Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-04-12
Ing this brigade to carry a message to .
little force Of men who have reached the

Ing this brigade to carry message to q
little force Of men who have reached the
enemy's breastworks."
A little to my right, protected by a
log, lay the PROSTATE form Of comrade
Geo. Linnell, who had received mortal
wound during the charge. The deathlv
look on his face was proof that he had
but . short time to live. As passed
him he family asked II we had "taken
the fort"? l was told by the cOmrsde
that was with him that Il was the last
time that he ever spoke.
was too near the enemy there to
stand exposed as target any longer, so
sought shelter behind fallen tree. A
little to my right and In advance OF my
position ! could see a wounded soldier,
lying on his back, holding his hat over
bis face asa protection from the burning
sun. He was pleading pite0usly for
some one to bring him drink Of water
Several attempts had been made to do
so, but no one could reach him.
kept on, making quick movements
from one place TO another, short dis
tances at time, and stopping moment
at each place where could find some
thing to protect me from rebel bullets.
They kept shooting at the stumps and
logs where took shelter, but couldn't
hit me, rs | lodged from one place to
another so quickly that they couldn't
bring their guns to bear before was out
Of sight.
As came nearer to the rebel psrapet
| tried to be more careful, seeing thtt
was closely watched. | saw, shor
distance In front OF me, two wounded
comrades OF my own company, not Sc
curely protected; and the rebels knew OF
their position and were throwing shot
at them ut lively rate. made a quick
movement and got AS near to them rs
possible.
Comrade Briggs was wounded in the
shoulder. Brown had dangerous
wound In the abdomen. The hot south
ern sun was pouring Its burning rays
upon them, and could see that Con-.
rade Brown would have to be removed
at once TO where he could be cared for,
or before the shades OF evening fell one
more brave soldier would have given up
his life for his country. Two better sol
diers than Comrades Briggs and Brown
never served 10 any army; their courage
had been tested on other fields; and had
they not been wounded they would have
reached the fort.
Nv feelings had been worked up to
the highest point OF desperation by sea
Ing the sufi.rings OF the wounded. M
hear. sched for the poor wounded bov
at mv right suffering from the heat OF a
scorching sun and crying for water TO
moisten his parched lips and cool his
burning fever.
The rebels seemed to have no pity for
human suffering, and but one thing
could be done to bring relief, and that
was to stop the rebels from shooting
Was It possible for one nan to do IL.
Maybe 1t was insane thought, but !
felt that must try. l made one bound
and In an instant stood at full height
with my gun St my shoulder, pointing
at the rebels; and to my great surprise
every gun was lowered and every head
hidden behind the parapet. kept nv
position until the wounded, on that part
Of the field, that could be removed had
reached = place OF safety in the rear.
The poor boy at my right had received
q mortal wound and could not be moved.
but his suffering WAS somewhat rellev, d
by drink Of water.
While stood there. heads from be-
hind the rebel psrapet kept popping up.
and down again, along the line. Ii would
have been an easy matter for them To
have hit me, standing at full height as ]
was, and they having = good chance to
rest their guns; but not one chance In
ten for me to hit a mans head nj that
distance without rest for my musket.
thought II the safest way TO reach
nv destination to advance with my gun
still pointing towards the enemy, which
| did, but had not gone far before ]
noticed that there was nothing between
me and the p,rapet; not stump nor
log to shield me In case my courage
filled before reached the ditch under
the psr4pet Heads were popping up
and down thicker and faster. could
not retreat, but had to 60 on In the face
OF a whole battalion OF rebels who were
thirsling for my blood. could fire but
one shot anyway; and dared not do that.
for a. soon as my gun WAS empty !
should have been entirely at their mercy;
and mercy seemed TO be quality un-
known TO the rebels. expected every
instant to be shot aud felt within me
strange sensation Of fsintness, my hesrt
beat fast and loud, my knees weakened
and could hardly walk.
just then saw at my right ravine,
very shallow at the entrance but deeper
aud narrower as IL extended towards th-
parApet. Feeling encouraged, | wa.
there in an instant; and found II lessen
ed my danger, as they couldn't bring
their guns TO bear on me without expos
Ing themselves too much. made quick
time up the rsvine and soon entered the
ditch, some six or seven feet wide ano
about four feet deep, where earth had
been thrown out to make the breast
works. Was then safe, although not
more than ten feet from the enemy, but
with a psrspet between US. | walked
along that ditch In safety, and soon
reached the colonel, TO whom delivered
my message, the purport of which was.
that We were "to remain there until
night came on and retreat silently under
cover Of the darkness" The few hour.
which had passed since We made the
attack had caused such q strain on my
nerves that felt nearly exhausted, and
WAS glad to rest until night Came and
softly and calmly cast her shadows over
the scene and hushed the sounds Of war
and enabled US to retreat.
In passing the place where the wounded
boy lay We found his form still In death;
the spirit had taken It's flight, let US hope,
to happier land were war and Its ter
rors are forever unknown.
A VETERAN OF Co. G.,
18TH RECT. MAINE Vols, South Paris.