slight degree of interest.
"Schenck commanded our division at
Mcdowell" continued the gallant ex-
soldier, land was with us until the Sec
ond Bull Run battle, on August 80 of
that year-1862- you doubtless
remember he had his arm pretty badly
shattered with rifle ball
awhile on his way from Mcdowell to
Franklin, 1 was taken sick; so sick that
it became absolutely impossible for me
to travel at all, and Indifferent to the
result, dropped out of the ranks and
threw myself on the ground by the road
side. Directly, one of the batteries that
had belonged to our division, and with
some of the boys of which was ac-
quainted, passed along, and one of the
positions, recognizing me, halloed at
me, and wanted to know what was the
matter. l told him that was too sick
to march and had been compelled to
drop out.
"'But,' said he, 'it won't do to lie
there. The Johnnies will come along
as soon as the army gets past and pick
you up"
81 told him that couldn't help what
they did, that wasn't lacking for nerve,
but the physical ability to do more
was gone, and had to take the conse-
quenceS."
"'Oh, well,' was the clever reply, this
won't do. You don't want to go to a
rebel prison. Here, 1 will help you ON
my caisson, and haul you into camp
and suiting the action to the word, he
grabbed my knapsaek, and threw it on
the caisson, and dragging my gun after
me. followed the knapsack, and so
rode along until nightfall, when we
made preparations to camp"
"The place selected for the camp"
continued Mr.. Enderlin, "was just on
the upper bank of one of those noun
tain streams with which the country
is filled. The whole army had crossed to |
the upper side, but after the General
commanding had concluded to go into
camp there, he sent the artillery back
across the creek, with directions to take |
positions on the raised ground to the
rear.
81 had rallied considerable during the |
days ride" said the narrator, land start
ing over to hunt up my regiment, had
failed to hear of the return of the bat
terry across the creek, which had carried |
with it my knapsack, until it was too
late to rescue it, and so l determined to |
go back after it.
GAS l walked down to the bank of |
the creek, l heard some one accost me, |
and looking up, saw Gen. Bob Schenck |
standing at the entrance to his tent,
which had been set up near by. He
beckoned me to him, and L went over
to where he stood.
"'Where were you going, my boy? he
said, in the kindly tone that he was ac
customed to.
81 stated the situation to him, and
told him that 1 was going across to get
my knapsack.
"'But the water is pretty deep, therel
the General said, and fyou have been
sick, you shouldn't undertake such a
plunge as that
81 told him thought 1 could stand it;
that knew, in fact, that could stand
it better than to lose my knapsack, for
my blanket was fastened to that, and
as the nights were pretty cool up there
in the mountains, 1 couldn't well get
along without it.
"'That is true,' said the General, re-
flectively, but wait, L will tell you
how we will fix it. Here, Dick he yell
ed to his colored servant, saddle my
horse and bring him here, he said. Now,
my boy he said in his kindly tones,
Just mount that fellow and ride over
and get your knapsack.'
81 hesitated, for knew that 1 would |
be terribly guyed by the boys whom L
would have to pass, for it was rather an
an unusual thing to see a private SOL
dier astride of Major Generals horse.
"'Why do you hesitate? said Schenck.
81 told him that wastn't accustomed |
to riding a Major Generals horse.
"'You know who l am, them said |
Schenck.
81 replied that knew him very well,
and that had recognized him as soon
as he had called to me.
HE laughed, and replying that that
was all nonsense, and that no horse in
the service was too good for private
soldier, he bade me mount and bc off; l
obeyed his instructions and will nev-
er forget that ride as long as live.
hadn't more than got on the horse
which, by the way, was fiery sort of a
it seemed that every man
in the army commenced yelling at me;
but was in for it, and went ahead,
though as 1 progressed the volume of
wells and cheers grew louder and strong
er until had all l could do to keep on
the horse. Between the plunging and
snorting of the horse, and the yells Of
the crowd, you can bet that 1 had a
had pretty tough time; but l never was
one to give up an undertaking easily,
and so rode on to the battery, where l
was received with another salvo of
cheers, loaded my knapsack on to the
Major Generals plunging animal and
returned to the opposite side of the
creek where / handed the horse over to