New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-08

west outside the camp lines and the pickets. ! 4,
looked at my watch by the glare Of the last nre.
II was l2:3 O'Clock. In few hours It would -
dawn but then 1t was pitch dark. The road was
a broad. gray streak. bordered by black splofches
which. as we passed. resolved themselves into
clumps of trees and became splotches again. The
country was billy and the unevenness OF the road
did not improve the condition Of my mind had
never smelled powder fired In battle; had never
seen soldiers In action. wondered what should
do II we were attacked tried to remember the
orders. and foolishy swore because I had forgot
ten my Textbook
1.-The men marched along silently and specially.
sudden halt In front sent my breath Into my
throat. but it was only g stump which had de-
ceived Sergeant Simmons We went forward. ever
forward. in the darkness. An hour passed. then
another. We must have gone ten miles. The east
began to tighten Soon the trees took limb and
leaf The fences looked cold. The sky became
leaden and then silver. Some Of the men began
to eat hard tack. Ahead ridge where the
road rose and seemed to end. I halted my COM
pany. let the men close up and moved forward
again. I was still in high state OF nervous ten
sion. and still little ratified, as you say now
adays. kept wondering what should do IL there
was hand-o-hand fighting / felt for my sword.
and even for my revolver. and when found them
safe ashamed and looked to see II the men
had seen me- We had come 20 the bottom OF the
slope What l should have done was to have sent
scouts TO the top look over; but instead.
marched my company right up the road to the
brow Of the HILL never thinking of the vast posi-.
bilities Of the other side.
Now II has always been n mystery to me why
the rebel general who commanded the brigade ana
q half never posted pickets. He didn't, for when
we got to the brow Of the hill only tho
road stretching down the HILL hanked on both
sides by woods. l ordered the men to take TO the
fields and go through the woods on the right
The men all debouched together. seventy-ive OF
them. / was In the centre Of the column. Never
shall forget the sight that met my eyes. Below
us. at the bottom Of green field. half mile
away without fence Intervening a little village
OF white tents with the smoke rising from the
camp fires spread out They covered three acres,
1t seemed There were men In gray, the first rebels
we'd seen Ny heart actually stopped beating for
a second. I saw my men standing with mouths
open lingering their guns nervously. They looked
toward inquringy. like a lot OF children.
tangled idea took form in my mind that We should
retreat-retreat.
II opened my mouth and yelled. The next mo-
ment with a cry. found myself rushing down
that field with my blue-coated soldiers against .
brigade and a half of Confederates. / tried to
reason 1t ram Over me came a Wild de-
sire for action slashing blood. pulled out my
sword as I ran. yelling like boy on a holiday.
saw the tents. and a scurrying crowd OF the gray
men, which grew larger. and then broke and rar
in every direction thousands of them. When we
got to the camp. not one remained. But we FOUND
three ba tile flags and rifles and camp baggage and
truck without end After I got my breath sat
/ down and tried to reason 1t out. Then dim
thought took possession of me that IL We stayed
there We should probably be captured and killed,
and l was about to order a spirited retreat when
from out the woods broke crowd OF bluecoats
and more and more They stopped stock still when
they saw the tents. l waved my hand and shouted.
Ny men waved their hats and shouted. too.
We'll when the colonel came up he looked at
I r aba i'm hon no.
and said he'd take me to Major-General -; he
would at once, sir. Yes. sir. A man who's brave
enough to attack and capture place like this sir.
should be known. sir But, Colonel, said l. Not
a word sir, said he; not word. sir ana kept
silent. but did lot OF thinking
My friend paused again. He looked toward
sword and a pair of captains shoulder straps
which hung on the wall. oyer the bookcase;
jor- general and he asked to be introduced to me.
and publicly compIimened me on my n bTavery;
pride and aduiation. The seventy-hye who went
with told their snyious comrades how va neyss
happened In my attack Of prostraton rd thought
green, had obeyed; II they had been veterans
'ns There isn't much more to tell" my friend con:
tinued. After the Gettysburg campaign had
enosd to RnoM the had made the
for the =, Corps to ADVANCE unhindered; v. ny
sns fnsM %o Sl
to the President, and. after little delay he gave
| / didn't want to take II. for had gotten q taste
for campaigning and rather fancied T. AT last.
President Lincoln and with no prelude said: ,
President Lincoln, before l accept the place !
| about It all along, for my friends have been too
precipitate with this thing. Mr.. Lncon. all that
talk about my bravery is nonsense. When saw
those tents sir. and those rebels at the bottom OF
that hill, l was so damned scared that meant 70
yen Run for your lives" and instead cried
'Charger and that's the truth
Lincoln squared his big lank frame and looked
at me with his broad mouth twiching Then he
strobe up TO me and shook my hands. My boy,
he said. what you've Just told me makes me sure
that 1t was your right self which gave the wrong
order
And that's why I've always said that You
| should never Judge a mans merit by his position
! in life"