River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-01-02


pIowed through their ranks and laid
rows of slaughtered men along the
slope behind them: but still they
rushed on. their faces set grimly. Jim
Carroll was one of the first to leap
upon smoking cannon and snatch
away the fuse. and then on i'm the iIur-
suit. as the enemy retreated, stubborn
Is fighting their way inch by inch.
The next day something happened.
Jim Carroll was offered promotion for
bravery on the field of battle.
I'm much obliged" he said. fumbling
with his hat i'm an embarrassed man
ner. but if it's all the same to you Id
ruther not. I'D lots ruther do jest
plain fightin'."
so Jim Carroll was left to do "plain
tghtin'," and there is no denying that
ne did il well. 1t came to be acknoW T.
edged as settled fact that the little
IMAM whom Mineryy had ruled with a
rod of iron did not know what fear
was. The first guns OF battle fired
him. as the sound of the trumpet
reused the Biblical warhOrse. He
rushed into a charge with head up and
eyes flashing. His only trouble was
that he could not bear to retreat, and
when the eNigencies of the battle de
manded retreat he yielded with the
most ludicrous unwillingness.
His superior officers found him out.
and when there was difficult or dan
gerous mission j m Carroll was the
man 10 be sent upon il. The meek lit
tie man with timid and appealing look
made more than one journey into the
enemy's lines. and returned with infor-
nation which no one else could have
gained. Long and lonely journeys.
through sections bristling with dan
gers. fell To his share. and he was fire.
quently placed where nothing but
quick thought and ready wit could save
him. No one had ever suspected him
of having either resource, but he came
out of every difficulty unscathed and
reported At headquarters with the old
meekness and gentleness.
That Jimmie Carroll is a caution.
remarked Sile Colburn to a crowd of his
native villagers, wnen he was taking a
little fuTlough ON account of a bulieI
through his lung. Its my belief that
Jim Carroll's the bravest man that's
MT into the war. Why, when our colonel
went down in that last battle. what does
Jim do but run right back into the face
of the enemy. grab loose horse, git our
colonel onto i'm an come a-bringin'
i'm away. cool rs cucumber The
very Yankees yelled like mai when they
seen il, an he could got a permotion
then an thar eff he'd a had X. But he
said no, I thank You. Jim did. lie said
he'd lots ruther do plain figbtin'."
The four years were past-the plain
fightin' was over. AppomattoN was a
recent and bitter memory, and along ali
the roadways trailed dusty and forloru
figures. their faces turned toward what
ever region they had once called nome
Two men limped painfully down the
valley TO the little to'vn lying peaceful
and serene i'm the evening light as
though there had been no such thing
as war i'm all the world. Purple shad
ows of clouds drifted across the distant
hills. and along a strip of white road on
the outskirts of the town a company
of small boys with paper caps and
wooden guns were playing soldier.
Now. .Iim.~ urged Sile. bc~eechingly
don't g. back ON your word. Bemem
Der what YOU promised. Jim. Don't We
go an let MinerNy "a; the start o. you
ag'in. Jest think how YOU tit INTO the
war. an stan up for your right"
Il lowed would. Sile," replied Jim
but there was faltering IN his tone
as he glanced up the hill toward the
cabin. where the thread blue smoke
curled softly up into the evening air.
..Now, Jim. eff you give down I'll be
plum ashamed o We, that's what | will
If you let Minervy git the start o YOU
oncet more it's good-by TO your chances
An a man that III like you did. too"
"I'n take keer. Sile." said the hero o
battle and scout. I'm a-goin' into ;
store minute to by sometime, an
then I'm a7soin' up home"