The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-19

An old soldier vas telling war stories yes
terdav in nn uptown club. and the theme was
bravery under fire. says the New York Times
He was not trying Co sct himself upas hero.
nor was hc one who believed that heroes
Tiled the runk-0f either army. He said. II
have often wondered why 10 was, in battle
that some men would carelcssly expose them
selves 90 danger, and take risks Of losing
their lives that were totally unnecessary. and
really. could Re called criminal / never
claimed 20 be brave, and. on several occas-
ions, felt that ! could be called a coward with
Justice ON one occasion ] tried % be brave.
but IL was useless. ] could not keep il up. and
gave UP trying. But, am alive. and many OF
those, who were noted for their hravcay, are
not 80. perhaps am "a gamer
ION the morning OF July 20. 1864 had
marched down the road TO a bridge crossing
Peach Tree creek. When we reached the
bridge we found that two Confederate bat
teries were stationed there one on the right
ana tine other on the left OF the structure.
Both had complete range OF the; bridge. and
were Smelling il for all they were worth.
Several regiments had passed over and we're
sklrmishluy Where we halted the road ran
through an emhanSment, protecting us from
the shells. several had struck the bridge
and knocked holes in the planktng making
jumps necessary to cross it,
"A few minutes arter we halted Gen. Joe
Hooker and his staff came down the road.
lie rode In he open 10 the bridge, held up his
hand to halt his staff, and slowly walked his
horse across till he came TO "a place in the
planldng whore the animuI was forced TO
jump, landing him safely on the other side.
As soon as he appeared in the open, before he
crossed the batteries on both sides opened on
him. This apparently did not disturb him in
the least Several shots hit the bridge ana
they exploded on all sides OF him. but he rode
as slowly as though on review His face was
OF its usual red hue, and no sign of fear could
be seen in 1t. After he had crossed he mo
toned for his staf. and they rode over in
quick order. One officer horse was struck
by a shell, and horse and rider went of into
the water.
Il watched all this with admiration and
made up my mind that ! would he as brave
and careless of danger as Gen Joe Hooker,
even if ne was a general and a private So
when the order was given to double-quich
across the bridge and jump the holes, I was
determined TO take it as COOlly as the gener-
al. so grasped my musket firmly, and started
to walk deliberately. Shells were flying
over, under, and around US, and before | got
to the centre of the bridge a volley of shells
came hunting for us.
Il could stand il no longer and started and
ran as fast as l could, jumped the holes
and got over about the first one Several
were killed going over, but never got q
scratch. 1 concluded that l was never cut
out for brave mana heTO-and that If
Gen. Joe Hooker wanted to be one 1 had no
objections, However. when we got to where
those batteries were, and they demanded our
attention. they gOtit and we got them. Since
mat DAY have often wondered why Gen. Joe
Hooker was cooler under fire than [ was.