Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-01-12
Gan. sEoewIcK.s DEATH.
Iie True story Of Ills Killing Told in Print
Tor the First Time.

Tor the First Time.
The Ninth corps. under Burnside. lay
on the left of the Sixth corps, under the
brave Gen. John Sedgwick His ster-
ling ',orth was combined with an al
most femme modesty. and he never
posed for public applause; but his
achievement ut Salem Church, above
! Fredericks burg. when he fought Lees
victorious troops for five hours with a
! sing.e corps and then safely transferred
his saen across the river under the tire
of the southern guns, was not surpassed
/ in the four years. But alas, his cool
bravery only served him once, as a mar
tyr
lis corps was ordered 20 move from
the right 10 the left toward North Anna
river. passing the Ninth corps to the
rear of IT, The writer was with Others
commanding the picket line
Located Immediately in our front, in
the arms Of . large oak that rose above
the second growth Of timber that was
sSi~ted with our piclets, who were in
-hirmIsh lines, was a sharpshooter who
had played deadly hovoc on the lines Of
both the Sixth and Ninth corps. deal
ing death 10 every officer. especially
who came within range had been
obliged all day TO avoid his aim by hug
cling close 10 the fine timber just back |
of our line. Gen. SedgwIclS had been
examining his route of march, which |
must be made in the night, when he
came through the open pine woods
where | was, Seeing him approaching |
All open space he was warned of the |
danger He smilingly replied:
Captain, have you been out here so |
long that your knees are weaks Can
we not dislodgc the reb with shell2 |
Let me see.
Riding ont to where his view was
clear he halted his horse, lifted his field
glass to his eyes and sat thus perhaps
half minute, when his sight went out
forever. One of the sharpshooter's
mimic balls shrieked across the open
and pierced his forehead His death
was instantaneous
During the day an Indian named Sill
verheels, belonging to the artillery.
was shot on the skirmish line. His tent
mate. named RattlesnalSe was much
bereft AT the loss He was close by
when Gen. Sedgwicll fell lie was a
great lover Of Sedgwick. who had made
him several presents for dangerous SER
vice.
Coming TO where | was Rattlesnake !
said; Too mush! Too mush. dat. He
lie on me die pointing to the sharp
shooter
Covering himself with pine boughs
ne ventured cautiously into the open
field, stood still like a bush when !
-he confederate was firing on the 1
Ninth corps, moving swiftly when I
ais gun smoke spouted toward I
the Sixth. Almost brcathlessly / {
gladly saw him enter the woods A
ew minutes only and the crack of the 4
'ihe in the tree ceased forever. aud {
sedgwick and Silverhocls were reveng- $
ii. One long stified rifle shot down
ow in the woods was all that came to /
'ur ears. Rattlesnake re-appcared. +
proud, erect. fearless and FASTENED to Il
nc. 4
His hands were red in spots, so was +
MS bosom. | was afraid he had been r
Wounded himself. He only said slowly r
md in bad English: !
Major. he no want scalp alluding 4
o the commander of our battalion. y
said, "Ah, no! that too mnchy like !,
MUM. :
he said, NO more shooty Sedgwick." i
He had Spencer rife and one hun. :
red rounds of new cartridges. :
He told with many gesticulations how :
e had crept to within few feet of the =
rec, took deadly aim, and then said, !,
Drop dat shooter" The confederate :,
ropped his gun and his cartridges.
hen he jumped to the ground and Of
cred to go anywhere.
RattlesnaSe examined him to see that
e had no other weapons and then Ct
aid: go, go" The sharpshooter was Sc
OF long in obeyinS. After he had gone p
little W. the Indian cried out: N
"lielo, reb; hiatt" re
The man stopped and turned when r.
sad ''Sclgwicl1," and the II
deadly work was ended IL
always had my suspicion as to how II
hat blood came on his shirt bosom but N
do not know. One thing is certain, la
did not - to the hospita
Or any wound TO To- dressed. ~, Y tie
ress IA