Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-04-01
ON A BATTLEFIELD.

wood, ana EOW OGf Ci.HliUA UalIo WhAo-
tied as they tore down the branches OF
the hawthorn bushes as we broke through
them. Beyond the border of the forest
we could see something red flashing
here and there. Sidoroff, young sol
dier from the First battalion, suddenly
fell to the ground. and silently looked
at me with big, frightened eyes. From
his mouth poured a wave OF blood. YES
/ remember it very we'll.
I also remember tie Turk l noticed
when we reached the clearing. He was
tall and stout, and I was short and
thin. I ran straight toward him. Some
thing snapped. Something huge, as it
seemed to me, flew past me. l heard 1t
whistle. ''He has shot at me"
thought. But he, with vail OF pain,
leaned against the hawthorn bush. With
blow knocked the musket out of his
hands. With another thrust his bayonet
far away. I heard him moan, and then
I rushed on.
Our men cried, 'tHurrah!" Some fell.
Some gave fire. When l had left the
wood, I also fired several times right
on the plain. Suddenly the "Hurrah ~
grew louder, and we all rushed Oh
that is, not we, but our men, for I re-
NAMED This seemed strange to me,
and, yet more strange that everything
had disappeared and the noise had stop
ped. heard nothing, but I saw bit of
blue color before me, very likely the
sky. After awhile this also had van
ished.
was never in such a funny state be-
fore. am lying, it seems, On my stom-
ach, and [ see before me a bit Of ground.
A feT grasses, l.ttlo broken pieces of
last years herbs and soiao ants crawling
over them-,his is all MY world. And
all this see with but one eye; the 9TH
er is closed with something hard-per-
haps branch Oh which my head rests.
7 feel very uncomfor able. and I want to
move. bat l do not understand why
am not able to. Timo passes I hear the
noise of the grassaoppeT, he buzzing of
the beo. At last | made an effort to free
my right hand frola under my body, and
leaning with both hands On the ground
try to stand on my knees. Something
sharp and quick as lightning passes
through my body, and once more l fall
Once more darkness and nothingness.
Iawake How is it that l now see the
stars shining brightly Oh the dark blue
Bulgarian sky? Am l not il rly tent?
Why am not there? l try to move. but
feel a torturing pain in my leg. Yes, l
have been wounded in the battle. Dan
gerously? l touch my leg where I feel
the pain. Both legs are covered with
blood. When I touch them, the pain
grows stronger. There is a noise in my
ears, and my head is heavy. In a con-
fused way I understand that I am hurt
in both legs.
How did it happen? Why did they not
pick me up? Is it possible that the Turks
have beaten US? try to remember what
has happened to ne, first i'll confused
manner and afterward moro clearly. l
remember now that No wero not beaten
at all but that We began to run and that
had to drop down On the plain near
the hill. Our commander had pointed to
the plain. Boys, wo shall be there, -
he had called out. And we were there;
that proves that we are 10; beaten. But
why did they leave NE? This is al open
place where they could havo seen me.
They fred SO often very likely am not
alone. must turn my head and see. I
can do SO easily as this t;.no I had fallen
on my back-this accounts for my seeing
the stars instead OF tho ground.
I raise myself into a sitting position,
but this is hard vcrz, when both legs
are wounded. Several times I have to
rest, and the pain brings tears into my
eyes. At last sit up. Above me are
the dark blue sky and the twinkling
stars; around me seems sonnet hing dark
and high. Ny hair stands on end. I
have fallen into the bushes, and they
have not foand me. But how did get
here. when they shot ct mo On the plain?
Very likely, driven by pain, l had
rushed on. Strangel Now am not able
to move, and then could run 50 far.
The big stars have grown paler and
the little ones have disappeared; the
moon is rising. How good to be at
home! I hear strange sounds. 1t seems
that, after all, there is somebody. Yes,
that was groan. Is there somebody
near ne, also forgotten, with wounded
legs OF a ball in his stomach? No, the
groans are too near, for there is nobody
SO close to me. Good heavens, it is my
self! Slow, plaintive groansl Am I
really SO sick? Very likely. But hard
~ realize the pain, because there is
mist in my head, it feels like lead. I
had better lie down and sleep. Sleep?
Shall ever wake up? Hardly care.
Suddenly a broad streak Of moonlight
llluminates the place where am about
| to lie down, and see something dark
and big lying at a few steps from me-
Something On it glistens in the light of
the moon. Irecognize brass button.
| Very likely dead body or wounded
man. All the same to me, I lie down.
No. it cannot be! Our men have not
lett the field. They have beaten the
| Turks and have remained in this posi-
tion. But why do I not hear the sound
of voices or the cracking of fire? But
then am SO weak that I am not able
to strain my ears. Surely they are here.
'Help, helpp' call out.
Wild, hoarse sounds burst from nv
chest. They remain unanswered. All is
silent around tne. The moon has q
mournful expression on her round face.
I remember the bright buttons. eff he
| were alive, he would have heard my
call. Ee is dead. Is he ours OF a Turk
| Oh. God, if it were not, all the same!"
| And sleep closes my weary eyes.
l am lying with shut eyes, although
I awoke long ago. Through the thick
| branches of the hawthorn feel the heat
OF the sun, and do not care to open
them. 1t is better not to move at all.
Yesterday-was it yesterday?-I was
wounded. One day has passed, others
| will pass, and shall die How good it
would be not to think, but this is i'm
| possible. Thoughts and remembrances
come to lny mind and besides it will
soon be over. They will publish that our
losses were of no consequence. "Wound-
ed, SO many; killed. Ivanoff, private
! from the volunteers" " Perhaps they will
1