The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-12
A Terrible Predicament.

well, I should say I was at Gettysburg"
said the veteran, according to the Indlanapo-
lis Sentinel 1T was there had the liveli-
est time during the whole trouble. It's won
der am alive. You see, IL was along toward
evening OF the second day 5 fight and things
was gitt1n' to look mighty uncertain. We
had the confeds blood up and they were
Wadln into US right ana left They had I'M
masked a battery about the middle Of the
afternoon on little raise over to our left
about quarter Of a mile. and it got so hot
that we we're ordered to carry IL at the point
OF the bayOnet and spike the guns. Well we
started double quick. The Johnnles see US
coming as soon as we made move, and as
the smoke had raised they had a good chance
to pepper US. There were about 400 Of US, not
cOuntin the officers, and we hadn't gone
twenty steps before we got the first vOlley
square in the teeth. Twenty-one guns, sir,
splitting grape and canister right into US with
fine, level down-grade to help them.
The blast seemed to shlver US to pieces
and we staggered for moment,
with good hundred of our boys Qufvering on
the ground. The old colonel spurred forward
in the confusion and yelled to us to toe the
scratch. We got in a bunch together and
started up the hill again. Another volIey
caught us and another hundred went down.
The colonel was shot through the leg. and
he fell threw up his sword and said: Tom,
take the boys up there and stop that racket
yelled to the boys, and they came on with
jump and a yell, but only to get another
round Of grape that left less than twenty of
US above ground. Still, sir. l never missed
Sttps uul StdIltu up I'LL llkb pointer pup
after rabbit The guns were right
above me and 700 graycOats pro-
tectng them. But l never winked an eye.
Twenty-seven cannon again belched forth,
and those 800 confederates let howl
out Of them that made me think the old
word for hades had broken loose. Another
twenty five feet above, boys, and they are
ours, ] shouted as 1 waved my sword and
gathered myself for the final dash. turned
my head when no answering shout responded
to my command and was Mortified to ind that
the only one of that brave band above the
level Of the sod was a little drummer boy,
ana he was stuffing his hat into hole in his
drum trying to patch tup. hesitated for
moment and visions Of home and family
flashed across my mind. Then thought of
the frowning wall of forty cannon and glisten-
ing row of 1900 bayonets. Go back, brave
man, shouted the commander, with his finger
on the touch-hole of a 100-ton gun, or / shall
fire. l defed him and sprang among them.
They turned those fifty cannon square upon
me, the colonel ordered his 5000
men to give me a vOlley and fire low
while he threw his sword al me. 1.-THE old
veteran hesitateda moment and wiped the
perspiratiOn from his face with his finger
Il hate to talk of that awful experience"
said he; my modeSty always chokes me. -
The gaping listener seemed to have shrunk
within himself How did you get out alive?'
he whispered.
We'll, comrade, the strangest part Of it all
isl don't remember just how 7 did get out
of that scrape.'
The listener silently tiptoed down the steps
and walked four times around the circle be
fore he could find his way to the Union DEPOT
He wanted to go home