Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-29
Written for The Evening Star
TALE OF A BATTLEFIELp.
A Premonition of Death That Came 30 q
Soldier an n Dream.

A Fermentation of Death That Came 10 q
Soldier an n Dream.
A STORY ABOUT FREDEnrcSsBuRo--a LIEUTENANT
WHO WENT VOLUNTARILY INTO THE FIGHT. BE-
LIEvING THAT IT WOULD nv MS IAsr-oS
skIRMisH purr-THs sEEaElST's PROMISE.
VNoWARD THE DREARY CLOSE OF THE
Il month Of November, 1867. the Army of the
Potomac found itself stretched along the left
bank of the Rappahannock river. opposite the
almost forsaken city OF Fredericksburg. whose
principal occupants were the outposts Of tho
confederate Army of Northern Virginia AT the
extreme right of the Army Of the Potomac the
first regiment Of Delaware volunteers was can
toned at the foot of low ridge of broken hills,
whose tops were covered by growth Of scrubby
yellow pine. The location, forlorn enough at
the best, was rendered inexpressibly uninyiting
by mud and slush from frequent rains and
SHOWS to which was superadded the ever-pres-
ent apprehension of an intrusion by the enemy,
which this exposed position invited.
Lieut.. d. and Lieut.. I. of this regiment were
as closely bound together by the ties Of con-
geniality and friendship as by the military
necessity which compelled them to be associates
In arms. Lieut. ID. Was tall. slightly built, of a
sensitive, retiring disposition. His comrade was
staiwart in form with a reckless. rollicking
nature. unsuscepuble alike to melancholy or
lear. He was perfect type OF the born sol
oier, whose indifference TO the perils of his
Gaining and his unquenchabe hllarity made his
presence always sought and acceptable around
the camp fire or on the ficld of battle.
In a short time after the army had become es-
taoIlshed IN this position a demand was made
Tor details from the regiment 10 assist IN con-
structing series of earth works for the shelter
OF artillery on the bluffs along the river bank
Whether this was intended the preliminary
step Tor aggressive action by the army or as a
cover Tor the evacuation of the position was
the theme OF many discussions among those
whose subordinate relation 20 the events these
doings foreshadowed compelled them TO resort
to spec uiation to ease the pangs OF curiosity
At any rate there was portentous feeling
abroad which WAS especially impressive on the
sensitive nature of Lieut.. ID. One night he
started out of an uneasy slCnber and awaking
Lieut.. L. informed him that he had had dream
whose influence he could not ignore. That he
was sure i: forbode the death of one OF them in
a battle which was to occur in the imme-
diate future. and concluded by saying: And
Charlie, L think 1t means yours. The only
effect his announcement had upon his compan-
ion was to evoke the charac teristically good
natured but derisive reply: We'll. being killed
Is one OF the things l am here for" They went
to sleep again, but Lieut.. d. soon again awak-
ened and aroused his comrale 20 tell him that
now clearly impressed that tine fate il foretold
was his own. 1t was impossible for him TO dis
pei the depressing influence OF this dream. Ills
friends used every srtltcc OF reason and ridi-
Guile to dispossess his mind of the presentimcnt,
but without effect. He seemed to have no spe-
cfal fear of death, but was filled with pathetic
horror Of being buried in an unknown grave.
ORDERED TO ADVANCE.
On the 11th OF December. a few days after
this dream, the regiment was ordered to adj
vance with the rest of the army in the move
ment against fredericksburg. Lieut. T.,
finding that all efforts 20 remove the mean-
choly Of his friend were fruitless. requested
the commanding officer OF the regiment TO
procure the detail of Lieut.. ID. 10 some
duty that wouid keep him out of the antici-
pated engagement and succeeded in getting
him assigned TO a command in the working
party charged with the duty of preparing the
approaches to the contemplated pontoon
bridge across tho Rappahannock river at the
Lacy House.
While the preparations for the construction
OF this bridge were in progress the mouths of
hundreds OF cannons discharged a rain of fire
and iron upon the town below them and plain
beyond 1t to keep the coufedcrates from mass
Ing troops enough in the streets TO offer
formidable opposition TO the constructing of
the bridge and the passage of the river. These
explosions. together with occasional responses
from the confederate guns on the opposite
halls, were as incessant as the discharge of
musketry in the heat of an action. Every
sound artillery could produce. from the spitefu,
crack OF the three-inch rife 10 the sullen roar
of the siege gun, and the whirr. swish. hiss and
explosions OF the projcciiles tLercfrom on
their merciess errands of death and destruc-
ton. contributed TO the Ge;iea ing din. At
times the air vibrated SO painfully that the
hardest veterans longed for relief from the
strain of the unremitting reyerberations. To
the troops massed on the pains and in the
woods at a distance in rear of the batteries the
whole universe seemed in a state OF palpitation.
Unlike the gunners they were not supported by
the excitement of participation, and regarded
with a feeling akin TO relief the coming OF an
occasional stray confederate shell, which, ex-
pending Its expiring energies in skipping over
among them, afforded a momentary diversion,
even though its ycDgeful hiss were some poor
fellow s requiem.
CROSSING THE RIVER.
During this turmoil the crossing of the river
by detachment from the seventh Michigan
regiment in pontoons, under brisk musketry
fire from the Louisiana Tigers" who occu-
pied the houses and fences on the further bank
occurred. No more daring act than the dis
Judgement OF this formidable confederate COM
mand by the 'forlorn hope from the seventh
Michigan and Its supports was ever performed.
Well may any one VINO Ii entitled 10 a share in
the credit of this achievement contend for due
l4-lll
sion. In every feature OF heroic grandeur that
passage pars at least with tine defense of Their
mopyla, the assault at Balaklava or any of the
other actions which are universally recognized
as types of patriotic and soldierly devotion to
duty.
Early next morning the first Delaware. on
its way To cross the river, reached the north
end OF the bridge. Lieut.. d.. who was still in
charge Of the fatigue party at that end of that
structure, watched the passing regiment in
silence until his company reached the place
where he stood. Then his soldicrly pride rose
superior to his dependency and impclled him
to hasten to the commanding officer OF the reyi-
ment with the plea that the portending fight
would be the first his company would paItlci-
pate In since his promotion 10 the ieuteuancy
lie could never face his comrades again if he
should be prevented by anything but absolute
disability from participating IN the dangers
and hardships 20 which they were 80 soon TO be
exposed. He obtained permission to rejoin his
company. He expressed to his first sergeant
his firm belief that the coming engagement
would be his last. and secured the sergeant
promise that when he fell he would. if he
should survive uninjurcd, see that his body was
from the field and buried where il
could be identified. 70 that il might after
ward be removed to the church yard OF his
peaceful Pennsylvania home.
THE FATEFUI. DAY.
Earlycn the morning of the fateful 18th the
eighth Ohio and first Delaware, which had
bivouaeked the preceding night on one Of the