Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-05-23
SEALED BY A SHOT.
A SINGULAR INCIDENT OF THE BAT.
TILE AROUND ANTlETAM.


Union Soldiers Almost Famished For Lack
of Water Discover a Spring-A Confed-
crate Shot Ended the Struggle For the
Sparkling Liquid.
From the first peep of dawn Hooker.
Oh the extreme right, having crossed
Antietam creek the previous evening,
had been pounding the Confederates and
getting as good in return, and Mansfield
In the center had been seconding Fight
ing Joe's endeavors with varying sue
cess, so that it was fully high noon be-
fore Burnside on the left received any
intimation that his wing of the army
was to have any greater share in the
controversy than that of interested audi
tors. Though there had been some brisk
skirmishing in front of the left. all eyes
in that quarter We're turned toward the
center of the stage, and when it was
learned that the gallant Mansfield had
gone down in the conflict there was
many pang of grief, for Mansfield was
a hero.
While the troops lay massed by bri-
gade in the open fields and broiling sun
between the creek and the low bluff to
the east of the bridge, they sought to pre-
pare themselves for whatever might
come by keeping their canteens filled
with water. The creek, so near and yet
so far, proved to be a danger line for the
occupants of both banks of the stream,
for it was almost certain death for
either Federals Or Confederates to ap-
preach the stream, SO that Burnside's
men spent their time by reliefs in pro-
curing the coveted liquid wheresoever it
could be found in the rear.
Directly eastward from the famous
stone bridge, and Immediately to the
rear of one of the massed brigades, and
scarcely 200 yards distant from the
searchers a diadem in the shape of
stream of cool, pure water pouring from
the face of slaty embankment of scarce
ly more than ten feet in height.
During all the past time that this
diminutive stream had been making it's
egress from the bosom of the earth it
had been permitted to spread itself ont
over the adjoining meadow land or find
its way to the creek through the shallow
morass that formed at the base Of the
insignificant knoll from which it seeped
Never, perhaps, since the creation did
such small trickle of water jump so
suddenly into Importance and usefulness
MS did the one in question, for the prac-
ticed eyes of the water famished Yam
KEGS, who had learned by their expert
ence on the peninsula to smell water
afar, followed up the moistened water
course to its source, and, having found
the head thereof, it was but matter Of
few minutes till they had solid
stream Of the sparkling gem Of about
one-half inch in diameter pouring
through trough which had been i'm
provised from the bark of nearby sap
ling.
This improved condition of the little
stream, becoming known to all the
troops lying near by, proved to be the
signal for q general riot, for the strug-
gle for the privilege of holding the can
Gus that the officers were compelled to
place not only guard, but Gordon, of
troops around it to prevent the contend
ing soldiers from numbering each other
in their mad endeavor to get just one
taste Of the coveted prize. All this, too,
in the face of the fact that the Johnnies
beyond the creek had opened their bat
fo,iac ,,,,clyo<ru fl,a
then moving in the direction of the
bridge, and numerous missiles found
their way to disagreeable proximity to
the spring But just as semblance Of
order had been restored the word was
passed to "fall ill.,, and the life giver
was left to itself and for the time for
gotten. but as the brigade advanced by
battalion the soldier could not refrain
from casting backward glance of re-
greet at the thread of silver dancing in
the afternoon sun.
Half an hour later the battle was on
in all its fury, and every moment add
ed to the stream Of wounded men pour
ing backward out of the line of danger.
Those who knew the spring made
straightway for it, followed by others,
for who of those who ever had the ex-
perience can forget for a moment the
terrible condition of wounded soldier
with an empty canteen?
If the strife for possession of the
spring previous to the advance had been
furious, it was now thousand times
worse, for around that bit of moisture
sursed maddened, frenzied mass Of
bleeding humanity in all the conditions
Of wounds resulting from the fierce
battle then raging less than half mile
distant and consequent turmoil. So
fierce was the struggle that they de-
stroyed the spout, and the mad and fam
ished men would rush forward if only
to get hand wet.
At this supreme moment Federal
battery took a position ON the knoll i'm
mediately above the spring and opened
Oh the enemy. This brought reply
from a Confederate battery on the high
ground beyond the creek, and about the
first gun from the other side settled the
contention as to the value of the little
stream, for solid shot struck the en-
bankment about foot above the outlet
of water, buried itself out of sight and
shut off the water as completely as a
faucet ever stopped the flow from the
nozzle of hydrant. Notwithstanding
the excellent practice of the rebel artil-
lery, some Of the suffering soldiers hov-
cred about the spot for a time in the
hope that the water would find another
outlet, but such proved vain dream