Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-03-22

''YOu SdANr LOSE THAT CORPoRALSHIP =
charge was repulsed about twilight
Darkness soon came. There was no
moon. but the woods were afiame, add
ing smoke to the smoke of the battle.
The air was filled with the groans OF
the wounded and dying. Some were
being roasted in the woods.
A skirmish line was sent out TO ascer-
tain whether the confederates were
forming for new charge The writer
was a volunteer We had gone out
some distance when we came TO a
fence that had been thrown down in
the assault
stopped close 10 the ground, look
ing at the Inning of the sky. This is
a habit contracted while on picket
duty at night saw in the distance
lined against the sky a figure | knew.
II was that of Corporal Mason, Of New
ark, n. j.. who had gone out with me
on the line.
Between Mason aud myself shot a
human figure. The confederates were
doing the same as we were doing, feel
ing for their opponents The skirmish-
ers were passing each other in the
darkness Shouting to Mason, turned
and overhauled the confederate Skin
misher. who had gone between us Ma
son came mp on the other side; astound-
ed at our appearance, the Johnnie threw
down his gun and began to take off his
traps
An order came in Withdrawing our
slzirmishcrs 1t was passed along the
line We took the prisoner with us
He was member of the Thirteenth
Mississippi and said he came from Pom
tiac lie ,ad haversack made Of UNI
dressed COW skin. To which a pair of
new shoes were strapped
On reaching the old line Of battle we
found that our troops had already been
drawn back toward some earthworks
constructed by Wileox's and Jenkins
confederate brigade before Hooker had
crossed the river. Regiments were
moving in the darkness, and there was
very little noise
Our prisoner answered all questions
in monosyllables He seemed much
east down. He listened to pleasantries,
but made no return. At last. learning
that one of his captors was a member
of the typographical union, he opened
his heart. He said that he was print.
er and that he had been serving in the
confederate army ever since the war
began. He was trying his best to drive
the invaders from the soil of the south.
lie had tried earnestly to do his duty
and had never shirked battle Ii had
taken over year for the officers OF the
regiment 10 discover his merits, but al
last they had done 50. He was told
that he was to be made corporal on
the following day His capture would
lose him the honor, and he was totals
broken up about it. Ills voice was pa.
thetie + he had lost his mother ht
could not have been more grievea
His trouble touched our hearts Poor
Mason who was aftervard killed al
Petersburg. suggested chat we let hin
go. ] replied that he would be certain
to be captured by somebody else, whe
possibly might not nave 81 much tm.
patty for him. They might rob HIN
Of his shoes and haycrsacl5. and TURF
him over TO brigade headquarters
IN tue NdiNBtsN We came near 1
knoll. where there was a confused hear
of dead horses Turning 10 the con
federate soldier l blurted out: lere
johnnie, I'm typo myself Yo,
shan't lose that corporalship il / car
help it Lie down here among thes,
dead horses and you viii be safe. No
body will see you in the darkness 0u
army is moving toward the river an,
within twenty minutes your Skin
mishers will be this way in pursuit.
only hope that you will not be disap
pointed in securing your warrant as
corporal"
The confederate soldier shook hand
and disappeared in the darkness Mean
time shot and shell were falling be
yond us and the sharp humming of bull
lets could be again heard. The sixth
corps began to mass around the earth
works. but before daylight il haS
marched across a pontooa bridge iaiS