The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-02
THE OLD SOLDIERS STORY.

- do not get n pension said the veteran
who had trotted his first heat at Bull Run
breaking into n wild gallon before he passed
under the wife at Washington. and finally
stopped to retire from the turf at Az pomat
tox. nor do | want one, though suppose il
we're mot In comfortable circumstances
might try for II; and still had about as much
Of the scrap as anybody | KIN w Of. for be.
gan early and quit late Luck is with some
people. though. for | came out without a
scratch. and didn't lose day on account Of
sickness. But AM aving the.track. think
YOU said you wanted that story about the man
who killed himself trying to kill me.
IT was in one OF those innumerable small
lights: that we're happening in Virginia all the
year round and was 50 little that il did not
even get a name. | was in an infantry regi
ment and detachment OF 100 OF us had been
sent to the front Of the skirmish line TO feel
around and see what'we might find that we did
not want to and. namely. some mart Of the
enemy's advance. In a clump o. trees we
found it in the shape Of n hundred or so cav.
alrymen. wearing tho gray uniform we had
seen a good deal OF in that neiRhborhood. It
meant business. OF course. and In q very few
minvtes there was mixing OF contending
forces which was. to say the least OF It, en-
tremely democratic. The troop OF cavalry
was composed Of no, headed Young Southern.
who had no idea Of ANYTHING but rushing
right into the midst OF us. yelling and swinging
their sabres around their heads as il they were
riding n tournament at one Of their county
fairs They seemed TO be utterly regardless OF
our feelings. too. and before we could say
sent they had slashed the scalps off Of half IL
OF US like u lot Of young butchers cut for n
picDic. At the same time we were not entirely
lns sh or be- Of sJc ,R e.
general result OF the meeting, TO the eve OF the
casual observer was real no, stuff If may
use IA bit OF modern language.
II had had very little experience in military
affairs Of any kind. and w, to that time Bull
had taken an active part. the activity on that
occasion not having been Of the kind. you NAV
remember. which gives Q soldier vide eA
uerience IN fighting. moi outstanding there was
enough experience in conducting Il retreat to
last a lifetime. Gee. how we did run that day.
now and the veteran smiled N the thought
and puffed mildly in reminiscence of his run:
lighting, ! didn't Know iWs, what to do as i!
tho way with most new soldiers so | Kind CT
tucked down my head and went into II on the
blind luck STYLE. trusting in Providence and
keeping my powder dry. In such II scramble
nobody ever knows what is going on Or how
bang. shout. shoot. slash Jaba rush and roar.
Il throatfui OF nasty SULPHUR smoke. POSSIBLY
hee sting in body or limb. u fall in The leaves
or dust or mud. sense NJ something one
scarcely knows what. and the end has come.
either to, the, fight or to the fighter. had
feeling pretty good. seeing that had knoc ell
u man or two over and hadn't been Knocked
It in fine fettle when I found mvseif hand to t,
hand. or musket to sabre. with a Young Lieu
tenant about my own age aud build He zane
tried 10 shoot hi I'm of OF his horse. for ! lad
somehow got load in nv mus ket and was
ready for that kind Of business. but he was 50
close that shooting was out OF the quest ion.
and could only use my gun as a guard 70 keen
of the tier.e onslaught OF his s!ashes. made
Sl ~, M
SO hot Tor me that did not dare to take away
stead OF or myself. / put up the best defence
cou!t. trying to punch him with my bayonet.
tary training. in sword exercise at least for hs
knocked my gun around pretty much as he
pleased. Indeed. he had snch success that he
was wearing me ont faRt. AMI felt that il
something didn't happen for INV side very soon
there would be one, more blue cont grave to dig
on the morrow. He saw his advantage. too.
and with a yell he came at me again. swinging
that big sabre Of his 50 high and strong that II
some other Of those picture usopie rem Us n.
hered to have seen in my books. and made
ny my mind to give him one more poke with
~ he wanted it. But he would not give me II
chance 70 DO even this much. H. banged tia:
could only hold my gun up aud try to save my
face so that my friends would have something
f as hin ne by s Sc III t Ha
fast. and Just as began to sink from exhaus-
ton he reached around with terrific blow 10
settle me once for all | had sunk down half
to my knees with tho mu.ket fallen ward
ana as he let the sword fall It struck the ham
mer Of the gun instead OF the barrel and with
a crack that | could distinguish in all the row
and the rnmpus. my old mnske! went or with
II concussion that threw II clear out OF nv
hands and sent the entire charge square into
the face Of my foe. Even under the exciting
circumstances realized that something gu. OF
the ordinary had happened though could not
tell what II was. and cast NV eyes IN. rs
stun BLEED forward. The fac. OF the Lieu
tenant was not there 1t had been blown on
hy the discharge Of the gun. so close in the
both covered with blood his blood. But only
one OF us got up again"