Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-04-18
A NARROW ESCAPE.

MIR. regiment was attached To Smith 5
Brigade, Blair's division Of Grant
army at Nicksburg. We had made
our assault OF May - 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 excel.
lent opportunities for the defense Of
Nicksburg. The crest was about 500
yards in advance of our artillery line
and about an equal distance from the
Confederate intremchments. We adj
vsnced in good order and reached the
crest with slight loss and lav down TO
await orders for the final assault. As
We lay upon our backs gazing upward
We looked into an Italian sky. cloud
less and serene. 1t was a typical sun
ny south" day, warm, without discom-
fort, the air balmy and fragrant not
a leaf stirred all nature seemed to
be peacefully resting, in strong con
trast to the roar of war that now was
rending 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
artillery and that OF the enemy. with
the roar of the guns on either side, and
kissing, screaming shot and shells hurt
ling over our heads, made our position
a hell of demoniacaI sounds, but so
protected that we carefully listened to
the roar, and philosophically comtem-
plated the chances of victory or defeat.
Our reverie, however, as soon
rudely aroused by thud and Il little
cloud Of dust but few feet down the
hill from where we lay, Comparative
~ safe from the enemy'S fire, our blue
lines in plain sight Of our gunner>. we
contided in the correctness of their aim.
But here comes = shot from our guns
Waterhoust's battery plunged into
our line. Colonel llogc sent I'M order
ly, acquainting the yunners with their
carelessness.
As the shot had struck but II few
feet below whc.e lay il i, needless to
say | watched the further firing Of that
gun with interest. Ten minutes elaps-
ed. and shots passed safely over.
was lying resting on my left elbow.
Corporal Bird, Il manly soldier, lay,
upon his back close to my side was
watching that gun \ white pull OF
smoke, and instantly the top Of tree
standing in Il hollow about 100 yards
in advance of the gun toppled over.
The activity ot the human mind is
phenomenal In the next few seconds
| lived an experience seldom given to
mortals. The gun. tree aud myself
were in direct line. The shot, before
oh>tructed by the tree, had been sufIi-
ciently elevated 10 20 over, but what
now? Would the obstruction lower
its elevation and plunge it into our
line?
What is that seey 1t is coming
straight at me Like bee in its flight
see it. What will it do-take OIL
an arm or Il leg? Will | 20 home to
wife and babies on crutches, or will
they bury me on yonder slope? There
was whiIl OF lis and possibilities about
this and the next rushing through my
brain. Why not turn over, dodge it,
jump up-anpthing to get out Of range
of coming death? Was doomed to
be a witness Of every detail Of my own
death? The mind outran the speel of
the cannon ball thousand times, but,
there was not time to telegraph the
danger to the dull muscles for action
In this mental confusion there came
a heavy spat, a tremor OF the ground,
sprinkling OF something warm, in my
face and jumped to my feet unframed
to look down ON the mangled form ASH
face struck with death OF the Young
comrade nj my side, whose lett side
had been carried away by Il six pound
shot. Observing that his lips moved,
| knelt down and heard the faint
words, twice repeated, mother -
water And the soul OF Corporal
Bird, a good soldier, clean hearted
boy, with whom Tor nearly year |
had touched elbows in line and on the
march, took its flight
We buried him near the fatal tree
that caused the accident, and year
later furnished detail to cxhume
his body, that il might he laid beside
his kin at his northern home on the
banks Of the beautiful Kankabee.
The death of this young soldier ever
has weird interest for me. Why
should it strike him and leave me !?
Did the fatcs decree il, or was il for
some wise purpose OF Him who num-
bers the hairs of our heads and notes
the fall OF Il sparrow
have seen the smile of incredulitv
on the faces of friends while relating
this incident Of seeing cannon ball