The National tribune., 1899-06-15
A BOY LIEUTENANT
Continued from first paGe.J

4
appeared from our sight.
Fifteen minutes later and third
division II White troops charged,
and the den1lict was much more
stubborn SndI the musketry much
heavier Ehfle we watched, we
saw a light Battery making for the
Confederate breastwork on Gene
terry Hill. Some of the Union artil
lerymen trained their guns on
them, but too late. The battery
reached the breastwork and
promptly opened fire on our charg-
ing columns. The artillery fire on
our side was beginning to slacken.
We could see the artillerymen dip
ping their sponges into buckets of
water every time that they swabbed
the gun, and the heat from the
piece would turn the water into
steam and raise little clouds around
its muzzle. An Aid came running
to our Colonel, and at once an order
rang out and the regiment faced by
the right flank, four abreast, and
started downa coveredway leading
to the front line The covered
way was cut through the embank-
ment of the railroad. When we
were almost directly under the
muzzles of the guns of one of our
heavy batteries we were halted, and
here we yfor half an hour, crouch
ing low and holding on to our ears
to avoid being deafened by those
terrible guns. Then we moved
forward again into a ravine. Here,
a line of stretcher-bearers passed
us with their burdens of wounded.
Some of the wounded were groan-
ing piteously, but most of them
made but little sound, only their
pinched blue faces betrayed their
terrible sufferings. A few with
comparatively slight wounds,
seemed to enjoy their situation.
Probably the prospects of a fur
lough and an easy time in the hos
pitals were what they were hoping
for. Curiously | watched my men.
for | knew that this procession of
wounded would unnerve them If
anything would. One or two men,
recruits who had joined us only a
few days previously, were of an
ashen hue, and their teeth were
gatherings then Army Ague" had
attacked the1ng | knew what it
was and $ympathised with them,
and in feYy KIND words endeavored
to restore TO them their confidence
But most Of themen, ! was pleased
to see, wefe stdlid and almost in
different. They were munching
hardtack OF chewing tobacco, and
whatever may have been their
thoughts Fneyls made no Outward
sign. FROM s:9ihe wounded, we
learned that; the troops engaged
were the First, Second and ThirdI
Divisions Of the Ninth Corps. -,
Following the wounded were.
about so prisoners on their wayto
the rear under guard. Many of
them were covered with dirt and
showed signs of having been dug
out of the clay, which was really the
case. The sight of the black sol
diers threw them into the greatest
alarm, and some of them earnestly
besought their white guards mot to
let the niggers bayonet them.
Among them were some wounded
carried in pieces of shelter tent and
rubber blankets. One of the
wounded, young man with gap
ing, bleeding wound in the right
breast, cried out to the men carry
ing him, For Gods sake, boys,
don't let the niggers kill me! Il
can't live long; let me die in peace.
Don't be skeered," said black
Corporal; we don't kill wounded
men" 's
Here, take a drink of this" and
he held his canteen, filled with cool
water, to the lips of the dying man,
and, wiping away the bloody froth,
gave him all he wished; then care
fully poured a little over the wound.
The other prisoners looked on in
amazement, and one of them, with
tears running down his cheeks,
drew from his dirty cotton haver-
sack two long plugs of Virginia
tobacco, and thrusiing them into
the hands of the black soldier, said,
in a husky voice: Here, boy, take
these; it's all I've got to give ye,'
but fore God, if | had a million
dollars here, you should have it all.
He's my young brother, and Inever
looked for any kindness from any
of yo 'uns."
This little act seemed to restore
confidence among the prisoners,
and one of them said to the Corporal,
as they were hurried to the rear,
Good boy, Sam; hope that you
don't catch it,9to-dayl"
| The Confederate artillerynen
were throwing shells into our
ravine; we were about so yards out
of range, and We watched the shells
plow the ground and throw the dirt
around. For some reason most of