Democratic messenger., 1893-09-02
CLEVER SHOOTING.
RESULT OF TWO SHOTS LEARNED
AFTER TWENTY-NINE YEARS.

An Incident In the Practice Work OF O
Southern Field Day-How Colonel Rich
artison Came to Know That He Had Done
Some Damage to His Enemies.
When the Washington artillery was
at Morgan City. there were many strik-
ing incidents that sprang out of the GER
emonies of dedicating Fort Star and Of
practicing with the solid shot. The
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, bslD mere of a
thoughtful retrospections In wzlich the
recalling of battles was aot vAh bitter
hess. but with an impsxeal m6nsss.
Among the happenings Of - AC none
was more singular and noteworthy than
one winch occurred to Colonel Richard
son, the commander Of the battalion.
1t was during the time when the bat
ter1es 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 fred, and the
spectators were applauding the excellent
craftsmanship, and the colonel stepped
mp to the gun to commend the gunner.
when without cause or without knowing
why the memory of similar shot which
had been fred 90 years ago almost to the
very day flashed into his mind when he
had stepped up to q gunner and compli-
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 20 years before had been fred, 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 deserter who had informed
him, also that the officers of the whole
command held a 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
conceived tho idea of scoring point on
the Federals by firing on the tents Just
at the time OF the Tally consultation.
He selected the best gunner in his COM
mand and told him what he wanted him
to do. and that was to load and prepare
the guns for a special shot which he was
going to direct them to make the ensu-
ing day. The young captain was sure
that he had gunners he could depend up
on. and to make his triumph complete
he asked General Malone to be present
when the shots were to be fired.
1t was noon the next day when the
horses Of the Federal officers were seen
collected around tho two tents. The
gunners were told to train their guns
upon them and to be certain to make
their shots tell Those two shots were
made the center Of the interest Of those
in Fort ''Damnation" for that day, for
the word was passed around that the de-
struction Of the officers tents was to be
attempted.
After deal Of preliminary arrange
ments the two shots were fred, and the
tops of the two Sibley tents disappeared
like cardhouses in gale Of wind. The
success of the shots was the signal for
cheering on the part of tho Confederates.
General Malone complimented the ac-
curacy Of the artillerymen, and it was
then that the captain stepped to the gum
ner and expressed his appreciation IN
much the same way that he used to tho
one that had made the good shot at Nor
gan City. But there had always been q
tinge Of dissatisfaction about that shot
at the Federal tents. and that was that
he had never ascertained whether any
one had been hurt in the tents. and for
the 90 intervening years that one thought
had pervaded the whole incident.
With these thoughts in his mind Colo
mel Richardson turned away from the
gunner at Morgan City. aud at that mo-
ment one of Morgan City's prominens
citizens. Mr.. Gray. stepped to the colo
nel's side and said:
"Isnt this Colonel Richardsony"
"Yes."
"Well. have been wanting to meet
you for many years, ever since heard
you had been in Fort 'Damnation' at
the same time that was in Fort He'll"
"TesS" said the colonel, "and when
were you in Fort 'Helly"
"In July. 1864. In fact. just 20 years
ago today" answered Mr.. Gray.
The colonel instantly thought Of those
two shots and wondered If his curiosity
was to be satisfied. DO you remember
a day while you were opposite me in
Fort He'll when the tents of the officers
were taken down by two shots which
were almost simultaneous?'
The stranger did not reply for fun
minute. A shadow seemed to fall over
him, his eyes grew dark. and he stepped
back and surveyed the colonel from head
to foot. Then he broke out feelingly.
oh you'll shall never forget those
shots. They Swept away tho flower OF
my corps. Ay first lieutenant was killed,
and tho leg Of my second lieutenant waa
shot off. and five others We're killed. And
did you FIRE that shotg"
The deep feeling Of the man was evil
dent. but moment later he said, "Well,
colonel, you are now teaching your young
soldiers to serve the flag for which my
officers laid down their lives. New
Orleans Times-Democrat
} Too Far on.