Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-28
THANK We, JOHNNY"
How q Confederate Rendered . Gfese
Service to Union Soldier.

THANK We. JOHNN~.'
How q Confederate Rendered . Grese
Service to Union Soldier.
Our brigade was changing positions
at Stone river so as to cover the ex-
posed flank of another brigade, when
l suddenly sank down in a heap. says
a writer in the Detroit Free Press. I
can remember of falling, and it seemed
to me as if fell distance Of fifty feet.
l also heard far-away voice saying:
Forward, men-forward! Steady
on the right"
If the missiles which struck me had
reached vital spot death would have
come without pain or consciousness.
I sank away like one going to sleep,
and the roar of the battle lulled rather
than disturbed me. think it was as
much as twenty minutes before l came
to, and the fight had then gone down
the line to the left, and it was COM
paratively quiet where I lay. l had
been hit! The thought gave me a
sudden shock and cleared my mind.
Where had the bullet struck me? l
felt no pain, and for few seconds
hoped that had only been stunned.
Then 1 located the wounds. One of
Bragg's shells had exploded near by.
It must have been charged with special
reference to my case, for three of the
bullets it contained struck me in the
right leg, the left shoulder, and the
right hand, respectively.
By and by l sat up. l was weak
and thirsty, but felt no pain. For
tunately, had canteen of water and
my wounded hand gave me no pain as
l lifted it up and drank my fill.
had just worked along into hollow
spot, where had rest for my back,
when a fierce-looking fellow, whose
dress showed him to be Il teamster or
a camp-follower of some sort, came
out of a clump of bushes about ten rods
away. His object, as l suspected at
first glance, was to rob the dead.
1t was very seldom that even the
worst of the army bummers had the
cheek to play the ghoul in broad day
light, and that with fighting still going
on, but this fellow went about as coolly
as you please. He went through the
pockets of every dead man in front OF
me, getting considerable plumber from
each, and when he had finished with
the last he came over to me regarded
me with evil eyes moment, and ther
asked:
What have you got?"
"About $40 in money!" replied.
''Shell out and be - quick about
it, too!''
II can't. I'm hit in three places.
and the money is in a pocket under
me-"
Hand it over, say!"
..My friend. don't be rough on ,
wounded man. If you'll raise me vi
I'll try to get it for YOU"
Raise -" he growled. Il know
of a way to get it without so mucf
troubled"
He hadn't far to look to find a LOADED
musket, and he picked it UP, raised i
to his shoulder, and stepped forward
to put the muzzle to my head befor'
he pulled the trigger. The inferna
ghoul meant to blow my head Off ant
then rob me at his leisure. l saw i
in his eyes as plain as day. I believ
his finger was on the trigger when h
suddenly staggered back and fell to tn
earth, the musket being discharged il
the air as he fell. I also saw the bulle
as it struck him. 1t hit him in tn
center of the forehead, and seemed t.
be enveloped in smoke as it struck.
That's what l think of him, n
matter which side he belongs to,
called a voice behind me.
Iknew by the voice that he was
confederate. and called:
lis that you. johnny"
Eyes, that's me. Yank."
odd you shoot that fellow?"
Thar ant nobody else around yer
as. could have done it,
Thank We, Johnny! What reg
ment do YOU"
But couldn't finish. / tainted dea
away, and when came to was bein
picked up by the ambulance corps an
was suffering such pain that l forge
all about my friend. When did as
for him he could not be traced, and
this day have not learned his nam'