The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-09-07
ALuckY SHOT JUST IN TIME.
An Incident of the Battle of Stone River
Related by q wounded Soldier.

Our brigade was changing position
at Stone River so as to cover the ex-
posed flank of another brigade, when
suddenly sank down in heap. l can
remember of falling, and 1t seemed as
if l fell distance of fifty feet. also
heard far-away voice saying:
"Forward, men-forward! Steady on
the right"
If the missile which struck me had
reached vital spot death would have
come without pain or consciousness.
sand away like one going to sleep, and
the roar of 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 comparative
ly quiet where / lay. l had been hit!
The thought gave me sudden shock
and cleared my mind. Where had the
bullet struck meP felt no pain, and
for few seconds hoped that | had
only been stunned. Then located the
wounds. One of Bragg's shells had
exploded near by. 1t must have been
charged with special reference to my
case, for three of the bullets it con-
tanned struck me in the right leg, the
| left shoulder, and the right hand re-
spectiVely.
By and by sat up. l was weak and
thirsty, but felt no pain. There were
| four dead men in front of me and two
on the left and one on the right. Of
the seven four were Federals and men
of my own regiment, who had been
killed by the same shell which had
wounded me. / could not see behind
me, of course, but heard two or three
wounded men groaning. Fortunately.
I had a canteen of water, and my
wounded hand gave me no pain as
lifted it up and drank my I'LL. L had
| Just worked along into hollow spot,
wnere 1 had a rest for my back. when
a fierce looking fellow, whose dress
! showed him to be teamster or a camp
follower of some sort, came out OF q
clump of bushes about ten rods away
His object as 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 it a:
coolly as YOU please. He went through
the pockets of every dead man in from
of me, getting considerable plunde1
from each, and when he had finished
with the last he came over to me, re
garded me with evil eyes moment
and then asked:
"What have you got9"
"About $40 in money" replied.
"Shell out, and be id quick abou
it, tool"
@I can't. I'm hit in three places, ant
the money is in pocket under me-"
"Hand it over, say!"
"My friend, don't be rough on
wounded man. If you'll raise me u
I'll try to get it for you"
aRaise -" he growled. 81 know
of way to get it without SO mucl
troubled"
t He hadn't far to look to find loade
musket, and he picked it up. raised
t to his shoulder, and stepped forwar
to put the muzzle to my head befor
he pulled the trigger. The inferna
ghoul meant to blow my head off an
. then rob me at his leisure. l saw it i
his eyes as plain as day. | believe nj
finger was on the trigger, when b
suddenly staggered back and fell t
!, the earth, the musket being dis
| CQaEQ0u Ill GuG dill do AO AOAA' L SSA7
saw the bullet as it struck him. 1t b
? him in the center of the forehead, an
D seemed to be enveloped in smoke as
: struck.
t THAT'S what think of him, no ma
: ter which side he belongs to-" called
voice behind me.
knew by the voice that he was
q Confederate, and l called:
y as that you, Johnny?"
i "Yes, that's me Yank."
> "Did you shoot that fellow?"
@Thar amt nobody else around yel
as could hev done iti"
!, %Thank We, Johnny! What regimen
do you-!"
But couldn't finish. I tainted dea
away, and when I came to was bein
. picked up by the ambulance corps, an
was suffering such pain that I forge
o all about my friend. When did as
" for him he could not be traced, and t
9 this day have not learned his nam'
q l-A7neTicG7l Tribune