The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-04
ward him, and return his very polite, but
excessively impudent salutation.

Captain b., ut Monterey began to be ,yhis-
pered about, and his brothers i'm arms at
hrst began to treat him with marked cool
ness. But his fund Of wit and good humor
was so great-and his having before been
80 great favoritc with all who knew
hin-and besides his really soldierly quail
Ties being SO numerous they readily by a
tncit agreement determined to throw the
ven of charity over the affair. In Il few
months it was nearly forgotten; and at all
events ceased to form n subject OF camp
conversations
But we were no sooner in for it at the
fiercely contested field of Bucna Vista. and
the round slgL and copper grape of the
enemy hailed furiously into the head of
our advancing columns and our brave fell
lows began to drop like grass before the
mowers scythe, than I observed an officer
OF the Blank regiment spring suddenly
forward rs if mortally wounded into II mar
row ravine, upon the brink of which it had
arrived.
"Thcrc," thought !, goes another noble
fellow to his long home" But when |
heard the word passed from mouth to
mouth along the line, Its Captain b..
poor fellowH' l reserved my sympathy for
more deserving objects, well satisfied in
my mind that he for that time was in safe
quarters. But shortly after his comrades
SiCootQ Vic IuNlUC anu successfully
charged the batteries on the other side /
distinguished that officer emerging eau
tiously from the smoke that filled the
gorge and joining his company, and with
cap in one hand and sword in the other he
checrcd and huZzacd us vocifcrously rs the
bravest man there
NO sooner, however, did his column re-
ceivc an order to attack another position
OF the enemy, where the guns were belch-
ing forth torrents of grape and canister,
THAN again caught moment from my
own Immediate duties to look after Cap
tain H., for felt an unaccountable curios-
ity III regard to his motions But this
time could not sec him ut the head of his
company. Presently, however, l again
perceived his peculiarly 1.-the and hand
some ilSurc gliding cautiously along the
broken ground and once more seeking the
shelter of the gorge. My Indignation was
now so great that l would have rcjoiced
to sec him fall pierced with wounds In
TACT, was so incrnsed Mt this last act, so
disgraceful to his gallant regiment, that,
watching nm opportunity when / could he
best spared from my post, mounted my
horse and spurrcd across the plateau in the
direction of the skullling place of the
craven hearted captain, with the tletermi-
nation of shaming him, if possible, to
sense OF his cowardly conduct.
l had no sooner reached the edge of the
ravine where | could take in a view of the
ground below, then l cspicd him snugly
ensconscd under the shelter of the rocky
wall
Captain b." exclaimed, "arc YOU
wounded, sir."
A-a-you here, my good friend? No, not
exactly woundcd-that is, not shot-but
this COMPOUNDED fall has nearly knocked
4 h1, lar. I,
have broken IL rib or two"
""Twns the wind of another ball. sir. I
reckon" said !, now beginning to be really
amused at the fellows downright cool eff
frontcry. Now, sir, come out of TINT
forthwith and rcjoin your company, or,
by heavens, I'll trumpet your base pol
troonery To the whole army"
At this moment | perceived the general
and his staff moving directly toward the
spot where | was standing, and now |
actually begged the captain, for the honor
OF his corps, not to be found by the brave
general thus Sinking his duty. But be-
fore he had time to Withdraw from the
spot the general had arrived, and observ-
Ing me thus alone on the edge of the ravine,
inquired why was there. | would not be
guilty oil prcvarication, and pointed to the
ravinc below, where still remained the
skulkins officer
WHO is that person, doctor?" lie de-
manded on seeing the captain entirely
alone
Captain B., SIR" replied.
us he wounded? Here, my men"-call-
ing TO some orderlics-'assist that gentle
man from the ravine to the plateau here;
and, doctor, have the goodness TO examine
his injuries" and us the general turned to
give some order to one of the aids-de-camp,
the men sprang to the bottom of the
ravine, and placing their arms under those
OF the captain, dragged him to the upper
world. immediately proceeded to exam
inc his person, really hoping in pity to him
to discover some injury, but the result was
as | expected
well, doctor, l hope he is not badly
hurt!" commscratingly inquired the good,
kind hearted general
shook my head.
What, is it serious?" he asked. MS lie
sprang from his horse and approached the
spot
"Alas, general!' 1 said, ~ am sorry to
say 1.-THE is not injured ut all; and with
Shame have to add, sir, this is not the
first time have been called upon to ex-
anime him under like circumstances. with
a similar result!"
sit possible that II craven heart beats
in an American bosom this day? Here,
sergeant" turning toward squadron OF
dragons in attendance, take this officer
under arrest. Bear him to the rear, SER
geant. Gentlemen, should not have be.
lievcd this if l had not seen it with my own
eyes"
AT this moment, attracted by the sight
OF general officer surrounded by his at
tcndants, the enemy had directed one of
his mortars upon the spot, and as the dra
goon was about obeying the order an IS.
inch shell burst directly over our heads
and sent II shower of death dealing missiles
into our ranks. The sergeant was killed
OH the spot, and one of the horses of Major
Bliss was desperately wounded