The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-04
CAPTAIN B.

one person holding IL commission in the
honorable service of arms in whom was
combined all the skill and accomplish
ments of II true soldier with the incorri-
gible cowardice of the mennest poltroon.
This unenvable character was possessed
by Captain Is. first became acuuainted
with this officer ut Comargo, where his
regiment arrived few days before the
army moved forward to Monterey. He
was full of wit and vivacity, and consc-
quently favoritc with his regiment.
When the order for our hasty prcDara-
tions Tor the advance was promulgated, no
one was more elatcd, apparently, than
Captain B.t during the march no officer
was more cheerful and s;lnguinc of the re-
suit OF the fierce struggle in which we cx-
pccted to be engaged before the walls of
the strongly defended city
But alas! for poor Captain b., his courage
did not remain ut the stitching point after
we arrived i'll sight of the enemy. Our
general was so favorably impressed with
his soldierike appearance during the
march and the perfect discipline of his
men that he selected him, with II portion
OF his company, to form Il accommodating
party
Unfortunately, just rs the party had en-
tered II narrow gully in front of the works
he was suddenly attacked with n violent
spasm OF the stomach, which rendered il
impossible FOR him to proceed another Step
The disease, he declared, he had had scy-
erll twlnges of before, and attributed it 10
the poor water Of the country, together
with the fatigue of his previous marches
Requesting his lieutenant to conduct tho
reconnaissance us directed by the general
Captain Is. threw himself on the ground
under cover of the banks, and patiently
awaited the return Of his men When
they had accomplished their objects and
returned to the gully they found the cap
tain i'll perfect health and spirits, and re-
turning mt their head he reported the re-
suits of his examination with so much mi
nutcncss as to receive the special thanks of
the commander.
The duty was performed as the gallant
OLD general supposed, with so much fear
Iessness and promptitude on the part of
Captain b., that he determined the next
morning, when the action commenced in
earnest, to give him with his regiment II
peculiarly honorable position in the storm
ing OF the lower part of the city
with cool and manly hearing did this
really fine looking officer place himself nc
the head of his brave men and move on
with his regiment. But scarcely had it
entered the outskirts of the suburbs. un-
der cover OF the cane plantations and corn
fields and attracted the fire OF the enemy,
About two hours after the advance of
the Blank regiment II soldier whose duty it.
was to attend the surgeons attendants, in
bringing iii the wounded from the various
points OF the field, stepped up to me with
request that would come Immediately
toa young officer who, dangerously wound
cd, was lying in house close ut hand.
| FASTENED to the spot indicated by the
ma!, and on entering the house found Can
nm, -
blanket. y few stains of blood were dis
coverahle upon his face, and his white
linen trousers were considerably colorcd
with dirt and blood comminSled as if he
had drawn himself painfully over the I'M
even ground to his present shelter
! tore open his coat, and removing his
shirt bosom passed my hand carefully
over his person, but without discovering
either wound nor confusion.
"Ah, my dear doctor, is that Won? How
kind you are. Tell me, how long have |
been lying here? But don't stay any
longer-l know my brave fellows, many of
them, need your services Hurry off to
them, pray, and let me die, for feel that
am past your help. Yes, doctor, am n
dying man. Oh, is it not glorious thus to
die ut ones post? But break it gently to
them, doctor-to my friends ut home, l
mean; don't put my name among the
gerously wounded'-you understand 1t
might be too great shock to their loving
hearts to learn too abruptly thut l was
killed-so please, dear doctor. enter me on
your list us dangerously wounded.'"
but Captain b." answered, 81 can
not report you at all, until ascertain the
nature OF your injuries. Where were you
wounded?'
why. my dear fellow" said he, as he
mi f,t nJrc
side, 'as to that l can't say as was exactly
Ait-but-but"-
But what, sir?" exclaimed, now be-
coming extremely disguised with the fell
lows poltroonery. ANSWER me quickly,
for there are many brave men about who
are actually requiring my services, answer
me quickly"
why, my esteemed friend, think it
was here" said he as he placed his hand
upon his breast 81 think it must have
been round shot from one of the enemy's
battery guns, for it seems as if my breast
bone was broken in-that is to say, it must
have been Il spent shot"
"But there is no mark of it thcre.n
answered.
ooh, no. suppose not, doctor, for now
that think of it, | presume it was ONLY
the wind of it that knocked me senseless
believe there are many similar instances
mentioned in your books. You can make
note of this if you choose: Captain b.,
of the Blank regiment, in the stormng of
Monterey, knocked insensible by the wind
of 0-pound shot, and though rendered
hors de combat for the time not materially
injured"
AS turned away to return to the spot
where my brother surgeons were occupied
in dressing IF wounds of really brave
men, was so completely Disguised with
fhe absolutely unnatural meanness of