The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-11-25
escape, that and that alone. All his
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not IN looking back and giving battle.
Doubtless in the dreadful din of
shout and shot and clang and thunder
Of horses hoofs the boy did not hear
the fast approaching steps behind
him. But suddenly he felt clutch
at his collar and wild savage shout
of triumph poured into his ears these
words:
"D--n you, give me that Sharpe 8
rifep'
In the next instant Todd had his
hand on the gun and he was be-
tween the fugitive and the field of re-
fuge.
The brief fight was now over and
Todd brought in his prisoner with an
air Of triumph, which told Of the dou-
Bile victory, man and the gun also.
The distressed captive was Pennsyl-
vania youth, a boy not out of his
teens. He had just been mounted and
that was his first days experience in
war. Iwonder if the man is yet alive.
1 sincerely trust that he has been
spared in the fortunes of war and that
these lines may reach his eye.
Some years ago I met his old COM
mander in California and we had a
right jolly shake of hands over a re-
cital of the incident. Perhaps the
soldier, if yet alive, would like to hear
something of the fate of his captor
that day at Vienna in Virginia.
Todd's bravery abounded to the
last. Here is an illustration of his
courage in another manner: At Get
tysburg he was shot through and
through in the cavalry fight. AS he
lay prone upon the field, in the in
tensest Of suffering, he called a pass
ing surgeon and asked him to examine
the wound. Said he: 'Doctor, am
suffering awfully from. this hole in my
breast. Look at it and help me; if
you can't do me any good, why just
90 right on to the next man and help
him, and let me die like man right
where l am"
The surgeon left him for case
where there was less doubt; but Todd
orawled away and got inside the Con
federate lines and into a hospital.
There was unusual interest manifest
ed in the wounded boy. He was we'll
known for his many daring and sue
cessful feats: and he was the only
brother of distinguished captain in
the regilnment. This officer, in his
solicitude, prevailed upon Gen. Lee 8
chief surgeon himself to go directly to
the wounded private in efforts to re-
lieve the sufferer, his wounds being of
an intensely painful character, and his
death doubtless not far off.
When the chief surgeon looked the
boy in the face Todd said to him sim
ply: "Tell me, doctor, will I get well?
That all I want to know"
There was no response, only in the
grave look Of doubt which spread over
the physicians face after he had
glanced at the fearful hole in the
boys vitals. The surgeon thought
the case utterly hopeless, and he hes
itated to tell the soldier what then ap-
peared to him was the truth.
Jim saw the look of hesitation, and
he spoke up: '"Tell me" sain he. II
want to know exactly what you think
about it; you certainly ought not to
be oeraid to tell me your opinion. I
don care dash which way it goes,
and can listen to anything now; /
want to know just how it is myself
what you believe about it'll"
The surgeon gave the stricken SOL
dier look of amazement that turned
into an irony which was blended in his
tones as he replied slowly and delib-
erately:
"Sir! You will get we'll, if every
other man in this hospital dies!''
And the soldier did recover with his
life; but his right arm was left COM
pletely paralyzed, its use forever gone.
He returned to his command, and new
er lost days duty again until early
in the campaign of 1865. When in
action he always rode-Murat like
with the bride reins in his teeth
using his pistol with his remaining
hand.
This brave boy died before he was
21-meeting death at the hands Of an
assassin, who visited upon the youth
a penalty for that for which others
were chiefly responsible. And what
is worse he died from a shot in the
back-a death that is always dreaded
by the mar whose courage is sublime.
And it was death that befell, I re-
gret to say, three men of my command
who were known as the 'bravest of the
brave" and who were in constant
dread of such fate.
But such is the mockery of human
wishes.