The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-03-14
STRICTLY IN UNDRESS.
Corporal Rudolph's Appearance Before
General Mcclellan with n Message.

GenerAi hCCieilan WIN n
William X. Rudolph, engineer at the
Spring Garden waterworks, was corpor-
al in the Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry
and is past commander OF Post 35. He
was Colonel keenan's orderly in the fa-
nous charge at Charlottesville and fell
desperately wounded by the same volley
that killed his colonel. Essentially mod
est, Rudolph's recollection Of an interview
with Mcclellan was told in the plainest
way, without decoration of any kind, yet
BE- is probably the only living soldier who
ever appeared before his commanding gen.
eral without any clothing whatever and
bearing nm official dispatch In his mouth.
The night of the battle of Malvern Hill,
June l, 1862, was very dark and rainy
one. The command to which Rudolph be-
longed went into camp near White Oak
swamp. Late In the night he was aroused
from sleep and ordered to report mt once
! to Captain Keenan,.
"Corporal," :" said he, "I am off on i'm
portant duty, and want you and Prvates
Marks, Jobson and Cox to go with me.
| Leave your horses and arms, except your
pistols, in charge of the orderly sergeant"
In few minutes all were ready for the
start. Captain Keenan, told the men that
they were about to take great chances,
and there was considerable doubt whether
they would return alive. He had a dis
patch for General Mcclellan which must
be delivered rs soon as possible on board
the gunboat Galena, lying in the James
river Just below Turkey bend. He said:
1--WE have the advantage of knowing the
country and just where the gunboat lies,
but since we picketed there this morning
the Confederate lines have closed in, and
we must go through them in order to de
liver the dispatch" Then, after urging
the utmost caution, he led the way into
the woods.
After tramping about ~ miles they
came upon the pickets, but 80 quietly that
| their presence was not discovered. Max.
ing circuit, they passed around the pick.
! cts as well as the reserve, who were seen
standing about fire. Reaching the brink
Of the river, they found themselves direct
ly opposite the gunboat, whose lights were
discernible about 200 yards away. AS it
was too far to call, and there were no
means of signaling, Rudolph volunteered
to swim out to the vessel. He stripped of
his clothing, took the dispatch in his teeth
and waded out about 30 yards before the
water became deep enough to swim. Be
fore he swan 10 yards he was challenged
and almost Immediately fired upon. He
held up the dispatch and shouted, "a
friendv' The picket boat of the Galena
came at once alongside, and he was pulled
in. He showed the dispatch, and the boat
men rowed over to the gunbont, where he
delivered the dispatch to General McClel
Ian in person.
"I told him, said Rudolph, "where our
captain was and how he had got down to
the river. He thanked me warmly and
told me to give his compliments to the
captain, and then inquired il we could get
back the same way we came and take an
answer to the dispatch. replied l thought
we could. He then went away to write
the answer, and while he was gone one of
the officers gave me dram to take off the
night chill. In less than five minutes the
general returned to the deck and gave me
dispatch and note for the captain, say.
ing, BE as careful as you possibly can,
for wouldn't have that dispatch fall into
} the hands of the enemy for all the orld.
; 81 was rowed to within 90 yards of the
shore and soon found my companions.
j The captain almost hugged me when we
, met and he found out that everything was
all right We returned by the same route
j to our camp, which we reached within
three hours from the time we left it.
Here the captain mounted his horse and
galloped away to deliver the dispatch-to
whom never knew. w."-Philadelphia Rec.
ord