The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-12
A NARROW ESCAPE.

Ny regiment was attached to Smiths
brigade, Blair's division of Grants army
at Vicksburg. We had made our assault
Of May 10 and were now reforming our
lines and preparing for another assault on
their works.
Two days had lapsed and we were ready
for our task. On the 22d we were ordered
to occupy one of those waves Of hills that
offered such excellent opportunities for
the defense of Vieksburg. The crest was
about 500 yards in advance of our artillery
line and about an equal distance from the
Confederate intrenchments. We advanced
in good order and reached the crest with
slight loss and lay down to await orders
for the final assault. As we lay upon our
backs gazing upward we looked into an
italian sky, cloudless and serene. It was
q typical "sunny south" day, warm, with
out discomfort, the air baiIny Sad fra
grant; not leaf stirred; all nature seemed
to be peacefully resting, in strong contrast
to the roar of war that now was rend1ng
this peaceful vale, only to be equaled by
heavens laundering guns when the storm
king is abroad in his power.
Being located midway between our ar
tiliery and that of the enemy, with the
roar of the guns on either side, and hiss
ing, screaming shot and shells hurtling
over our heads, made our position a hell
of deinoniacal sounds, but SO protected
that we carefully listened to the roar, and
philOsophically contemplated the chances
of victory or defeat.
Our reverie, however, was soon rude1y
aroused by thud and little cloud of
dust but a few feet down the bill from
where we lay. Comparatively safe from
the enemy's fire, our blue lines in plain
sight of our gunners, we confded in the
correctness of their aim. But here comes
| shot from our guns-Waterhouse' bat
| tery-plunging into our line. Colonel
| Hoge sent an orderly, acquainting the gun
ners with their carelessness.
AS the shot had struck but a few feet
| below where lay it is needless to say
| watched the further firing of that gun
| with interest. Ten minutes elapsed, and
| shots passed safely over. I was lying rest
| ing on my left elbow. Corporal Bird
| manly soldier, lay upon his back close to
| my side. I was watching that gun. A
white puff of smoke, and instantly the top
| of a tree standing in hollow about 100
| yards in advance of the gun toppled over.
The activity of the human mind is phe-
| nomenal. In the next few seconds lived
an experience seldom given to mortals.
| The gun tree and myself were in direct
| line. The shot, before INSTRUCTED by the
| tree, had been sufficiently elevated to go
| over, but what now? Would the obstruc-
ton lower it's elevation and plunge it into
| our line?
What is that seer 1t is coming straight
| at mel Like a bee in its flight I see it.
| What will it do-take off arm or leg?
| Will I go home to wife and babies on
crutches, OF will they bury me on yonder
| slope? There was a Whirl of ifs and pos
| sibilities about this life and the next rush
ing through my brain. Why not turn
| over, dodge it. jump up-anything to get
| out Of range of coming death? Was l
| doomed to be witness of every detail of
my own death? The mind outran the
| speed of the cannon ball thousand times,
I,,1R 81 TO &Ofn =, hn
| danger to the dull muscles for action.
| In the midst of this mental confusion
| there came heavy spat, tremor of the
| ground a sprinkling of something warm
| in my face, and jumped to my feet I'M
| harmed, to look down on the mRngled
| form and face struck with death of the
| young comrade at my side, whose left side
had been carried away by six pound
| shot. Observing that his lips moved, I
| knelt down and heard the faint words,
| twice repeated, "mother-water. And
| the soul of Corporal Bird, good soldier, a
| clean hearted boy, with whom for nearly a
| year had touched elbows in line and on
! the march, took it's flight.
| We buried him near the fatal tree that
caused the accident, and a year later
| furnished a detail to eXhume his body,
| that it might be laid beside his kin at his
| northern home on the banks of the beau
| tifu1 Kankakee.
AAtao
a weird interest for me. Why should it
| strike him and leave me? Did the fates
decree it, or was it for some wise purpose
of him who numbers the hairs of our
| heads md notes the fall of sparrow?
have seen the smile of incredulity on
| the faces of friends while relating this in
cident of seeing cannon ball in its flight.
I reply I know it is true, but deem it
| possible only to close observers, strong
| eye and favorable atmospheric conditions.
doubt if it is possible in the hazy atmos-
| phere of the coast. At Mobile l watched
for nine days. but saw none. At Arkansas
Post I saw several. The flight of honey
bees far above the tops of trees has been
| frequently observed. Sherman's corps on
| the march to join Grant at Port Gibson
witnessed bright star at MONDAY.
In 1860, in going down into the Platte
valley from OFallon bluffs the writer,
| with the natural eye, plainly saw the gar
rison flag at Fort Kearhey. The distance
| ia said tS ha sly Rni10G. -Exchapn0