Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-12-17
HOW GEN. sgowIck DIED.
Tn, rrue story of His Killing Told in Pri
for the First Mime

n. Y. Press:-The Ninth Corps under
Burnside, lay on the left of the Sixth
Corps, under the brave Gen. John
Sedgwick. His sterling worth was com
bined with an almost feminine modesty,
and he never posed for public applause;
but his achievement at Salem Church,
above Fredericksburg when he fought
Lees victorious troops for five hours
with single corps, and then safely
transferred his men across the river
Under the fire of the rebel guns, was
not surpassed in the four years. But,
alas his cool bravery only served him
once, as a martyr.
His corps was ordered to move from
the right to the left toward North Anna
River, passing the Ninth Corps to the
rear of it. The writer was with othets
commanding the picket line.
Located Immediately in our front, in
the arms of a large oak that rose above
the second growth of timber that was
skirted with our pickets, who were in
skirmish lines, was a sharpshooter, who
had played deadly havoc on the lines Of
both the Sixth and Ninth Corps, deal
lad death to every officer especially
who came within range. / had been OBJ
liged all day to avoid his aim by hug
ging close to the fine timber just back
of our line. Gen. Sedgwick had been
examining his route of march, which
must be made in the night. when he
came through the open pine woods
where l was. Seeing him approach an
open space he was warned of the dan
ger. He smilingly replied:
Captain, have you been out here so
long that your knees are weak? Can
we not dislodge the reb with shell?
Let me see"
Riding out to where the view was
clear, he halted his horse, lifted his
field glass to his eyes and sat thus per-
haps half munite. when his sight went
mimic balls shrieked across the open
and pierced his forehead. His death
was instantaneous
During the day, an Indian, named
Silyerheels belonging to the artillery,
was shot ON the skirmish line. His tent
mate, named Rattlesnake. was much
bereft at the loss. He was close by
when Gen. Sedgwick fell He was
a great lover of Sedgwck. who had
made him several presents for his dan
gerous service.
Coming to where | was, Rattlesnakc
said TOO mush! Too mush, dat.
He die or me die" pointing to the sharp
shooter.
Covering himself with pine boughs,
he ventured cautiously into the open
field, stood still like bush when the
reb was firing on the Ninth Corps, NOV
ing swiftly when his gun spouted
toward the Sixth. Almost breathlesS-
ly l gladly saw him enter the woods.
\ few moments only and the crack of
the rifle in the tree ceased forever, and
Selgwick and Silverheels were reveng-
ed. one long, stihed rife shot down low
in the woods was all that came to our
ears Rattlenake reappeared, proud,
erect, fearless and FASTENED to me-
His hands We're red in spots; so was
his bosom. | was afraid he had been
wounded himself He OILY said slowly,
and in bad English;
Major he no want scalp abiding to
the commander of our battalion.
l said "Ah, no, that too muchy like
Iniun,"
He said, mo more shooty Sedgwick."
He had Spencer rifle and 100 rounds
of new cartridges
He told, with many gesriculations,
how he had crept to within a few feet
Of the tree, took deadly aim and then
said Drop dat shooter" The rebel
dropped his gun and his cartrideS
Then he jumped to the ground and Of
fered to 90 anywhere.
RattlesnaBe examined him to see that
he had no other weapons and then said:
Go, go" The sharpshooter was not
long in obeying After he had gone a lit.
tie way the Indian cried out
Hello, reb; laltr
The reb stopped and turned when
Rattlesnake said "Sedgwick," and the
sharpshooters deadly work was ended
! always had my suspicious as to how
that blood came on his shirt bosoIn.
but l do rot know One thing is certain.
Raulesnake did not go to the hospital
for any wound tn no JrpSSn1