The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1891-12-04

wAo wss the woaa4sa Soldiers Bsse-
factor.

1
Hooker was trying to drive Jackson
at Antietam- Il Is one OF the myster-
les of war that he did not annihiIste
hin a8d-thea- take Lee tn flank We
outnumbered him. and we extended
eur tnes s.ntfl only slirmish line 81
gray opposed rs but on no aeld OF
battle In the whole var did the Con-
fsdsrstes hghs 30 Reroely. Itseemsd
as II every single company had been
told TO hold its ground until the last
man was wiped. ont We breasted up
to the gray lines time after time. but
they would not give back They faced
US and died II they lost a rod OF
ground they charged back and recov-
cred two.
a. / remember hoz the corn waved
and rustled as we pushed through il
that day-how the siiken 9assels be.
came detached and foated into our
faces like spider-webs on a dewy sum
mers morning. They were waiting
for us-the men who had come up
from Harper's Ferry without a halt
foot sore, hungry. thirsty. but ready
TO die to save Lees left wing. They
made never a halt TO moissen their
parched throats at the wells OF Sharps-
| burg-never a halt for the lag cards TO
come up Leo vas In danger. and old
| Stonewall rode at their head. The
politicians simply slur them. Those
who breasted up against them on the
battlefield remember only how gall
lantly they died.
| At first scattering fre-a man fall
ing out here and there. The pop! popi
pop! increases In rapidItY-now il be-
| comes a continual roar-hero comes
the command to charge. There Is a
| cheer-a rush and we are cheo4ed,
Men cannot dodge bullets. bus We
dodge as they zip and spit md whistle
by our ears. A storm OF bullets eaa-
not be breasted like gallo OF wIHd
laden with snowdakes, bus Va bead
our heads and advance.
What Is It? Why am lying on tho
grounda Is the fight over that the
din OF battle has so nearly died Rrnys
l wonder and wonder. 1t is like wax
ing out of a sound slumbor. Now
know what it is-Tm HIT A bullet
has crashed into my shoulder spun mo
around like top aud then dashed me
TO the earth in a heap. Men struck
that way lose consciousness for a MIN
| again. hear men curslng aud ohesr.
| ing, and finally understand that CUP
lines have been driven back. iifb
my head for hasty look around. mad
l find that I have lots OF company,
The dead and wounded are as numer-
Gus as the corn-hills.
A bullet in the shoulder is nothing.
| A pint or two OF blood lost from the
body is Of no account I turn over,
seize a dead man by the arm aud pull
myself up. but everything dances be-
fore my eyes. and sink down IN .
heap. 1t isn't the wound itself but
the shock TO the nervous system. I've
seen 3 six-footer drop In = heap and
cry ike woman because q bullet
made one OF his fingers an inch short
er. and he never was charged with
being = coward either.
There is no such thing as time on
battlefield. A general may watch
its flight but private soldier has no
thought OF it The sun may have
been at meridian when the battle
opened. All OF a sudden he Is amazed
that the orb has gone from sight He
has fought on, giving no heed TO time.
Only half conscious-only half real
izing that 1 was hit by and by felt
the cool breezes OF evening and lost
the glare OF the sun. Some one gave
me water. but l felt too dreamy to
open my eyes. Some one pulled q
dead man over my legs-s wounded
comrade who had crept over to me In
search OF water and died. But 1 did
not open my eyes; could not 1t
seemed as If great weights had been
placed on my eyelids to keep them
shut. There was a babel of sounds
around me. but 1 heard only one voice
That sounded miles away as it said:
Now, then. you all be mighty
keerful how you tote that boy. for he's
bin pOwfully hit Needn't mind me so
much. though reckon I'm good for a
wooden leg il you Yanks kin spar the
timber
It was a rebel" had been car.
ing for me for hours as tenderIy as he
would for his own son. and vet thew
separated as that night never TO meet
again have never had opportunity
TO look into his face and thank him.
| never even saw him. Y. World.