Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-12-19
CLEVER SHOOTING.
RESULT OF TWO SHOTS LEARNED
AFTER TWENTY-NlNE YEARS.


Southern Field Day-How Colonel Rich
.rasou Came to Know That He Had Done
Some Damage to His Enemies.
When the Washington artillery wai
at Morgan City, there were many strik.
ing incidents that sprang out OF the GER.
emonies of dedicating Fort Star and OF
sracticing with the solid shot Inc
whole day the war and its memories
were kept before the people, but it was
not reawakening in which the bloody
shirt had any play, but more OF q
thoughtful retrospection, in which the
recalling Of battles was not with bitter
ness, but with an impartial sadness.
Among the happenings of the day none
was more singular and noteworthy than
one which occurred to Colonel Richard
son, the commander of the battalion.
Il was during the time when the bat
teries were firing shell at the two tar
gets, which looked like tiny handker-
chiefs on the water, they were so far
away. A good shot was fired, and the
spectators were applauding the excellent
Workmanship and the colonel stepped
up to the gun to commend the gunner,
when without cause or without knowing
why the memory of similar shot which
had been fred 30 years ago almost to the
very day flashed into his mind when he
had stepped up to gunner and comph-
mented him in much the same style.
1t was when he was at Fort Malone at
the siege of Petersburg, which was
known as Fort "Damnation," when the
shot 30 years before had been fired, and
the Fourth of July was almost the ami
versary of the very day. Instead OF
white targets for mark it had been the
tops of two Sibley tents which peeped
over the ramparts of Fort HELL" just
opposite Fort "Damnation." They were
the tents of the Federal officers. He knew
that from a deserter who had informed
him, also that the officers of the whole
held daily consultation there,
and that he could tell the time from the
fact that they hitched their horses around
the tents
Colonel Richardson was then a cap
tain in the Washington artillery, and he
the idea of scoring point on
the Federals by firing on the tents just
1t the time of the daily consultation.
He selected the best gunner in his COM
nand and told him what he wanted him
20 do, and that was to load and prepare
he guns for special shot which he was
yoing to direct them to make the ensu-
ng day. The young captain was sure
hat he had gunners he could depend up
IN, and to make his triumph complete
le asked General Malone to be present
when the shots were to be fired.
1t was noon the next day when the
lorses of the Federal officers were seen
collected around the two tents. The
runners were told to train their guns
lpon them and to be certain to make
heir shots tell. Those two shots were
made the center of the interest of those
n Fort "Damnation" for that day, for
he word was passed around that the de-
truction of the officers tents was to be
attempted
After deal Of preliminary arrange
nents the two shots We're fired, and the
ops OF the two Sibley tents disappeared
Ike cardhouses in gale of wind. The
uccess OF the shots was the signal for
heering on the part of the Confederates.
1eneral Malone complimented the &C.
uracy OF the artillerymen, and it was
men that the captain stepped to the gun
er and expressed his appreciation in
auch the same way that he used to the
ne that had made the good shot at Nor.
an City. But there had always been a
lnge OF dissatisfaction about that shot
the Federal tents, and that was that
had never ascertained whether any
ne mad been hurt in the tents, and for
ae ~ Intervening years that one thought
ad pervaded the whole incident.
with these thoughts in his mind Colo.
ell Richardson turned away from the
unner at Morgan City, and at that mo-
lent one OF Morgan City's prominent
ltizens, Mr.. Gray, stepped to the colo
els side and said:
Ism This Colonel Richardson"
YES"
"Wel' have been wanting to meet
ou for many years, ever since heard
ou had been in Fort 'Damnation' at
le same time that was in Fort He'll >"
"fesF' said the colonel. "and when
ere you in Fort 'Helly'"
In July, 1864. In fact, just 20 wears
90 today" answered Mr.. GRAY.
The colonel instantly thought of those
Vo shots and wondered if his curiosity
as TO be satisfied. do you remember
day while you were opposite me in
ort He'll when the tents of the offioors
ere taken down by two shots which
ere almost simultaneously
The stranger did not reply for f,u
mute A shadow seemed to fall ovor s
m' his eyes grew dark, and he stennad {
'ck and surveyed the colonel from bead !
FOOT Then he broke out feelinplv.
IN you'll shall never forget tboso !
o's' lhey swept away the flower of
y corps. My first lieutenant was killed +
III the leg of my second lieutenant uas v
ot Oft, and five others were killed a as !
d you fire that shotY" Anu '
The deep feeling of the man was o.; 8
nv, out moment later he said, wen {,
lionel you are now teaching your vonng !
! lolers to serve the flag for which m1 d
lcers Il, lad down their hyesn-New h
leans Times Democrat ave" 8