The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-17
STRICTLY ~ UHDREsS,
Corporal Rudoiph'- A ppe arases Before Gee.
Mcclellan with . Message.


William X. Rudolph. engineer at the Spring
Garden Water Works. was a Corporal in the
Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry. and IL Past
orderly In the famous charge at ChancsIiors.
vile. and fell desperately wounded By the
TALLY modest, Itudolph's recollection OF an In
teryiew with Mcclellan was told in the plain.
%no th GSGSraGn SI any xind ys,
appeared before his commanding General
without, any clohing whatever and bearing an
The night of the battle Of Malvern Hill. June
!, 1852. was very dark and rainy one The
into camp near White Oak swamp. Late in
the night he was aroused from sleep and or
Corporal" said he, am on on Important
duty. and want you and Prtyates Marks. job.
and arms, except your pistols. in charge OF the
orderly sergeant"
In. few minutes all were ready for the
start. Capt keenan, told the men that they
were about to take great chances and there
was nslderahle doubt whether they would
Clellan which must be delivered as soon AZ
possible on board the gunboat GalsnA. lying
lie said We have the advantage OF knoWins
the country and Iust where the RunbOat lies.
rebel lines have closed in. and We must 20
through them in order TO deliver the de-
sspateh" Then, after urging the utmost eau
ton. he led the way into the woods.
After tTamplng about u mile and a half they
came upon the rebel plckets, but so quietly
ing circuit. they passed around the pieksu
as well as the reserve, who were seen standing
about fire. Reaching the brink Of the Ttysi
they found themselves directly opposite the
gunboat, whose lights were disceTnible about
700 yards away. As II was too lar 10 call, and
there We're no m cans OF signalling, Rudolph vol.
unteered TO swim out to the vessel lie stripped
on his clothing tooE the de- patch In his teeth,
and waded out about thirty yards before the
water became deep enough TO swim. Before
he swan ten yards lie was challenged and al.
most tmmrd ately fired upon. lie held up the
despatch and shouted: A friend" The pick oil
boat OF the Gal"nR came at once alongside,
and he was pulled In lie showed the de-
spAtch. and the buatm en- Tuwed over to the gun.
boat, where he delivered the despatch to Gen
- told lin said Rudolph. where ouI
Captain WAS. ami how We had got down 20 the
river. lie thAUked me warmly ana told me ts
give his compliments TO the Captain and
Then inquired n We could get back the same
way We, came and take an answer 70 ~
despatch. ! r"phod ] thought We could
swer. ant While he was gone one Of tie
officers gave me- dram TO take OF the night
chill In less tnan five minutes the Genera
returned 20 the deck and gave me despatch
and "a note 'Hr the Captain, saving lie az
careful as possibly can. fYF woulju lave
that dGipatg., fgll into the hands Of the enemI
Was rowed 70 within twenty yards Of the
shore. and s'on found my cympaninnS The
Captain almost Rugged me " hen We met and
he found out that everything was all right
We returned ~ the same route 10 our camp.
which Ne reached within three hours from The
time We LEFT H. Here the captain mounted ne
horse and galloped away TO deliver the De.
spateh-to whom never knew