The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-19

II wi'D ONLY HAD SHOW"
hurrying with achievements 10 resist
the rush Of Longstreets attack on SicMes.
The most shocking OF the sights OF
war are in the hospitals and seeking in
them wounded friend there were hor-
rors inconceivable. The dreadful indus
try OF the surgeons, the stains and smell
Of blood, the agonies Of mutilated boys
writhing In bloody straw, the bitter,
despairing patience. the gasping, CULVER
ing faintness from long suffering. the
sharp and the dull misery.
A Massachusetts officer was on his
right side, his left leg roughly amputa-
ted close TO the body. his eyes wide
open in a pale face-ani as l looked al
him almost choking with grief he said,
noting possibly that the stranger star
ing at him was compassionate. "Ah, |
should not care for this If we had been
shown fair play, II we had been put in
when we had the least chance. l should
not have cared for my leg so much If
we'd had a show. It's gone for nothing"
And tears came into his eyes, and he
repeated, "If we'd only had a show,
and it's gone for nothing" There seemed
10 be no comfort for a sorrow like that
and ] FASTENED away.
The resourding cannonade was almost
harmless. IL did not take a soldier 20
tell that there was no business I'm II,
but the expenditure Of ammunition. There
was so much iron flying that the sound
OF II rasping through the shivering air
could be heard distinctly. The cannons
beloved and the shot hummed low and
fercely. The old town was Invisible
but two church steeples pierced the
fog. The laying of the pontoons under
the fire Of Mississippi rihemen was a
sacrifice Of brave men. Officers who fell
I'm that service and were carried TO the
rear We're strewn thiCkly on the grass.
The Confed2rates paid very little atten-
ton 70 the bombardment. II meant
nothing 10 them but that something was
about TO take place. Their rflemen in
the cellars were well protected and shot
the men at work on the pontoons at
their pleasure. II was no trick az all
for a marksman to kill soldier at every
shot Why all OF the bridge builders
were not shot down / could not under
stand. When the bridges were compile
ted there was such a rush, the rifemen
left the cellars. Ii was not Lees policy
20 hold the town. Soon the distribution
Of tobacco taken IN Fredericksburg be-
came a very interesting occupation for
MANY soldiers. The Confederates fired
a few pieces Of artillery, and WHIT
worth gun Just from England broke the
rnonotony Of sound by hurting a Dolt
that as il flew gave a long shrill whistle
II was like the high note OF a WHIP
81 one could cut the air for mile.
THE night that Stonewall Jackson wan
ted Lee TO assaii the National troops
cooped up I'm the town, l crossed the river
IN company with Colonel Jones. OF ONO.
fredericksburg was a pokerish LOOKING
nlace The river was very dark save
whore Il flashed red In the glare or the
aaring torches. The town was dlsIlal
one and the silence was sinister. we
called on General Burns, whose mead
quarters were in the second story III
bedroom over the dining-room OF uhg
house OF the Mayor. Three shells had
n,terod tho room and exploded in II.
The walls and ceiling displayed the as
tribut,on Of the fragments. over the
rnantel piece was a red, ragged hole, ny
shot through the brick chimney Inc
Colonel had coffee with canned milk ana
,-,,,tton chops whose flavor was good
"a he nreferred not 70 talk OF the situa-
lion did not try to interview him. IL
was \ surprise 20 see how many SIAN ON
oars NTH muddy boots studded with spurs
could 90 to sleep on one bed. l think
- 49, ,,as right In wanting 10 make
H. at+ock that night, but ! feel sense
~ ALLEGATION 70 Lee for not uolns IT.
oorid NOT see any show for the Union
-. from first 20 last and the balue
scares 70 me were terrible. sa" 'he
celebrated charge Of the irish brlsdus %
distinctly as / ever saw d pay
Hooker rode by with his brilliant race
- cicl,les passed with a group OF ldN
core burnside was walking III lhe g"lu
- the Phillips house, MS SABRE
Inc an the gravel. There was .
the opening Of battery ol 49, =. 80
ei,. artiIIarv on the Fredericksburg slde
helu q Ter The shots were exceedingly
OF sne "a flashes in the white gloom or
l"p ra.,y nowder cloud, and then the wiz
a a, 20 -, or the stone wall. II was not war,
=. - madness. The clouds tnat hau
Iced with streams OF Jagged name
ia vrithing and vibrating as II cnars-
a,tth electricity. grew quiet. Iheh
- .ba blue column moved forward there
rs the crackle Of rifles IKE tnousahu
oacks OF Chinese crackers, and from that
al,t,astlv qulf OF fame but few or the boys
in blue reappeared.
saw the cloud or batte over rfdilh-
,,n,s thanking movement far down the
.i,.er where alone there was rauonai
80 NJ doing anything. But the pillar
- .loud did not advance, and the rulnD-
IL, ~ MANY guns was not continued.
, n,n- Was a temporary success there
nS ,wo or three hundred North Caro-
itna troops were taken prisoners. IL
, n.as pathetic 20 see their homemade
or,ets their knapsacks Of worn car
ns,s~earpets used as blankets and cover
,",s and patchwork quilts that had seen
Nome service, the butternut jackets and
~ g,ad hats. had seen North Carroll
hans before. for my fathers people were
=, them. He was born in that State. and