Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-10-14
HE AIMED THE GUN.

on the ground, then his coat, and
finally, jumping from his horse, he
threw his suspenders from his shoulders,
and, amidst the laughter of all stand
ing around, he aimed the gun. The
shell fired struck the ground and ex-
ploded directly beneath the white
horse, and both he and the rider disap-
pear / in the cloud of smoke and dust.
Tie advancing column halted and was
thrown into immediate confusion.
Whether it was superior skill or
chance shot never knew. Poor c., he
was with US, on the march to the sea
Near Fort McAllister the column was
halted by some obstruction in front.
He and l rode forward to ascertain the
cause. The first shot fired from
southern battery commanding the road
took off his head as neatly as 4 saber."
''At the siege of Nashville" said Capt.
H, "our gunners were much annoyed by
confederate sharpshooters, posted in
forest trees long distance away. Be
ing excellent marksmen, and using
rifles with telescope sights, they made
some surprisingly close shots. One day
q staff officer rode up to the works,
"IlGn Il DullGJ 4AOLL q SOIlSN1lGN ShdI
shooter passed through his forage cap.
lie longed for revenge. Dismouutiug,
he stood by one of the large guns, and,
waiting for the next little puff of
smoke from an immense oak tree fully
a mile away, aimed at the smoke and
pulled the lanyard. We thought no
more of the incident until, on the de-
feat and retreat of Hood, several days
later, we, while in pursuit, marched by
the tree referred to, and some one
glancing up saw the body of the sharp
shooter lying in the branches near the
top, completely cut in two by the can
non shot fred by Capt. N, who had
been a distinguished artillery officer in
the German army"
"Percey, what became of that fellow
Nye you had in your company of the
Fiftythird?"
you mean Nye, the rascally forager
or 'pirooter' as he called himself, the
champion liar of the corps? Well, he
is alive yet, no doubt. His kind only
die of old age. After his three years
had expired he reenlisted in new reg
iment, and lost sight of him. l once
heard him holding forth to Il batch OF
new recruits, or fresh ti.' as we
called them, who had just arrived in
camp. Boys said he, you see before
you man who received the most re.
marlSable wound on record in the an.
nails of army surgery, and lived to tell
the story. 1t happened at the capture
Of Fort Donelson. l was only pri-
vate soldier then, as now, though if
had my dues l would command brig
ade to-day. Gen. Grant said carried
more sand in my makeup than any
other man in the army.s Whenever &
charge was to be made or forlorr
hope led he didn't call for o general OF
colonel. Tie just said: Send for Bill
Nye to lead" and not thing could be
done until l reported for duty. He
wanted to carry the earthworks a
Donclson by storm. AS usual Nye was
sent for. Said the general in n familiar
way, for we were on the best of terms
Cant you do it, Bill?"
"'Says l: "'I'm the bully boy with {
glass eye that's equal to the occasion
~ took command of the forlorn hope
and shouted: Forward, my bully boys
not shot; give 'em the bayonet!" The
line sprang forward on n dead run,
leadin' 'em on. Just MS we reached the
foot of the earthworks mimic bal
struck me right here between the eyes
1t staggered me for the instant, but
never slaclIened up just put up nj
hand to feel the wound, an blame my
sisters black cat if my brains hadn'
gushed out just like meat out of an old
fashioned sausage stuffer. showed 'cn
back and tore off a piece of cartridge
paper, spit on it and clapped it on th'
wound as | climbed the slope. W.
went over the works and through th'
rebs like q flash. Our victorious cheers
were the agreed on signal for gen
eral advance, and Fort Donelson wa
oura fo.oo+ oh m oho,,t +ba ,,to,, N,