Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-01-18
ONE LITTLE REBEL.


Whenthe Confederates came swarm
ing across the Grew farm to reach us
on Malvern Hill We knew that they
were coming to death and defeat.
We had been driven back from the
Chickahominy step by step fighting
fierce battles at every rallying point,
but this was the end. Malvern Hill,
crowned with troops and bristling
with cannon, was impregnable. |
was posted on the point looking to-
ward the Crew House in the dry head
of creek. 1t was a capital rife pit,
aud we were packed in so thick that
we scarcely had elbow room. AS
the legions in gray attacked, our
rapid fire, assisted by the batteries
above us, was enough to demorallze
the lines without the infantry, high.
er up, firing a gun.
Magruder must have been insane
to send his men across that open as
be did. We could see them come
out Of the forest in splendid forma-
ton, and as they got the order to
advance their step was like clock
work. There was a meadow, with
hardly a stump in it, stretching away
before us half a mile, and the Con.
federates hadn't the slightest cover.
Being so low down, we could see
under the smoke, and it was enough
to make your flesh creep to see the
havoc worked by our she'll before the
lines got within musket range. The
man on my lett put down his musk
ct and prayed God that the rebels
would go back and thus put an end
to the horrible work. Then, when
they pushed on and got within range,
there was flame all along our mile
front-fame after fame and not
rebel got within stones throw.
The last charge, made just at twi-
light, was the most desperate OF all.
The lines started with a yell and
charged on the run, and, though
hundreds went down, other hun
dreds kept on. We shattered and
scorched and withered them with
musketry fire, and 1 finally heard
them sound retreat" We sprang
up, gave them last volley, and then
dashed forward few rods with the
bayonet. Out of the smoke and
darkness suddenly appeared a fig.
ure on my front. There was a blaze,
and the man on my right went down,
shot in the shoulder. There was a
viii z and the butt of musket
just cleared my head and knocked
the man on my left fiat to the earth.
| had my musket at charge. when
voice called out;
"Hold on | surrender ~
l went forward and took hold oil
him, and who do you suppose he
vast A boy not yet Is years old
and as pale faced and gentle spoken
as a girl. More than that, he wal
W ounded in the side, in the leg and
in the head. We had them driver
back to stay, and our boys were cheer
ing and yelling, and l took the boy
and carried him beyond the creel
into our lines. He must have beer
suffering painfully but he never ut
tered a groan. l heaped two or three
blankets and made him a good bed
but could get no one to attned him
There were dead and wounded mer
almost without number around us
and that last desperate charge haG
hardly been driven back before Nc
Clellan issued his orders to fall bael
to the river under cover Of gunboats
AS my brigade was nearest to the
rebels we we're the last to move, anG
it was long after midnight before w
got the word.
Meanwhile | had inspected the
hoy's wounds and soothed him al
best could. 1t was plain that BIZ
was fatally hit, and when he realized
it and said:
"I-I don't care for my self, bul
mother-poor mother! And sistel
Maryland little Jim-it will break
their hearts,
By and by he fell into a sort o.
stupor, that lasted for a quarter o.
an hour. Then he aroused himself
and exclaimed
sit was glorious charge! We
knew that we were gong to death
bat never man hung back-nevel
man lost their step! Were they
driven back ~
" Yes.n
+" But we reached your lines ~
ayes a few"
"And l am one!r
yes, poor boy. Never one came
nearer than yOu."
"That's grand! They said
would be afraid, but l wasn't.
didn't feel it when l was hit. VIZ
were on the double.quick. / was
cheering. Hurrah !-Hurrah ~
Half an hour later he was dead
There were three of us bending ovel
him, when be suddenly sat up, waved
his arm and sought to cheer again
hut the blood choked him, and ht