The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-07-12

aQler.
"You idiot. but why didn't you
shoot p shouted the Indignant general,
as he stepped forward.
at is cold blood, sir-coId bloodtv
whispered Davis, who trembIed in
every limb and was as paIe-faced as
dead man.
"You Polsroon-you cowsfdI" ragged
the general. Here, you man-cut the
stripes from his sleeves. and you, cap
tain, see that he is reduced to the ranks
on the company rollsl He ought to be
court-martialed and driven out of the
army in Gisgrace."
soldier stepped forward, and with
his pocket-knife cut the chevrons from
the corporal's sleeves, and poor Davis
skunk away in disgrace. Here was
strange thing. A COLDER who did no.
hesitate 10 put himself in position 10
be killed could not be induced to FIRE
upon the enemy Ills soldierly qualities
were such that he had been taken cut
of the ranks. and yet he refused to
carry out soldiers first aaty-to kill.
We could not call him a eoward-no
man is coward who VIII face death
but we called him strange and won-
dered what was back Of II all. The men
of the company fell away from him.
and in few days he stood almcet
alone. When we followed Up the enemy
after Yorktown there was some heavy
diminishing with the rear guard. Am
brose Davis was with his company. and
upon one occasion, when the hunderd
charged and captured a gun. he led us
all in the rush, and was tbs first man to
put a hand Oh H. After that We said
il was a case Of nerves" CT that be
had hereditary fear OF shedding blood.
and he was looked upon more favor
ably.
We saw nothing mere OF the
stiangeness" of Ambrose Davis until
the battle which drove Mcclellan TO
make change of base. Fer half dar
our regiment stood in battle line, wait
ing 10 attack or be attacked. and dur
ing this interval our company lost two
men killed and three wounded. 1t re-
quired all the nerve the men could work
up TO stand there and be shot at with
out firing shot in return, but Davis
showed no more nervousness than cuv
OF the rest When at length we moved
by the left flank for quarter of mile
and then dropped down to oPsn fire and
hold our ground, Davis was the man
on my left, and as l loaded my musket
l noticed that he was firing high. Five
minutes later lieutenant came Green
ing along in rear of US and warning
each man TO aim low. / heard hin
eursing Davis, and twice after that, ere
we fell back, 1 saw the man firing into
the tree tops.
The enemy crowded us back day BY
day and mile by mile, and there was
fighting over every foot of the high
ways. We had a fierce grapple at Fair
Oaks, and again at Savage Station, but
all l knew of Davis was that he was
with us 1t was only when we turned
at bay at Malvern Hill that | found
myself beside him again. lie had been
three times gTazed by bullets, and that
was proof that he had stood up to a
soldiers work. Our regiment was sta
tened at the base of the hill, strung
along in the bed of dry creek, and the /
banks gave US protection and a rest for l
our muskets- As the enemy came
sw3rmilg across the open every man I
was q fair target. had fred three or
four times when my musket fouled, and I
as ! waited to clear it I watched Davis. !
He was firing over the heads of the 1
enemy by 50 feet. Our position was
one which could not be carried. The
enemy realized this at last, and the
battle began TO die away. On our front 1
we had only dead and wounded men. as
far as we could see, and all firing had /
ceased, when a man suddenly rose up
from the ground about a pistol shot
away and stood staring at us. A thou
sand men shouted at him to come and
surrender, but after a moment he
turned his back and began moving
away. | do not know why any of the
of men who had him in range
did not fire, but they did not. SOM \
were even cheering the man, when an
officer CT artillery jumped down among
us and shouted:
"Shoot kim-shoot him-why don't
some of you bring him down?''
Ills words were heard BY 80 men.
but not gun was raised. The officer
was storminS at US when Davis sud-
ienly lifted his musket and fired. and
he retreating man flung up his arms,
about and sank down. Curses
iud groans followed. and Davis threw
Town his gun and hid his face in his
hands and sobbed.
"A splendid shetir cried the officer.
and ii | were your captain you would
Ie corporal tomorrow"
Davis had done a strsnge thing. W.
ooked at him and wondered ever it.
The heat of the battle was yet strong
lpon us. but the killing Of the man
eemed little short of eold-blooded muir
Ter.
Did | kill-kill him? ?" asked Davis OF
man beside him when he could con-
rel himself.
Yes, you shot him dead. the pocf
EVIL. Why didn't you let him ge;
iwey?"
"YCu have 81 Fc.,, a.