Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-10-07

C.c> G ed the oasis OF tne
colonel's address as
we marched to the front; II
brought our muskets to an "aim" as
we caught Sight of the enemy for the
first time. W. had become soldiers to
march, fight and kill. 1t was to be look
ed upon as a matter of business, as
we'll rs a patriotic duty. The sooner
the strength Of the enemy was exhaust
ed the sooner we would have peace.
We thought that every man In COM
pany &c" had the same feeling-to kill
but we had not been long at the front
when we found an exception. score
Of sklrmishers were ordered down In
front of the regiment to feel the
strength Of the enemy in the fringe OF
bushes along creek. Ambrose Davis
was one of us. He was a man Of 30
a plain, every day man who had laid
down the tools of a mechanic to take
up the musket of a soldier. He was not
given to enthusiasm, but he was an ODE
d!ent soldier and the best shot In the
company. AS we clambered over the
fence and took "open order on the
broad field which dipped down to the
creek, the enemy in the fringe had a
dead rest on every man, War with
them also meant kill. To kill one Of
half million men means little, and yet
1t means kill. Zip! Pingl Zip! 1t was
not firing by file-it was not firing by
volleys into q battle line half hidden
in the smoke, but every bullet that came
pinging was meant for an individual
soldier.
We crouched down and ran forward.
We zig-zagged to right and left. We
took the shelter of every knoll brush
and stump. The enemy had to develop
his strength to check US. In front Of
Davis was an opening in the fringe
a spot where farm road crossed the
creek. The enemy to the right and left
OF this road was using the bank Of the
stream as a breastwork and we were
firing good deal at random. An officer
suddenly appeared In the center Of this
opening, and raising pair Of glasses
to his eyes he took a cool survey Of the
regiment far back of US on the hill. He
was within pistol shot of Davis and
he must have known II, and yet he
stood there as cool and calm as you
please to take his chance II was
sheer bravado. Four Of our twenty had
been killed, and the enemy was seek
ing the lives Of the rest. | was to the
right of Davis and could have almost
hit the officer with a stone; the man
on his left had just as fair a target.
He was not our game" however-he
belonged to Davis, We saw our CON-
rade thrust forward a barrel Of his
muSket and bring his eye down to the
sights. Then we watched the officer to
see him throw up his hands and fall
Thirty seconds passed away, and we
glanced back at Davis. He had lifted
his head and was looking at the officer
over his gun. At the end Of a quarter
Of a minute he dropped II again. II
was his duty to kill, but this was kill
Ing in cold blood, and he had to have
a few seconds to nerve himself up.
Back went our eyes to the officer. He
was slowly sweeping the glasses
across a front of half a mile, and |
wondered If he would drop them as
the bullet struck him, or whether his
fingers would clutch and hold them the
tighter. My heart came crowding into
my throat as watched and as the sec.
Onds passed. and at length heard the
man on Davis left shouting at him:
"Shoot! Shoot! Why the devil don't
you drop that officerW
l turned to look at Davis, and as ]
did so he slowed the muzzle Of his gur
TO the right and fired into the bushes
A few seconds later the officer lowered
his glasses, and swinging them in his
hand and perhaps humming a tune
he slowly disappeared into the bushes
Later in the day, when Davis singular
action had been reported. the captair
said to him:
Davis, can't believe you are COW
ard, because you went down on tn,
skirmish line to be shot at, but wher
you had an enemy fairly under you,
gun, and an officer Mt that, why didn't
you bring him DOWN.
II was going to, sir, but l.
couldn't" was the reply.
But they were shooting at you tC
kill"
"Yes, know"
The captain could hardly repriman(
man for not killing an enemy as h,
would have shot down a rabbit. anC
there was no one to hint that Davi
lacked courage. The incident was for
gotten after little, and such was tn
soldiery conduct Of the man that h
was made corporal. When the enem,
withdrew behind the works at York
town to bar McClellan's road to Rich
mond he covered his wings witt
sharpshsoters, and our officers wer
their special target. One day, as thre