Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-20


l. ble-quick and engage the enemy ana we
ran up hill and met our frienos, IN,
enemy" In our and their usual coroiai
manner. and had spent the remainder u
tbe dawn our usual Jollity. and the bad
night shut out the light. We were picket
ing AT ten PAGES. and the colonel had, as
usual. slipped out TO ind out all ne couid
about what the other people were doing
and had gotten 80 badly lost as to be
unable TO find his way back to the part
OF the line on which he had gone out
and the only persons who Knew nc was
out were picketng at that particular
point.
I thought only orderly sergeant, was In
charge of the left OF the line Of pickets
M our regiment. the Second Texas IN
fantry. The plckets, as usual, wHe raiheu
bv fours. one man on post, balance AT
rest. Along In the small hours OF tpe
morning the picket on post became SICK
doubtless. on account OF the goou ldhhee
rations he did not get to eat, ana Deihs
too scared as usual, to sleep, instead OF
waking up one of the three siumDerihs
pickets,J took the plaos of the SICK one:
i had not stood long on post, wnen
was mentally, rather than by vision or
hearing. impressed that there was some
thing advancing Immediately before me:
That part OF the picket line extended
through a black-jac thicket. difficult 10
peer through. Looking as keenly to the
front as my frightened vision would per
init. / fancied / saw a dark object through
the dense foliage. Our orders were strlct-
" TO fire at any object we heard or sa"
advancing in our front. i raised my
rifle to my shoulder and aimed at the
dark object and placed my nnser on 'he
trigger and pulled. But rs / did 50 my
TO
mand and my right hand quivered, Dut
vet could not understand why my gun
did not fire / took my gun down, eX-
amined the lock: ii worked all right.
The object in my front became more ana
more distinct Again j raised my gun 10
my shoulder. took careful aim and again
attempted to pull the trigger But again
nv nerves refused TO obey my command
I felt that some awful catastrophe was
about to occur. / thought OF my orders
to fire. and how carefully had repeated
them to all soldiers on that part or ,he
picket line of which had command, ana
how diligently had attempted to impress
the instructions upon my subordinate.
Another look to the front discovered the
object in my front more distinctly ana
called TO my mini more forclDly my
duty to execute the orders | lad so I'M
pressiyely given to others. l could now
discern what 1 believed to- be man ana
n horse. Again / raised my gun 10 my
shoulder, took deliberate aim at what L
be- lieyed to be the man, and again. being
ouite certain my two forefingers were on
the trigger, pulled with all my might.
But a CONFUSION seized my whole frame
trembled like a leaf. IL such thihs
can be, my long hair stood straight on
my head Again | made certain my hn-
gers were on the trigger again L prepared
to make a determined pull, but was 30
oonvused with fear, Of what | knew NOT
only that some awful doom was pending,
when involuntsrily, against my thought
and will. a stage whisper forced Nselt
through my clenched teeth, VINO comes
there?" Instantly, in the same stage WINS
per came the reply: "Con1ederate coio-
mel. Is that you, FisherY' and recog
nized the voice of my noble regimentai
commander, and then came TO my asi-
tated ears. "Thank God. / lost my way,
and knew It, and l knew If / did not
strike you or Jim Lambert would
certainly be killed" He advanced,
placed his hand on my shoulder, ana
said: IT knew you were in charge OF the
line and on thinking of this i felt my
only hope was TO strike Jim Lambert,
as | did not believe there was any other
man in the Second Texas that would
not fire without consideration" l was
then trembling from head to foot, my
teeth chattering like the cogs on the
driving wheels Of an old-time cotton-gi1
when the mules were running away. ana
| noticed a tremor in the voice of that
travest of all brave men / ever knew
The shudder has not left me yet. Ii
comes back whenever l recall how near
/ came to being the executioner of the
noble, gallant Rogers instead Of the
Yankees at Corinth some ten days later.
STERLING FISHER,
Company A, Second Texas Infantry.