The National tribune., 1891-03-12
A SOLDIERS DREAM.
4 CarIOas YIsIou Sen BY an TIInoI, Comr.a


EDITOR NATIONAL TEIBUSE: We were sit
ting aTOund the fire on 4 camp hunt during
the recent holidays. The fire grew low while
telling yarns of army life for my comrade and
/ had seen service in the days of GIGS. Our
boys were an attentive audience, as they sat
listening to stories Of the war. The question
was asked, as has been asked Of old soldiers
over and over again thousands OF times had
either OF Us ever killed a man2 For myself
answered. no. Ny old friend paused rs nc
gaZed into tho dying embors aud slowly an
swered the query, that he believed he had. and
related the following curious and interesting
incident:
IL was during tho siege of Spanish Fort.
around Mobile, that the 29th III. was lying un-
der tho fro OF the Fort. In front Of the rcgi-
mcnt was a portfolio that wax closed rifed
PARROT gun would every few moments be run
out, the portfolio opcnei and its deadly missile
bore destruction 10 the bows in blue. Finally
"A detail OF six mon was made TO take position
az closer range and silence the gun. Corporal
III. Rider, Of Go. III, was among the number.
lie had been raised in the mountains Of Viz
ginia, and mRHy the deer that had fallen before
las rifle, and for that matter. many and many
n noble buck has since then given up the ghost
before his uuerTiHg aim. Each one of the de-
tail was crack shot.
Stealing out Of line thoy advanced within
good range Of the Fort (which was a walled
siTuctuTej and dug themselves a rine-pit The
enemy soon discovered the sharpshoOters, and
when that Parrot gun came out its shells came
singing towards the position they had taken.
The door OF the portfolio wOuld swing open an
instant aud it would belch forth its murierOus
missile. but not so quick but six mimic balls
woul1 be landed in and around it. Soon il
ceased 10 fire, and then followed the surrender.
So much for ti1c precedent events.
4
guard duty. While there. and Immediately fol-
lowing the above events, COrp'l Rider for three
successive nights had "A curious dream. He
drcamt that be saw an exceedingly tall nam
coming toward him. and in the middle OF his
forehead was a large blood red hole Vivid
and deep the dream WIS impressed on his mind
beyond the mere ordinary vagary Of a mid
night dream from too well filled stomach. Ii
was more thaH a dream. and in the awak ching
from sleep his mind dwelt upon il. for il was
so real that il was ~ a vision. lie pOndercd over
It's meaning aud wondered what il meant for
the same dream had come 10 him three times
on successive nights. A day or two after he
WAS sitting talking 10 two Confederate prison
cTs, and tho conversation turned on tho capture
Of Spanish Fort. They said they were in the
fort AT the time, aud were artillerymen; that
their gun was Parrot rifle ut a closed port.
hole on a certain side Of the fort (naming the
siuc NhcEc NotP ] AtaeF hdu bttu HhdrFHEOOt-
ing; that there were three of them handling
tie gun; but one was killed. having been
struck IA the center OF the forehead by q mimic
ball ~ he opened tic portfolio before his gun;
and. further, he was an exceedingly taI. man
Here was a strange coincidence. and the query
will come TO my mind. did he kid the rlau
that fell by his gun that day. Ny reader
what do you thmkrof itg
Comrade Rider is now, and has heen f5l
years. member OF NJ. X. I.aWler Post GAR.
at Shawneeiown, Ill.-C J. LEaEs, Morgan
e