Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-13
PERSONAL BRAVERY,
Good Stories Of the War Told by Russell
A. Alger and Others.

Good Stories Of the War Told by Russell
A. Alger and Others.
From the San Francisco Call.
Last night group of veterans of the late
war, including Gen. Alger. Judge Fitzgerald
and Capt. Seamans, sat in the corridor of the
Palace and exchanged experiences.
The question Of personal bravery is always
one of peculiar interest said Gen. Alger. ..but
many man who bore the reputation of having
a charmed life owed it to the admiration of his
opponents. As rule soldier will never fire
at a man who displays unusual courage. 1
know this from experience.
1T was in the fall Of 1863 that was trans
ferred from the army Of the west to the COM
mand OF regiment in the army Of the Poto-
mac. About that time the rebels moved across
the Rapidan and was sent to drive them back
1t turned out that it was a reconnaissance. but
at the time We believed they were seeking to
make a lOdgment on the north of the river We
drove them back to the bank of the stream, but
there they made savage stand and reinforce
ments were thrown over to aid them. Their
position, owing to the formation of the ground
was very strong one and ours greatly exposed
While preparing for the struggle nv command
was attracted bya courier approaching. He
was on foot and availed himself of the numer-
Gus gulleys worn by the rains to protect him
self from the enemy's fire. Volley after volley
was fired at him, but he reached me uninjured
He bore orders for me to report at once to Gen.
Fitzpatrick.
lin order to reach the latter would be COM
PEELED to pass over an almost open plain for
fully three-quarters of mile and exposed to
the fire of the rebels. 1t flashed upon me that
the attempt would result in certain death and
/ was on the point Of refusing to obey when it
occurred to me that l dared not display any
indication of cowardice in the presence of my
command. Leaving my horse and command,
which were stationed behind small rise in
the ground, l started on foot. The moment
l appeared l was greeted with volley, and
the dirt flew around, but l was unhurt. At
this the rebels cheered and in a mo-
ment the shot flew thick about me for a
second time. but not one touched me. There
was another cheer from the rebels but kent
going. l was so badly frightened that | dared
not even look to the right the left Every
moment looked for another volley. and felt
that could not escape again. Not another
shot was fired. and during the fifteen minutes
that elapsed while was in range of their guns
round after round OF cheers greeted me, but
not bullet was sent after me. / reached Gen.
Fitzpatrick i'll safety, and from that day to this
have sought unsuccessfully the name of the
| rebel officer whose fAen spared my iife.."
THE worst frightened man l ever saw" said
Judge Fitzgerald, with an amused expression
of ccuntenance, was at Pea Ridge, when we
were attacked by the federal troops. For 4
body servant had strapping negro boy,
ard rations. and, negro like, he was forever
| crawling into some Out-of-the-wav place to
sleep. Just as we were expecting the advance
the federals opened fire on US at rather close
range. We were on the skirmish line and in a
moment our men were deployed in battle array.
| just as the firing began to grow heavy heard
| piercing yell and saw my negro boy flying
along between the lines. Every step would
have measured fifteen feet, and every time
his foot struck the ground he would yell
Inr lnnd nuh 10, l,o haar in beth
camps. With him he had my blankets and
portion Of one the other In his wake. Al
far as could see him he was going like a
frightened deer, and long after he was out Of
| sleeping exactly midway between the lines
| when the battle opened, and it is not surpris.
| ing that he was scared. Two weeks elapsed
before he returned to camp, but he would not
| talk Of his Pea Ridge experience"
..Out In Kentucky" chimed in Capt. Sea-
mans, II witnessed q peculiar occurrence.
which illustrates the uncertainty of human life.
We were marching through an open stretch of
| farming country and at the distance. after
ward ascertained by actual measurement, of
| more than mile we espied . rebel soldier
sneaking along behind a hedge fence. With us
WAS detachment Of sharpshooters and one Of
| them, Just for the fun Of the thing, as he ex-
pressed it, took shot at the Johnny. Raising
| his rife to his shoulder he glanced quickly
along the barrel and fred. There was a dis
| tinct interval of several seconds and we saw
the rebel leap into the air and fall 10 the ground
When We reached the spot he was dead, having
been sh0t through the hood"