Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-01-14
An AMUSING sToRY OF THE WAR.
How Johnny Reb. was Not Cheated Out
of Promotion

of "a Promouoo.
The interest in war stories never
abates. Fifty years from aow IL will be
greater than ever. There are tales OF
heroism aud tales OF suffering, all more
or less touching. There are also quaint
stories amusing and otherwise. Here
Is one:
The Incident occurred IN action be-
yond Fredericksburg on Monday. May
4, lS69. Sedgwick had captured the
heights on the previous day aud march
ed from the Rappahannock TO effect n
junction with Hooker, at Chancellors-
Vile, Lees army, however. iutercep pied
him. He suffered severely near Salon
Church on Sunday night Meantime
the COnfederates went around his flank
and occupied Frederick sburg, taking as
prisoners those wounded in the assault
on the heights. He was cut of from
Hooker's army.
On Monday evening Lees trbops
made determined attack upon Sedg.
wick In an effort 10 drive him into the
river. Ii was desperate fight. The
COnfederates, as usual, charged in sew
eral lines. Ia some places the Onion
lines were broken and there we're hand
to hand fights over cannon. But the
troops always rallied TO the original
line Of battle. The last Confederate
CHdIkt was IepAlSeu tUOub lWlllkDt.
Darkness soon came. There was no
moon but the woods were a1ame, add
ing smoke TO the smoke OF the battle.
The air was filled with groaus 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 volunteer. We had gone out some
distance when we came TO 4 fence that
had been thrown down in the assault
| stopped close TO the ground looking
at the Innings OF the sky. This a
habit contracted while on picket duty
at night. ] saw in the distance lined
against the sky figure l knew. Itwas
that OF Corporal Mason, OF Newark, y.
J., who had gone out with me Oh the
line.
Between Mason and myself there shot
human figure. The Confederates were
doing the same as We were doug, feel
ing for their opponents. The skir-
mishers were passing each other in the
darkness. Shouting 10 Mason, / turned
and overhauled the Confederate Skin
misher, who had gone between US.
Mason came up on the other side; as
founded at our appearance the Johnnie
threw down his gun, and began TO take
off his traps.
An order came in Withdrawing our
skirmishers. II was passed along the
line. We took the prisoner with US.
Ile was member OF the 18th Mislss-
ippi, and said he came from Pontiac.
He had havers9ck made OF undressed
cow skin, TO which a pair OF new shoes
was strapped.
On reaching the old line OF battle we
found that our troops had already been
nra hu L ff.Nn "A b..
constructed by Wilcox's and Jenkins
Confederate brigades before Hooker
crossed the river Regiments were
moving In the darkness, and there was
very little noise.
Our prisoner answered all questions
IN monOsyllablcs. lie seemed much
cast down. He listened to pleasant
ries, but made no return. At
last learning that one OF his captors
was a member OF a Typographical Tn
ion, he opened bis heart. He said that
he was printer and that he had been
serving in the Confederate army ever
since the war began. lie was trying
his best TO drive the invaders from the
the soil OF the South. lie had tried
earnestly TO do his duty and never
shirked a battle. il had taken over a
year for the officers Of the regi-
ment to discover his merits, but at last
they had done So He was told that he
was TO be made a corporal on the fol-
lowing day. His capture would lose
him the honor, and he was totally
broken up about IL. His voice was pa
thetic. II he had lost his mother he
could not have Oeen more grieved. His
trouble touched our hearts. Poor
Mason, who was afterwards killed at
Petersburg, suggested that we let him
90. l replied that he would be certain
TO be captured by somebody else, who
possibly might not have so much SYM
pathy for him. They might rob him OF
his shoes and baversaCk, aud turn him
over 10 brigade headquarters.
Ia the darkness we came near knoll,
whero there was confused heap Of dead
horses. Turning TO the Confederat sol
der ! blurted out, "Here, Johnnie. I'm
typo myself. You shan't lose that
corporalshlp II ! can help IT,. Lie down
here among these dead horses and YOU
will be safe. Nobody will see Won I'm
the darkness. Our army is moving to-
wards the river and within twenty min
utes your skirmishers will be this way
So pursuit. ] only hope that you Will
not be disappointed in securing your
warrant as corporal
The Confederate soldier shook hands
and disappeared 600 the darkness. Mean
while shot and shell we're falling be-
yond us AID tbe sharp humming OF bull
lets could be again heard. Tho Sixth
corps began to mass around the earth
works, but before daylight 50 had
marched across q pontoon bridge laid at
Banks Ford and was on the way To
cover iooker's retreat.
] had been guilty Of treason. I had
given aid and comfort 90 the enemy.
Yet there were men in the army. both
North and South, who would have done
the same under similar circumstances.
AMOS. j. CUMMINGS.
Popular Evorywhers
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