The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-09-04
An incident OF The WAR
A Brave Deed Performed on the
Field at Antietem.
After Lapse of Thirty Three Years Il
Federal Soldier Learns the Name
of the Confederate Soldier
Who Saved His Life at the
Risk of His Own.

An interesting war story comes 10
light from on incident that occurred at
the battle of Antietam, which demon
strates that even the roar of cannon, tho
shot and she'll, the crash of muskctry
and the cold touch of the bayonet can
not drive from the breast of the soldier
the spirit of kindness and humanity.
This incident tells of the heroism and
kindness of Confederate picket and
the grateful remembrance Of wounded
Yankee.
The battle of Antietam had been fin
ishea for about 80 hours. Tho soldiers
of Lee and Mcclellan were resting on
their arms, after direful conflict in
which both sides had suffered terribly,
and ON tho battlefield tho dead and
wounded were stretched out by the
thousands
a young Confederate picket was
marching along his beat keeping vigil
over the sleeping Army of Northern
Virginia. Just ont there wero many Of
the Federal dead and wounded
A faint cry came to the ears of the
boy in gray. 1t was gasping, despair
ing cry. water! Water!" that was all
that could be heard. The mau who
gasped out those words was dying
slowly of thirst.
The picket resolved to carry water to
the wounded Yankee. Near by was n
spring and quickly the picket filled his
canteen and returned to his post. Tho
wounded soldier was still begging for
water, but the question was how TO get
i1f tn him, Tho rNirl-nt trnyt- h. took Ia -
life in his hands, but dropping upon his
knees he began crawling toward the
dying Federal. Two shots were dis
charged ut him from the Federal sharp
shooters, but he kept steadily on until
he reached the side of tho woun ded sol
.dier. A wound in the thigh was letting
the life blood slowly out, and tho sol
dier, quenching his thirst, thanked tho
boy in gray for his kindness The war
was over right there and then between
those two fellows. The picket then re
turned to his post, and the incident
passed into the realm of memory.
Thirty-three years have passed since
that night, but the wounded Yankee
and the boy in gray are still in the land
of the living. That drink of water saved
the life of the wounded soldier, and he
has always been grateful to the memory
of tho Johnny reb' who gave him the
cooling beverage on tho field ut An
tietam.
Tho Federal soldier was Mr.. B. l..
Burr, who is now editor Of the Tolland
County Leader of Rockford, Conn. For
years he has been trying to find the
name of tho man who riskcd his life to
bring him drink Of water and has at
last succeeded. Through some chance he
happened to write to Major w. b.
Pruitt Of Athens, Ga, concerning the
incident, and few days since Major
Pruitt in talking with q friend learned
that tho Confederate picket was Mr..
Matt Norton of Winterville, Ga.
Mr.. Burr was notified, and he and
Mr.. Norton have entered into regular
correspondence, giving each other maps
describing their ideas of how the lines
were that day, and everything goes to
prove that Mr., Norton was tie soldier
who carried the water to Mr.. Burr. Mr.
Norton had long since forgotten tho in
cldent, but now remembers it perfectly.
Atlanta Constitution.