Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-10-02
VAoARIEs OF THE WOUNDED.
Thoughts That Hit Through a Mans Mind
 When He Has Been Hit.


 When He Has Been Hit.
 Few soldiers have ever felt the bullet which laid them low if they were struck in the heat of battle. As we pushed forward to charge the battery enfllading our line tho atmosphere was clear of smoke, and I plainly saw everything taking place around us. took notice of tho number of fences before us, saw the skirnishers running forward to throw them down and caught the jokes and laughter around me. As we got the word to move looked at my watch md noticed that the hour was 4:3o. We were protected by n point of woods while we moved ~rward distance of 30 rods. Once beyond thnt point ws would get the fire of the encmy's infantry and perhaps grape and canister from tho guns as well. 1 had no fear of being hit that is, the thought of being struck down did not occur to me, or at least it was not uppermost in my mind. I found myself wondering if WIG could bring of the guns after capture and if our regiment would be mentioned in general orders The lines were wonderfully quiet after we got start ed. At the point of the woods we should break into double quick time, and officers and men alike seemed to bc saving them selves for the rush.
 saw our colonel wave his sword and the men nearest him start forward, and five seconds later the two lines were off, guns carried ut n trail, heads bent down and the pace run. l knew WIG should get a flank fire, and was on the exposed flank, but did not hear the crash of the muskctry I did not feel the bullet, did not know that I fell down, had no idea when finally opened my eyes that was one of those left on tho field and had been thcre four hours. My tongue seemed made of wood and my lips of leather. There can be no such thirst as that which comes with wound and loss of blood. It was not until got hold of my cantecn and drank its contents to the last drop that felt the pain of my wounds. The feeling might not have come so soon but for a comradc who fell at the same time, but had not lost consciousness. He called out to me to know how badly was hurt, and an instant later was groaning. For 10 minutes the pain was acute, and 1 had no doubt death was at hand. Then it be- gan to dcadcn. In other words, almost lost consciousness and relapscd into n dreamy, rcstful state, which hoped noth ing would break. The fghtingha passed down to the left. A mile or so away was heavy gun, which gave out a peculiar sound when discharged. I counted l4 dis charges and spcculated on the reason for tho peculiar sound, yet at the samo time did not hear ono of the words addressed to me by tho comrado 10 feet away. The heavens wero studded with stars, and the moon shone full in my face. felt as if swinging in n hammock, and in 0 dim, ] undefined way I figured 1t out that one of the end ropes was attached to the horn of | tho moon. 1 was thoroughly enjoying tho pendulum motion of the hammock when I noticed horse limping about. It struck | me that he was hungry and would gnaw | at the hammock My feet were toward him. and had n blister on tho big toe of | my right foot. It occurred to mo that the
 horse would grab that toe, and when he | finally limpcd away without having touch l ed me my heart was full of gratitude. After the horse left had n few minutes of peace. Then l began to worry about the | moon. Tho head of the hammock being made fast to her, l must bc tipped out | when she reached n certain height. fig
 urcd that my fall to the earth would be exactly lSu feet. and of course I should | be dashed tO pieces. When l had given
 up all hopes of escaping this disaster, n
 second wounded horse came hohhling up, I and it seemed perfectly natural that he | should ask me where l was hit. l told him that l had only received bullet | through the luhr of the ear and inquired i the nature of lis wound
 | Well, don [ want to boast or brag, | he replied Us he drew himself up, but
 was hit in the shoulder by q B pound shot and simply knocked down. whcrc any oth-
 CT horse would have been smashed to a
 jelly"
 1 was cuInplimcnting him on his escape | when the moon and the stars faded out of
 the sky, midnight darkness came, and 1t
 was : o'clock in the morning, and I was | being carried of tho field on u strctcher ! when the pains and consciousness return | cd. M. QUAD.