The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-16
STORIES ABOUT WOUNDED MEN.
Things That Interested and Puzzled
Officers or Surgeons.

Wounded men," said the colonel,
"were often misunderstood. General Full
ler Of Toledo told mo that he never ex-
pected forgiveness for one harsh Judgment
OF his. In the midst OF battle he was
trying TO stop the fight of panic-stricken
men. One man came stumbling along.
not needing word that was said to him.
Indignant and impatient, Fuller. cs he
came near him, leaned from his horse
and touched the man with his sword.
saying sharply: 90 back, sirp The
man looked up with look that said as
plain as words: Il am looking for a
place to die. He opened his blouse and
showed great. gaping wound in his
breast. Then he dropped to the ground.
The general dismountei rs soon as he
could. but almost rs he took the mans
head in his arms the poor fellow disd.
"Some men when struck showed no
sign. remember one little fellow who
was struck three times In as many min
utes. The first ST OF struck his right arm.
and he proceeded to load with his left.
The next shot struck him In tho leg. snd
brought HIM to his knees. He had his
left arm up. ramn ing home a load, when
a bullet struck that arm. Then he looked
up and said quietly: They have par
ticu'ar spite against me- l guess I'll
quit aud be Dropped down.
'We had one msn in our company"
said tie sergeant, "who was shot through
the tody at Shiloh. He was carried of
in an ambulance. and the boys supposed
they would never see him again. Bot
three days after the battle the regiment
went into camp not far from the field
hospital, and that afternoon the men
were surprised to see the man who had
bsen shot through and through walk into
camp, using his rifle as cane. he an
nounced that he hal had enough Of the
hospital and wouldn't 81 back to it. The
reginiental surgeon swore good deal,
insisting tnat the wounded man should
return to the hospital but In the end
agreed that the plucky fellow snould he
cared for In the company's quarters. The
boys took great care Of him. He improved
rapidly, went on duty as soon as he was
able to walk and was with the company
to the end Of the service.
"Other men who couldn't tear physical
pain were greatly troubled ty flesh
wounds, ana received less sympathy than
they deserved The hardest wounds to
Tear were those from spent bells. These
wepe more painful than the wounds from
the hard bitters, but men struck by sIent
bullets received no sympathy at all. For
some reason 1t was counted oisreputahle
20 he hit 10y a spent ball or splinter from
a rock, and many men worried along
under the most painful wounds without
going TO the hospital or without even
consulting the surgeon. Some OF these
fellows carry the marks today and say
nothing about them.
"The official report Of the capture OF
Lookout Mountain, said the major,
",tatei that General Walter c. Whitaker
was wounded. but that he didn'tleave the
field. That Is all true, but 1t is only half
the story. Whitaker was one of the most
imretuous, driving officers n the army.
He was regular old stormer. He was
pushing things in great share in front
when he was struck by q rifle ball. He
become deathly sick, and IL was suppose
at frat that he was fatally wounded. ihe
surgeons and some of his associate officers
gathered about ibim, anxious aud ner-
vous A surgeon opened the general $
coat ana vest looking for the wound,
which seemed 10 be In the vicinity Of tue
stomach lie found between the vest ana
the u.derclothing n rifle bali that had
not trolen the skin.
"Re said quietly: "A spent ball The
general opened his eyes ard locked up
wrathfuI and indignant. What's thatf
what's that's Somebody hit me with q
spspt balls 1 won't stand 70. BRING me-
my horse And fairly ihro~ing ASIDE
all the reople about him, be- spraug to his
feet climbed on his horse. and with his
tlothing !n disarray ard his hat tangca
on his head. started fr tie front, swear
ins M tie man who rad hit him with n
sp,rt ball. But the old general after thst
probably had more sympathy with tie
mcn WHO wee struck nv hails that sseirc 4
IN fan from the ir or came wish ns little
force as q stone thrown. by vicious 10y.