New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-11
p,ecutive Department, state of Vermont.
bNoN"' Ninn+nelier Vt Aprl Z. 1891.
HE FELT LIKE A MURDERER.

THE STRANGE EXPERIENCE OF AN ENERGETIC
SERGEANT IN THE WAR.
aDid ever have feeling Of remorse after had
shot a Confederate ?" said Grand Army veteran, III
reply to a question the other day.
"Well no. 1t nav seem brutal TO say So but
while the war was 'On', and my blood was up
enioyed shooting ut the enemy. as sportsman enjoys
killing big game The thought of the possible -" -o"s
and orphans / making never entered my hcad'
nr IL il did was driven out at once by the knowledge
that my own wife might be a widow the next moment
"On one OCCASION though ! really felt like MUIR
aerer for time, The feeling passed away with cool
reflection, but remember still how strongly the
grewsome impression took hold on me theh
81 had been promoted from the ranks to be
sargeont moi for any special merit much as because
our officers were being killed of fast and vacancies
for old soldiers plentiful. Many raw recruit
OF a month ago looked on by his onlcers ana
his comrades as old soldier after lie had been III
one or two engagements with our regiment one
NJ the most common greetings between comrades
who had not met for day or two was 'HeIol Are
Won alive yet?' Well as was saying had Just
haen made a sergeant and felt very proud OF my
ehevons.
"A young recruit had Just Joined us. whom l
had known al home. His fathers farm aoJoiheu
mine. and he brought package OF undertaking
from my own wife when he set out for the 'front.'
Nv first fight as a sergeant the first engagement
AZ had ever been in and when the bullets began 10
,tug past tie lads ears his checks blanched ana
MS knees Knocked together. lie had never been iai
from hi, mother anu sisters, and wlen tle Drains
of a man at his side dashed out by u cannon
hall and splat.ered the youngsters breast anu
lace he turned SICK with horror. .
ave were sheltered somewhat from the ViCini
fire An little clump OF trees and undcIbrush Wiiie
fbis happened, but pretty the order came 10
charge right over an open field, down on 70 com,
many OF artillery that threatened 10 blow us ana
ihe trees into spllnters II we did not dislodge them
from their position and silence the guns.
AS we gathered ourselves together for the charge
d ~ at GH "a
cnnister, / noticed that my yOungster remained
cronched down behind fallen tree, and showed every
sgn OF that panic which has often made men run avn y
from action and cover themselves with q disgrace
witch they fonnd even worse than death.
knew that II he got over MS ifst Junk ne woulo
no All right and brave any OF them, so grabbed
lin by the coat collar and shouted in his ear. Come
nv hoy mp with you No skulklngl Face yonr fatt
ike a man. and don't think Of anything but capturing
liVsu 10 WAS so dumb and paralyzed with tina
Ia could hardly have moved even IL he had wanted
10 and he evidently did not want 10 very badly 81
grabbed him with both hands aud hauled him up Il
tis knees telling him that would sooner shoot hin
myself for deserter, than see him disgrace hmsel
am As ! held him there in my grip. his white face
looking appeangly up into mine, felt like Laughing
81 him but Just then a piece Of exploding Slel
struck him In the temple and with shudder he died IL
my felt like a murderer Tie fact that | was ex
posing myself 70 the same danger into which hat
dragged him did no. afford relief until lonl
sfterwardH