Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-11-20
THE LITTLE DRUMMER
WHO DIED ON THE BANKS OF
THE cHICKAHoMlNY.
a Sad Memory OIL The War as Told by Con-
icserase-A Brave Yankee BoY-A
Testament Inscription.

On the 23d day OF June, 1862 says
the Atlanta Constitution, StOnewall
Jackson's foot cavalry were In the val
ley Of Virginia, footsore from very long
and rapid marches up and down that
classic locality. and oitenacross the Pc
tomac into Maryland, to the consterna-
tiou OF the government OF Washington.
At this time jackson has made feint
In that direction. which, as usual,
greatly alarmed the enemy for the
safety Of the capital itself. To check
jackson and save Washington from
destruction. as they thought, General
Mcdowell was ordered post-haste from
Virginia to move as rapidly as possible
up the Potomac and check Jackson's
movement in that direction.
On tho Goth a. T.. Hill, with his
4 magnificent corps, struck the enemy's
rear at Mchanicsville, and, although
they we're In ovcrwhelm ing numbers,
he drove them from the field. Our
I brigade carly in the IN orning surprised
a large body OF the enemy Ia their en-
| campment by coming up In their rear
and drove them pell-moll on, when we,
/ fatigued from u nights march, and
hungry almost TO iamishing, rushed
into their quartars and took from their
sayory cook vessels and ate with the
! greatest relish the best breakfast we
had the privilege OF enjoying for "A
long time. IL was taken hurriodly,
and the word was passed down tho
line: "Ten minutes for breakfast. 1.-THE
hungry Coniederutes hastily took from
the tiras tho steaming pots Of "sure-
enough coliee,n sweetoned it with white
sugar and used the ready cream, and
emptied the luciOus beefstake from the
cook vessels into plates ready on tables
conveniently arranged, and which to
them was workable picnic. At the
word Of command the troops pressed on
in the direction Of ChickBhominy all the
morning. In full hearing OF the rattle
OF musketry and the boom OF cannon
on the left, whore a. T.. Hill was maxi
ing II warm for the enemy, until about
o'clock in the afternoon, we came
upon their pickcts, who were driven
back until tho historic field OF Cold
Harbor was reached, and upon which
the enemy was found In countless mum
bers and well intrenched. Our brigade
was held in reserve two hundred yards
In the rear OF the FIRST battle line, aud
kept there two hours, which appeared
u lengthen into week, rs the shot
and shell rained about us necessarily.
shall mover forget the awful din OF
small arms which seemed 10 come from
the earth boneath us. Just before sun
set the forward command was given,
when we pressed through tho woods,
entered clearing and charged the enc
my posted oehinu Dreostworks on the
crest OF u snail mn; Ihey were soon
ulslodgcd, ana Slowly fell back until
the night shadows began falling about,
Wheh lhey leit inc heid, covered with
tholr dead ana wounded, to us. The
scene was the most awful had ever
Witnessed ana us memories VIII never
llu9 rom my MUD me wreokage OF
Artlllery' wagons, hWn.' Hltls. 'a
eqelpagei the or0ken 4uu Dant gums
anu swords, whlch ~ .1.lf troWeo GRE
ground, cast away b. l1 en- .nr iu
tneir night the heartreuu.ng gru..a
VI INC WouHueui some IN the lust AgOnles
OF death, others piteously calling for
help or water-it all was so horrible
that l associated the scene with hell.
Whore stopped, as darkness like a
pail leH upon the scene 70 lie down TO
resi- Tor the night was upon the spot
that haa peen occupied by the Penn
sylYania Buoktails. Many OF them,
magnificent specimens OF manhood, lay
ueAd ABOUT mo- opening the knupsack
pfl one who lay at my feet, | spread out
his blanket for my bed, and threw away
my WORKOUT socks and put ON pair OF
ms now ones
L was IN the act OF seeking the sleep
OF which WIS SO much in need, when
distressed cry came from mere child
only few yards away. l fastened TO
IL, and to my horror found that the
sufferer, who had just regained con.
seriousness, was II little boy. Both OF
his legs were crushed, supposed, from
the fragment OF shell, which lay by
him, though he could tell me nothing
about IL, He lay prone upon his back,
and, although mangled and MORALLY
wounded, was entirely conscious, and
uttered no word OF complaint on nc
count OF his wounds. l gently raised
the little head and placed knapsack
under II, and gave him drink OF wa
Ter TO molsted his parched lips and
throat. His gratitude can never
forget.
Although the dying were all around
me my first impulse was 10 find a SUR
geon to relieve him II possible. But he
said; mo, don't leave me; sit down,
please; and did so.
he had In his pocket small Testa-
ment In which was written his name,
and beneath which was the quotation;
talnar mot A hpn a,,,. 49,.