The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-12-12

Hooker was trying 20 drive Jackson
Mt Antietem. IL was one OF the myster-
les of war that he did not annihilate
him and then take Lee in flank. We
outnumbered him, and we extended our
lines until only slSirmish line Of gray
opposed us but on no field of battle in
the whole war did the Confcderates
fight so fierccly II seemed as II every
single company had been told TO hold
its ground until the last man was
wiped out. We breasted upto 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 recovered two.
| remember how the corn waved and
rustled as we pushed through it that
day-how the sillSen tassels became
detached and foated into our faces
like spiderwebs on dewy summers
morning. They were waiting for us
the men who had come up from Ilar-
per's ferry without n halt-foot- sore.
hungry, thirsty, but ready TO die TO save
Lees left wing They made never n
halt TO moistcn their parched throats at
the wells of Sharpsburg never halt
for the laggards 10 come up. Lee was
ia danger, and old Stonewall rode ut
slur them Those who breasted up
against them ON the battlefield re
member only how calamity they died
AZ first "A scattering flrc-a man fall
ing ont here and there The pop! pop!
pop! increases in rapidity now IL be-
comes continual' roar here comes
the command to charge. There is n
checr-a rush and we are checked.
Men cannot dodge bullets, but we
dodge rs they zip, and spit, and whistle
by our ears A storm of bullets can
not be breasted like gale of wind
laden with snowiial<es, but we bend
our heads and advance.
What is IL? Why am lying on the
ground? Is the fight over that the din
Of battle has so nearly died away? l
wonder and wonder. IL is like waking
out of "A sound slumber. Now | know
what IL is-l'm HIT bullet has
crashed into my shoulder, spun me
around like top, aud then dashed me
TO the earth in a heap Men struck
that way lose consciousness for min
ute or two. The roar swclls out again;
hear men cursng and cheering, and
finally understand that our lines have
been driven back. lift my head for n
hasty look around and / find that
have lots OF company. The dead and
wounded are as numerous rs corn-hills
A bullet in the shoulder is nothing
A pint or two of blood lost from the
body is OF no account. | turn over
seize dead man by the arm and pull
myself up, but everything dances before
my eyes and sink down in n heap. IL
isn't the wound itself, but the shock Of
the nervous system. I've seen six
footcr drop In heap and cry like a
woman because bullet had made one
OF his fingers an inch shorter and he
was never charged with being cow
ard. either.
There is no such thing as time ora n
battlefield A General may watch its
flight, but n private soldier has no
thought oft The sun may have been
at the meridian when the battle was
opened All OF sudden he is amazed
that the orb has gone FROM sight lie
had fought on, giving no heed % time,
Only half conscious--only half rcaliz-
ing that was hit by and by felt the
cool breezes of evening and lost the
glare az the sun. Some one gave me
water, but felt too dreamy 10 open my
eyes. Some one pulled dead man off
my legs--a wounded comradc who had
crept over to me In search OF water and
died But ] did not open my eyes:
could not. II seemed ms II great weights
had been placed ON my eyclids to keep
them shut There was n babel OF sounds
around me. but heard only one voice.
That sounded miles away. as Il said:
Now. then, you all be mighty kccr-
ful how you tote that boy, for he's been
powerfully hit. Needn't mind me NO
much, though reckon I'm good for n
wooden leg II you YanIss kin spare the
TIMBER.
IL was rebel" He'd been cnring
for me for hours as tenderly as he would
for his own son, and yet they separated
us that night. never 20 meet again. I
have never had opportur ity 20 look into
his face and thank him. never even
saw him.