Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-11-24
A SOLDIER S FATAL PRESENT.
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An old negro was asked ifhe believed

An old negro was asked ifhe believed
in ghosts. "No, boss" he replied, 81
don't zickly b'leve in 'em, but I mighty
'ftaid of lem" And so about present
iments; few of us believe in them, but
we would rather not have them, all the
same. The following incident may
prove of interest to those who are iopd
of speculating On such things No
more light hearted, gay and cheerful
young soldier and cannonier than
Bob" Todd, of our company, ever
marched to battle. Fatigue, danger
aud privation never daunted or de.
pressed his spirits. His merry talk aud
uearty laugh cheered the camp fire and
the forced night march, aud esapg his
songs as gay when marching 10 battle
as around the "bivouac fire."
:" Dad let the big guns roar as they will,
Well be gay and happy still.
Gay and happy, gay and happy.
Wen be y aud h lppy sill"
That was the chorus to his fav0rite,
aud it heartened us up to hear him, 100,
many time. Well, in the autumu OF
the last year of that dreadful war, when
fighting got TO be almost daily,
one evening news came that early
that morning we were to advance with
our battery, and it was more than
probs bic We would go into battle. 1t
was noticed that "Bob" was altogether
unlike himself. He was quiet and ap-
parently depressed, thing SO new
with him that it called forth remarks
and questions from his comrades. He
tried TO rally, apparently, but without
success. Next morning, a lovely day
in October, we moved out early, al
vanced down The broad read mile or
so and halted to await orders. Bcb's
depression seemed to hang to him so,
as we all ''stood at ease" there in the
road, that one of the officers in kid
ly wsy asked him to say what was the
matter with him. "Lieutensut," he
replied, 81 have had for several days Il
presentiment that l would be killed in
the next battle, and do what I could l
have not been able to shake it off. L
firmly believe if we go into action this
day it will be my last battle" TIE
officer tried to laugh him out OF it, atd
rendered him piece of tobacco, with
the remark that it would "steady his
nerves." Hardly mad The words been
uttered when stall officer came ga
Looping up to the head of the battery
aud spoke a word 10 the captai I.
The latter turns sharply in the Sc
die and quick and loud the
orders came, Attention DRYERS al d
cannoniers mount" The drive 8
vault irto the saddle and the guuners,
nimble as monkeys, spring to their seats
Oh the limbers ard caissons. For
ward, trot, march u and we are eff,
with the rattle Of chain harness, tie
rumble of wheels and laundering tramp
of a tuudred horses. Along the wood
ed road we 60 and ahead we see the
opening. Now We hear the POP, pop,
popl of the skirmishers, followed by
the crash of musketry as we emerge
upon the battle field. The staff officer,
sitting erect in his saddle, rides at the
head of the battery to guide US to our
position en- the field. He points with
his sword to hill on the right. and
breaking from hot to furious gal!op
we 90 tearing across the field amid q
cloud of dust and flying gravel. "For
ward into line !" Right oblique -
March - "Hultr' Action fcon y
"Unlimber Take equipments
::Load witu schrapnel" shouts the
captain, while his orders are repeated
by every officer. The SIX guns are
whirled around aud the gunners rush
to their posts. Bob Todd is No. 3 ct
his piece and his duty is to serve the
"vent." He slips on his tbumb-stsl'
aud with alacrity places his thumb upon
the vent. The enemy's artillery, who
had observed US come into action,
opened on US at point blank range
An as Bob stepped clear OF the VII. ei
40 avoid the rebound of his gun, she II
cane from the enemy's battery aid
truck the gun square on the face,
completely closing up the mouth,
glanced aaide, cutting down the wheel,
then exploded, large p'ece catching
Todd in the side, cutting him nearly
in two and hurting him back ten feet
and he was dead man before be hit the
ground. so sudden was the catastro'
une that though no other man at the
gun was hurt the whole detachment
inyoluptarily fell forward on their faces:
Thus was Bob's preseutiment fulfilled
and strange to say in this battle ne WI
the only man in our company kille' +.
We brought him back with US to can P
that evening and at sunset we wrapped
him in his blanket and buried him on
the edge of the wood. We built iit-
tar enclosure of sapplings around ms
lonely grave, and next morning wnlie
the wind mourned through the pine
trees we marched away aud iels Dim.
And may his bright and brave splf'.
rest on in peace till the last trump
sounds for the final roll call. Amen.