Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-02-18

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for some one 90 get over and shovel on
a new covering 40 the angle In front OF
us, or otherwise our protection would
soon be gone. Captain Hart, then COM
handing the company which lay at that
point, hesitated 20 order detail, aDd
called for some one 20 volunteer 10 en-
pagein the dangerous work The enter
prise was not only dangerous, but 10 was
a hundred chances 70 one that the per-
son attending it would be carried 90
the rear riddled with bullets. 1t was
positively certain that as soon as the
sound Of the shovel was heard the
enemy lying directly in front and but
short distance away, would direct their
i fire 20 that spot
Every one saw the Situation o II the
danger, aud, naturally, no one was In
haste 20 volunteer Finally a private,
named LOr Mock, o man Of delicate
frame, WHO had enlisted ia Company A,
from. Wensboro, Tioga County, Pa,
sssDped 90 the front and said without
apv flourish, and as though 10 was the
most ordinary affair OF his life, that
he would undertake the job. The ter
rfble campaign Of 1864, and the damp
ness and malaria OF the Virginia swamps,
had told upon his health, and be hard
lv looked able to liit a shovel, much less
10 muster up nerve enough to under-
take the probably fatal work in hand.
He had always done his duty, but IN
very unOstentatiOus way, liz no man
ner distinguishing himself, and 10 was
with much surprise that his comrades
saw him step 20 the front when they
had All hung back. He did not seem
30 be anxious 20 go, and there was no
air of bravado about him. He simply
esteemed the act 20 be in the line or his
dutv. and M that was the case 10 made
no difference 20 him whether the per-
Torrance was dangerous or not lie
saw. also. that the lives of comrades
were dt stake, and that it was necess-
arv for some one 70 throw up the de-
fence that had been washed away, In
fthe interest of saving life.
A shovel was obtained, and Mock
climbed over the rifle pit, and began
bis work. Sure enough, as soon as the
sound Of the shovel was heard the bull
lets of the Confederates began 20 fall
thick and fast about him. One struck
his shovel fair on the fat surface and
sent it spinning out OF his hand, but he
az once picked it up and shoyeled away
again as ID nothing had happened.
/ Every one held his breath expecting
every moment that Mock would be
I struck, and while we were crOuchlng
behind the pit in comparative safety,
/ he shoveled as leisurely as though be
were digging in bis garden at home.
| How he ever escaped was mystery TO
us aII. For fifteen or twenty minutes
be worked there with his back TO the
enemy under a constant and ratsling
fire until the breach was repaired, and
then climbed back aud saying quietly;
81 guess it an right now, boys, " aud
every one felt like hugging him for his
brave act. Lon Mock marched no more
with us no that campaign. The result
! OF his exertiOn was a severe cold, and
| he gradually went down to his grave
and survived the war but a short time.
! His brave act ia front OF Petersburg
has not been forgotten, however, and
eyerv spring when his comrades strew
his grave with flowers the story OF his
I heroism is retOld by those who person
aUv knew OF the action. He never re-
ccived promotion, and his heroism is
only one OF the many brave deeds done
I INV our volunteer soldiers which never
/ saw any other reward than the graft
tude of their comrades.
W. A. STONE.