The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-12-19

"The firing on both sides continued
to rage. A tall, thin, spare man arose
between the lines. lie looked so steadily
toward the Confederates that we were
all impressed with the idea that he was
insane from the pain of his wounds and
the awful thirst which the intense heat
added to that caused by the fever Of bis
wounds.
"Someone, impressed with the idea
that he was crazy, shouted not to shoot
him, on that account. He turned
around, saw our flags planted along the
breastworks. We could see the poor
fellow smile as he picked up his equip
ments and started to come toward US.
lie just took two steps when he was
struck dead, falling fat upon his face.
In front Of the abatis, which was badly
torn by the artillery fire, lay the form
of man wearing a fine uniform and the
shoulder-straps of Captain. He had
dark hair, side whiskers and mustache.
He seemed to be about % years old, and
very handsome, manly-looking fellow.
He lay amongst a pile of dead, and |
thought he was also dead.
THAT terrible day we had no time for
sorrow for the fallen; we were burning
a whole lot of powder ourselves, and so
we passed the day, both sides firing at
anything that moved. When night
came on, the front rank took the first
Il AZ, IL Il
keep steady fire on the rebel works,
so as to prevent them from coming out
to rob our wounded and dead comrades.
This, however, was impossible, as they
would
COME OUT IN THE DARK,
and 60 all over the field The Confed-
crates seemed to be imbued with no
idea of discipline outside the rage of
battle
At daybreak both ranks stood up TO |
face another days awful work. Our
gallant cooks brought us two camp-kettles
OF hot coffee. They were George Wolf !
and Thomas McCluskey, who always |
looked out for the company, no matter
what the danger might be. The greater
their risk the more proud they felt to
perform their duty to us.
"After swallowing my coffee and hard
tack, took my rife and went to my look
out hole to see how the field appeared by
daylight 1t looked far worse than the
day before, for the bodies were all one
color now, black and swollen SO as to
appear ready to burst their clothing.
Most of the wounded had died; tie
body of the Captain, that | had SO often
looked at regretfully, was nowhere to be
seen. What could have happened to
him, wondered? / was sure he could not |
have been carried away, for we watched !
the field too closely by the musketry fash
es to prevent that being done During
the forenoon some Of our men made him
out over near the other side; and, sure
enough. he was alive, lying on his back,
tanning himself with rebel hat-a
black one, with a very broad brim
Some rebel had got to him during the
night and swapped hats.
Why, / thought, did be not show
soine sign Of life yesterday, when we
could have chucked him a canteen Of
water and some crackers, and perhaps
we might have tried to get him in during
the night. But there be lay, with none
but God 10 help him, beneath that burn
ing sun, which soon ended the tortures Of
most Of the wounded. At Cold Harbor
some of them lived for four long davs,
but here it was hotter, as the sun was
stronger now.
"The heat was terrible, but the firing
on both sides never ceased. The rebel
works were higher than ours, which gave
Us this much advantage, that when
inan
LOOKED THROUGH HIS LooPHoLE
on the other side ne would shut off the
sky light, while our rear was darkened
by the screen Of brush planted to mask
the operations at the entrance to the
mine, SO our loopholes showed no light
whether in use or not. Towards even
ing il was reported that we were to be re-
heved as soon as it grew dark. j gazed
at the poor Captain, and nay feelings
got the better Of me, and ] made up my
mind not to allow the gallant fellow to
die there in agony, and as the evening
closed in my resolution to save him be-
came more fixed
u turned to Alexander Collins Cnow
at Dayton, o. and told him to write to
my parents if did not return. asked
Sergt John Martin to take care Of my
equipments and prepared to carry out
my idea. He now resides at No. Cos
East lG3d street, New York City.
wanted it to be just dusk, but not so
dark that the men could not see the
loopholes Of the rebels, and SO make it
dangerous for anyone to look through.
80 ] studied the cleaning. / got
an empty cracker-box, stood it upon end
against the breasworks, got the men to
brace hard against it and give me a
good spring in my leap, and told them
TO throw the box after me. Ready, and
ont ] sprang headforemost with such
force that i landed away out on the
abatis AMONG fhe dead where | tried To