Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-02-25
CAPTURE AND ESCAPE.
By Lieutenant ". h. SHELTON.
copyright, 1886, by American Press Assocta.
ton.
CHAPTER L

CHAPTER L
In the winter Of 1868 Ibad veteran.
ized," spent gay season on recruiting
detail, enjoying greater popularity with
the girls than had ever known before,
by virtue of certain brass buttons and
scarlet facings, and returned to the ar.
my at Culpeper to find my first com
mission awaiting me and just in time
to join General Grants columns pour
ing through the fords OF the Rapidan.
The company tailor removed my frs,
sergeant's stripes and sewed two rec
tangles of bullion bound scarlet plush
ON the shoulders of my riding jacket.
was too vain of my newly acquired
rank to incumber my horse with the
baggage prudence required. so mad the
chestnut saddled in the hghtest march
ing order. The day was hot, and look
ed askance at my troopers boots with
clumsily grained leather legs just top
ping the knees. longed 10 put on n
light pair, but here the angel Of good
fortune came to my relief. 1 thought of
the possible days Of separation from our
camp baggage and Of the probable mud.
and happily drew the line at light
boots. / have advanced to garrulous
and reminiscent old age on two legs In.
stead Of one by virtue Of the spasm of
prudence that checked the career OF my
vanity ON that May morning.
/ joined my new battery I'd OF the
First New York; ON the march, and be-
fore night Of the next day was pris-
oner in the hands Of the enemy. wound-
ed in the bootleg and cut 10 the bone
ON the delicate anatomy Of the knee uu-
der the stout leather that Tended of the
ball
By midday on May Z the Orange
turnpike. like all the other roads lead
ing into the wilderness, was crowded
with artillery, the nature Of the ground
in front admitting only the employment
Of infantry. The right Of our line OF
battle rested on this road, a small body
of infantry being deployed IN an open
field north Of the pike. Early in the
afternoon General Warren and staff were
mounted in the edge Of the woods close
TO the head Of the artillery column.
Across this road ran narrow strip oi
pasture hemmed in by woods, except
for short distance in front Of the staff,
where the opposite ridge as effectually
covered the line Of battle. The smoke
Of the musketry was drifting out Of the
woods and rising above the field TO the
right. Through the center Of this strip
Of pasture land ran dry ditch, over
which the turnpike passed by plank
bridge without rail or parapet. The
roar Of musketry was continuous, anc
only far away to the right could be
heard an occasional discharge Of artil'
lery.
With view to the moral support the
voices Of tine big guns would have on
the infantry, General Warren ordered
section to the edge Of the woods on the
left of the turnpike AS my command
was the first one available. / mounted
my dryers. and. accompanied by tho
Clptdiu. We NENNttu uNNi w 'u' u'oiS""'
ed positions. the caissons following the
guns. As / was subordinate for the time
being 10 my superior officer, ! was moi
responsible for carrying the extra car
riases into limbo. II another section
had been put in action ON the knoll WI
left firing directly on to the road II
front. it would certainly have taken ef
feet among the masses Of the enemy
coming up to re-enforce his left, ant
would have been in a position TO destroy
with canister the Confederates who
came down the pasture and gathered
Us in. II was not because the captain
and were both hit before the first dis
charge Of the guns that he ordered the
lmbers 10 the rear, but because We
were in a position to shoot our owl
men engaged ON the crest Of the wooded
knoll rising in front Of US. never saw
the captain again, rs / presently started
for a tour of the Confederacy and h'
went north, severely wounded.
Now that / have arrived at the event
OF nv capture and the loss Of my guns
the question arises as to how much
truth ! shall tell and how much sup