Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-12-15
COMMUNICATED.
A CHASTITY HUMAN FACE.

A CHASTITY HUMAN FACE.
1t is curious how in looking back
upon such stirring and exciting scenes
as great battle the mind will fasten
upon some event of comparatively
unimportart nature, which Seems to
have photographed itself upon the
memory. There are always fearful
8 ,hts on the battle field, but the one
at I will recall was so fantastically
horrible as almost to reach the gro
ttsque.
II was on Satuld day evening that
Jackson drove in and turned the
rgnt flank ofthe Yankee army at Chan
ceilorsville. The next morning, SUM-
day, the great pitched battle was fought
around the little hamlet of that name
1t was here the enemy concentrated and
With lhsir great army, fought gallantly.
Our army was divided into two wings,
lhe right commanded by General Hobt.
E. Lee, the left by General Stuart.
The battle had ragged for hours, ebbing
and flowing with varied success. The
weather was intensely hot aud the
woods were so parched and dry
that III y caught on fire from
the exploding shells and the flames
spreading over the ground reach.
ed the wounded and added to all the
din of battle were the shrieks and cries
of these poor fellows perishing in the
tire. So if ever there was hell On
earth it was right there then. Toward
ooon the two wings of our army com
menced TO close 10 upon that of the
enemy, slowly driving them hack. Gen.
Stuart ordered an advance now of his
entire line.
The smoke from the burning wood
and the battle hung overhead like a
oack all, and the atmosphere had a
urii light. Our long artillery column
moved down the broad road and over
sround where there had been desperate
lighting. 1 noticed that the ponderous
artillery wheels, and hoof. of the horses
were passing over aud trampling upon
some dark object in the road. 1t proved
10 be the headless body of federal
soldier mashed to pulp. A little
farther on was the face, a CHASTITY sight.
4 cannon ball had carried away the
! pack of the head, and then by the way
side like mask lay this face, with eyes
wide open staring up at US as we filed
by. I had to rein iu my horse to pre-
vent his treading upon it. II made the
cold chils run through me as l passed
90. and to this time, when my memory
goes back to that tragic day, fancy l
see that awful face.
We halted at the foot OF the pla' eau
leading up to the Chancellor house
from whence the enemy had been driv-
en- by our infantry, and just here hap
pened sad incident. There was in our
company soldier who when the war
came on was student of divinity al
the E pscopal Seminary. He was con.
siderably older than myself but We had
contracted friendship. And he used
TO tell me how bitterly he deplored the
! interruption of his chosen career, and
now distasteful to him was the life and
surroundings of a soldier, though he was
conscientious and brave enough.
I remember I would wonder with
mild contempt that man should pre-
fer to be preacher rather than SOL
dier. Now think the preacher mao
the best of it.
Well, 1 was sitting on my horse a
nv post when H approaching me
aud, calling me by name, inquired
whether had any bread in my haver-
sack. 1 replied in the mega i've, and.
turning, congratulated him upon com
ing out of the battle saf-ly. Just then
the enemy, who had been sullenly fall
ing back, opened fire with one OF their
batteries. A shell exploded above US
and piece came down like flash OF
light aud struck H. upon the head.
He fell forward, dead, upon MS tact.
The litter bearers ran up and bore nim
off to the rear, and we never saw MIN
more. But 1 knew his spirit winged
itself straight 10 that peace he 30 loved
and longed for.
We moved up on the plateau now.
And what warike scene was there.
Our Infantry were in dense array. me
artillery came up until all the await
able space was packed with the orass
aud iron "dogs of war" Our great
leaders were there also. The majestic
Lee. the dashing Stuart, Generals
Ro6es and Harry Heths and our own
Colonel Lindsay Walker, on his great
black horse, the finest looking oftioer
in the army. The ground was filled
with the dead federals, and the wound
ed were crawling about seeking any
shelter from the scorching rays OF the
sun, begging for water with the oreseiui
thirst that always attacks the wounoeo
on the field of battle. Some OF us hllea
our canteens with water and did Wnae
little we could to alleviate the snher-
ing until the bugles called us sgaln 10
our duties.
e11zAnErH, N. J., Oct. 10. 1896.
ELY BRos.. Dear sirs Please accePt ny