The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-15
The Century Mnr Book

In the Century War Book Martin r.
Mcmahon writes the following graphic
sketch OF the death at SpO,tsylvanIa or
General John Sedgwick;
after the First New Jersey Brigade,
by Sedgwick's direction, had been, with
drawn through little opening 10 the Ieit
OF the pieces Of artillery, the General, VINO
had watched the operation, resumed hlS
seat on the bareback box and cOmmenc-
ed talking about members or MS stan
in very complimentary terms. lie was an
inVeterate tease, and at once suspected
that he had some joke on the stan when
he was leading up TO. lie was interrupt
ed in his comments by observing that the
troops, who during this time had been MI
ing from the left into the rlfle-pltS. had
come to a halt and were lying down,
while the left Of the line partly overlap
ped the position OF the section of artli-
lery. He stopped abruptly and SAID.
THAT is wrong. Those troops must be
moved farther 10 the rlsht; dOn wish
them TO overlap that battery. started
out 20 execute the order. and he arose
at the same moment, and We sauntered
out slowly 10 the gun on the right. About
an hour before. l had remarked TO The
General. pointing to the two pieces In a
half Testing manner. which he wen under
stood, General, do you see that section
of artillery? Well, you are not 10 80 near
ii today" He answered good naturedly,
McMahon. l would Ike 10 know who
commands this corp, you or r. / said,
piayfully, well, General, sometimes / am
in doubt myself" but added, Seriously,
General, l beg of you not to 80 TO that
angle. every officer VINO has shown him
self there has been hit, both yesterday
and today" lie answered quietly, We'll,
| don't know that there is any reason for
my going there hen afterward we
walked out to the position inlicateL, this
conversation had entirely escaped the
/ gave the necessary order TO move the
troops TO the right, and as they rose TO
execute the movement the enemy opened
a sprinkling nre, parity nom sharpShOOt-
eFs AS the bullets Whistleu by, some OF
the men lodged. The General said laugh
ingly, What! what! men, lodging this
way for single bullets! What Will You do
when they open fire along the whole line?
| am ashamed Of you. They couldn't hit
an elephant at this distance" A few sec.
onds after a man who had been separated
from his regiment passed directly In front
of the General, and at the same moment a
sharp-shOoter's bullet passed with a long
shrill whistle. very close, and the soldier
who was then just In front Of the Gene,
raj. lodged 10 the ground The General
touched him gently with his foot and said:
why, my man, I'm ashamed OF you.
lodging that way" and repeated the re-
mark "They couldn't hit an elephant at
this distance. The man rose and saluted,
ed, and said good-nature1ly: &c eneral.
| lodged shell once. and IL | hadn't n
would have taken my head on | believe
in lodging The General laughed and
replied "Ail right, my man; 80 to your
place"
For a third time the same shrill whistle.
closing with a dull, heavy stroke, inter,
rupted our talk. when. as / was about
TO resume. the Generals face turned slow
ly TO me. the blood squirting from his
left cheek under the eye In a steady
stream. He fell in my direction; / was
so close 10 him that my effort 10 support
MIN failed. and ! fell with hin.
Terms upon which the Century War
Book may be obtained will be found In
another column.