Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-01-12
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
GEN. sEDowICKs DEATH.
The True Story of His Killing Told in Print
for the First Time.

ne AEue story OF Ills loAu Al
for the First Time.
The Ninth corps, under Burnside, Law
on the left of the Sixth corps, under the
brave Gen. John Sedgwick- His ster-
ling worth was com bined with an al
most femme 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 a
single corps, and then safely transferred
his men across the river under the fire
OF the southern guns, was not SRI passed
in the four years. But alas! his cool
bravery only served him once, as a mar
tyr.
His corps was ordered to move fror-
the right to 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
skirted with our pickets, who were in
skirmlsh lines, was sharpshooter who
had played deadly hovoc on the lines of
both the Sixth and Ninth corps, deal
ing death to every officer, especially
who came within range. l had been
obliged all day to avoid his aim by hug
ging close to the fine timber just back
of our line. Gen. Sedgwlck 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 approaching
an open space he was warned of the
danger. He smilingly replied:
Captain, have you been out here so
long that your knees are weak? Can
we not dislodge the reb with she'll?
Let me see"
Riding out to where his view was
clear he halted his horse, lifted his field
glass to his eyes and sat thus perhaps a
half minute, when his sight went out
forever. One of the sharpshooter'
mimic balls shrielxed 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 Rattlesnake, was much
bereft at the loss. He was close by
when Gen. Sedgwick fell He was a
great lover of Sedgwick, who had made
him several presents for dangerous ser
vice.
Coming to where 1 was Rattlesnake
said: TOO mush! Too mush, dat! He
die or me die" pointing to the sharp
shooter.
Covering himself with pine boughs
ne ventured cautiously into the open
field, stood still like bush when
the confederate was firing on the
Ninth corps, moving swiftly when
his gun smoke spouted toward
the Sixth. Almost breathlessly
gladly saw him enter the woods. A
few minutes only and the crack of the
rifle in the tree ceased forever, and
Sedgwick and Silverheels were reveng-
ed. One long stifed rifle shot down
low in the woods was all that came to
our ears. Rattlesnalse re-appeared,
proud, erect, fearless, and fastened to
me.
His hands were red in spots, so was
his bosom. / was afraid he had been
wounded himself. He only said slowly
and in bad English:
Major. he no want scalp" abiding
to the commander of our battalion.
! said, "Ah, no. that too muchy like
injun."
He said, mo more shooty Sedgwicl. -
He had Spencer rifle and one hun
bred rounds of new cartridges.
He told with many gesticulations how
he had crept to within few feet of the
tree, took deadly aim, and then said,
Drop dat shooter" The confederate
dropped his gun and his cartridges.
Then he jumped to the ground and Of
fered to go anywhere.
Rattlesnake examined him to see that
he had no other weapons and then
said: go, 60" The sharpshooter was
not long in obeying. After he had gone
a little way the Indian cried out:
Hello, reb; haiti"
The man stopped and turned when
Rattlesnake said 'Sedgwick," and the
sharpshooter's deadly work was ended.
I always had my suspicion as to how
that blood came on his shirt bosom, but
do not know. One thing is certain,
Rattlesnake did not go to the hospital
for any wound to be dressed.-N. Y.
Press