The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-05
A NOBLE FOE
uin Dying Rreath Spent in Saving the Life OF .
Wounded Euemy,

among the numerous instances OF remark
able endurance and wonderful vitality Of
wounded soldiers that ! had knowledge of dur
ing the late war; said a former hospital attend
dant, 81 recall none SO remarkable as that OF
John Peters. At the battle OF Balls Bluff
he was q member OF the Forty-second New
York Regiment. He was badly wounded in the
hip and he fell on the field. While he lay there
another ball fractured his right knee joint. Ut
terly helpless, ne was trampled beneath the
feet OF the contesting soldiers until the close OF
the engagement. and was then taken a prisoner.
to Richmond He remained there four months,
when no was exchanged and sent with other
wounded to the Philadelphia hospital. I was
an attendant there. Peters's wounds had
been so carelessly attended to that he was worse
Off, II anything, than when he was first wound.
ed. We did the best we could for him, but he
was In such shape when able to leave the hos
pital that he was DISCHARGED from the service
as permanently disabled.
"Some months afterward I was transferred
to a hospital ut Washington. and was there
when the battle of Charlottesville was fought.
Two weeks after that engagement a number OF
soldiers who had boon wounded there were
transferred from the hospital at Acquia Creek
to the Washington Hospital, Among tho most
desperately and apparently hoplessly, wounded
of these was amazed to disc3yer John Peters
pital to pass officially as a lifelong cripple. When
he was at last able to tell his story was still
service as permanently disabled, he had PLACED
himself in charge of a noted surgeon of that
day, and after or SON some months % Sny made mad almost
able to %ro-cnlist, which he did In the 10th
Pennsylvania, and became Orderly Sergeant
of his company. Al Chancellorsville he was shot
In the right thigh, the bullet causing IA com.
pound fracture. and almost most at The he sane an, mmomon,
lodged there against tho bone. He foil, and mt.
tempted to rise. AS he raised his. head he was
hit by q flying piece o: shell. which fractured
"When Peters regained consciousness his regi
ment had taken another position, and he lay
balls. and shells whizzing over him for hours
until at last no managed to drag himself a few
iyS%sHs w swsS bushes 81 : sn0 G Ga"T Sa a a s ssr9a'h he pniiGd
himself over the bank and let himself down into
the water, waist deep. which relieved his pain
Confederate Army swept by where Peters hung
After II had passed Peters endeayored TO draw
that he might be picked up, but he found that
the bush % which he chung, while sufficient Ia
support, him as he crouehed in the water. wa,
not still enough to bear his weight In efforts Il
pull himself .up on the bank. There was a hush
Just below him evidently strong enough TO en-
out OF his reach. and II he released his hold OF
the bush that was supporting him to make The
attempt to reach the stronger one, he know hi
while he was TINS facing death he saw q
movement on the bank, and the next moment al
emacisted face with a dsalh,like palIor ON Il ap
face of a badly wounded Confederate soldier
who was dragging himself to the wafer. Tn,
sunken eyes fell on Peters. and the owner o.
them must, have comprehcnded, instantly
Peters's peril, for he dragged his body forward
and placing both hands ON the bn, III that Peter
and gasped:
Hugh, Yankl Grab IL!
The bush dipped so close to Peters that ~
summoned, all tho little strength no had left
let go The bush no was holding to, and grabbec
az the other one. He caught IL, It, withstooe
his weight, and, after a long and painful strug
gle, he pulled himself by II TO the top of tn,
bank: AZ soon as he could recover hreatl
who lay Qul0t on the bank. 10 thank him Cor hL