The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-30
A SOLDIERS TARGET
By CHARLES B. LEWIS.


u
the enlistment roll, realized that
war meant fight, and that fight meant
kill. This idea was further drilled into
us in camp; it formed the basis OF the
coloners address as we marched to the
front; it brought our muskets TO an
"aim" as we caught sight OF the enemy
for the first time. We had become SOL
diers to march, fight and kill. 1t was
to be looked upon as a matter OF ousl-
ness, as well as patriotic duty. Inc
sooner the strength of the enemy was
exhausted, the sooner we would have
peace.
We thought that every man in Com
pany G had the same feeling-to XIII
but we had not been long at the front
when we found an exception. A score
of skirmishers were ordered down IN
front of the regiment to feel the
strength of the enemy in the fringe OF
bushes along a creek. Ambrose Davis
was one of us. He was a man of 30
a plain, everyday man who had lald
down the tools of mechanic to take up
the musket of a soldier. He was not
given to enthusiasm, but he was an
obedient 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
dead rest on every man. war with
them also meant kill. To kill one of
half a million men means little, and yet
it means to kill. Zip! Ping! Zip! ltwas
not firing by file-it was not firing by
volleys into 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, bush
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 a farm road crossed the
creek. The enemy to the right and left
of this road were using the bank of the
stream as a breastworks, and we were
firing a good deal at random. An OIL
Ger suddenly appeared in the center of
this opening, and raising a pair of
glasses to his eyes he took a cool sur
vey of the regiment far back of us on
the hill. He was within pistol shot of
Davis, and he must have known it, and
yet he stood there as cool and calm as
you please to take his chance. 1t was
sheer bravado. Four of our 20 had
been killed, and the enemy was seeking
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 target. He was
not our game" however-he belonged
to Davis. We saw our comrade 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. At length ] heard the man on
Davis left shouting to him:
shoot! Shoot! Why the devil don't
you drop that of1icer"
| turned to look at Davis, and as l
did so he slowed the muZzle of his gun
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 cumming tune, he
slowly disappeared into the bushes.
Later in the day, when Davis singular
action had been reported, the captain
said to him:
Davis, 1 can't believe you are cow
ard, because you went down on the
Gkirmish line to be shot at, but when
you had an enemy fair under your gun,
and an officer at that, why didn't you
bring him DOWN."
Twas going to, sir, but II couldn't"
was the reply.
But they were shooting at you to
kill"
Eyes, | know"
The captain could hardly reprimand
a man for not killing an enemy as he
would have shot down a rabbit, and
there was not one to hint that Davis
lacked courage. The incident was for
gotten after little, and such was the
soldierly conduct of the man that he
was made corporal. When the enemy
withdrew behind the works at York
town to bar McClellan's road to Rich
mond he covered his wings with sharp
shooters, and our officers were their
special targets. One day, as three COM
panies of us were dragging some of
the heavy siege guns to be put in posi-
ton, a major and private were killed
by a sharpshooter who was located in
tree top. He could be plainly made
out, but the range was too far for our
army muskets. A Berdan rife was sent
for. and when it arrived our captain
put it into the hands of Private Davis
and said:
'You are by long odds the best shot
in our company. With dead rest over
that log you can tumble that man out
of his tree"
Davis hung beck and turned pale.
just then, a brigadier rode up to give
an order, and his horse had scarcely
come to a holt when bullet from the
sharpshooter passed through the gen
erals hat. He was not only bit star
tied, but inclined to reprimand that the
fellow had not been disposed Of. When
he saw the heavy rife in the hands of
the pale-faced and hesitating corporal
he shouted out;