Evening star., 1898-10-29

was claiming with faint heart victory for
his side, there came above the terrible din
the shrill sound of bugle. A shout, ever
to be remembered, followed it. and down
came the Irish brigade of Summers corps,
and, with measured tread, halted immedi-
ately in front, not ten rods away. My
friend attempted to cheer, but his voice was
gone; MS cup was full. l remember he
choked little when he related this incident
to me; how excited he was; how Burnside
and Sedgwick, although pressed by the en-
emy to the last degree, yet held their own
and had not lost fifteen rods
Again the bugle sounded he could real
the notes. 1t said in ringing tones that
the rear of battle could not down "Atten-
tion Irish brigade! Fix bayonets, For
ward double-quick march." He related
how the bearer of an old green flag. with
many tatters in it, in the center of which
was a harp. literally mopped the ground
with IT every few steps as if in defiance at
Donnybrook Fair.
The battle front now changed. The Irish
charge did the work when 1t most
needed. The enemy gave way and fell
lack. The contest passed on out of view.
ana only the remains We're left. dead and
wounded men. dead and wounded horses
field.
The battle was finally won. put it nearly
cost Rand's life. While attempting to help
himself back into the tent secondary hem
orrnage set in, and he was unconscious be-
fore 1t was arrested. When the surgeon in
charge. DR.. John Swinburne of Albany.
who had operated On the boy arrived he
vas nearly exsanguinated. The surgeon
was obliged to remove the silver wires with
which his wound had been sewed for the
entire six inches. the length of the bore
taken from his shoulder down. While this
was being done his pulse was at low ehb
his tongue dry. He looked up at the sur
geon and in a gentle voice said: Doctor.
Is this the end?'' Il hope not was the
answer, but l must hurry and find the
artery that is causing so much trouble
sui the work went in silence A min
ute later he said Doctor, ! think you had
better get candle 1t is getting too dark to
see very well, and if you will be kind
enough to raise the corner of the tent it
won't be stuffy." The work went on:
he had closed his eyes. In few minutes
he opened them and remarked: Doctor
l feel as If l was suspended in the air. l
am certain that have got to go If do. /
wish you would write to my mother and
tell her that it was the charge of the Irish
Brigade that killed me-
Inc doctor did write her the particulars
at the time, and after the death of his
mother in 1882. the letter was found among
her effects The son had never seen it, and
haa forgotten he had ever sent such a mes
sage. The SUBJECT had never been men
toned between mother and SON.
Mcclellan had left $500 of his wounded
at saVages station, where, being In the
enemy's country. they We're picked up bv
Stonewall Jackson and made prisoners
Rand among them.
This soldier was never able to see the
serious side of anything, and always spoke
of his sufferings more as joke than 9TH
erwlse l will instance one incident which
ne related IN an amusing way of his prison
experience. He was taken on a gravel train
from Savage's station to Richmond. He
SAID he did not expect any care, as the
enemy mad 1900 of their own sick and
wounded to look after, so. as bandages
were out OF the question. he dressed his
own wounds with the Richmond "Whig."
he said he managed the shoulder all right
bullet had gone through him on the twist
and made hole as large as a silver dollar
next 10 his spine, so he was Obliged to
make pad of newspaper and have him
sell let down so the wound would rest on
the pad and not on the bare floor. He ex-
planned that he had to throw away his
trousers, and afterward his shirt and un-
derShirt. He said he did not need them as
the weather was hot July, 1862. His bat
tie now was with the flies. He said he once
made a sortie on new colony with a
spoonful of turpentine. He only tried it
once.
He sold his shoes to the confederate
guard for 50, confederate money and pur-
chasing eighteen loaves of bread divided
sixteen among those around him. Later he
sold his socks for 81, and gave that for an
extra allowance of soup. taking the last
cup for his portion. He now had one gar
ment left. In this condition he remained
while a prisoner, and was carried through
Richmond in daylight, in old furniture
cart, to the train, and thence to City
Point. In due time he was exchanged and
sent to the hospital, 44th and Pine streets
Philadelphia. where he rapidly recovered
and was soon able to walk, and here he
met his fate. A beautiful young Sister of
Charity was specially detailed to look af-
ter him. She nursed him tenderly, bathed
his face. cut up his food and placed it in
his mouth, dressed his wounds, Smoothed
his pillow and won his heart.
After leaving the army in 1870 he er-
tered the Georgetown University, received
the degree of MD. and practiced his
profession up to four years ago. when he
was obliged to give It up owing to ince:;-
SAINT pam arising from his old wounds.
No one ever heard him complain. His
immediate family alone know what his SUI
ferihg is. He cannot hide it from them.
To those outside he has always a good
word and a pleasant smile. His fren1s
are numerous, yet Il very few know his his
tory.
Mai. George Truesdell, ex-Commissioner
of the District. and Col. James a. Bates
now one of the assessors were officers in
his regiment and all three fell in the same
ba attle-Truesdel shot through the body. |
Bates lost a leg and Rand had his shoulder
torn to pieces. 1t is not an uncommon
sight to see these three veterans in social |
confab on the street Truesdel and Rand
We're taken 10 Libby on the same train.
My playmate in childhood. my school
mate in youth, my comrade and tent mate |
on the field, my companion and true friend
in later life, will, / trust. pardon this little
fragment Of his history being made public
for l it will interest his many
friends, who would never have known had
l not assumed the responsibility of writing
JOHN b. FOOTE,
Late Lieutenant of Company K
10Th Regiment, New York Volunteers.