The sun., 1900-12-28
SEEING "A SHOT

My regiment was attached to Smiths
brigade, Blairs division of Grants army
at Yicksburg. We had made our assault
of May 10 and were now reforming our
lines and preparing for another assault
on their works.
Two days had lapsed, and we were
ready for our task. On the 22d we were
ordered to occupy one of those waves of
hills that offered such excellent opportu-
mites for the defense of Vicksburg.
The crest was about 500 yards in adj
vance of our artillery line and about an
equal distance from the Confederate in
trenchments. We advanced in good or
der and reached the crest with slight loss
and lay down to await orders for the final
assault.
AS we lay upon our backs gazing up
ward we looked into an italian sky, cloud
less and serene. 1t was a typical 'sunny
south" day, warm without discomfort,
the air balmy and fragrant; not leaf
stirred; all nature seemed to be peace
fully resting, in strong contrast to the
roar of war that now was rending this
peaceful vale, only to be equaled by heav-
ems laundering guns when the storm
king is abroad in his power.
Being located midway between our ar
tillery and that of the enemy, with the
roar of the guns on either side and hiss
ing, screaming shot aud shells hurtling
over our heads, made our position hell
of demoniacal sounds, but so protected
that we carefully listened to the roar and
philosophically contemplated the chances
of victory or defeat.
Our reverie, however, was soon rudely
4 H., I.,,1 11n Of
dust but a few feet down the hill from
where we lay.
Comparatively safe from the enemy's
fire, our blue lines in plain sight of our
gunners, we confded in the correctness
of their aim.
But here comes a shot from our guns
Warehouses; battery-plunging into
our line. Colonel Hoge sent an orderly,
acquainting the gunners with their care
lessness.
AS the shot had struck but a few feet
below where lay it is needless to say
watched the further firing of that gun
with interest. Ten minutes elapsed, and
shots passed safely over. | was lying
resting ON my left elbow. Corporal Bird.
a manly soldier, lay upon his back close
to my side.
l. was WdlCuiuB lHul gun.
4 white puff Of smoke and instantly
the top OF a tree standing in hollow
about 100 yards in advance of the gun
toppled over.
The activity of the human mind is phe.
nomenal. In the next few seconds lived
an experience seldom given to mortals
The gun, tree and myself were in direct
line.
l.. a11-4,,,, ,aEo IL txrf f1nft tpA
had been sufficiently elevated to go over
But what now?
Would the obstruction lower its eleva
tion and plunge it into our line?
What is that l see? 1t is coming
straight at me! Like bee in it's fight
see it. What will it do-take off an arm
or leg? Will go home to wife and ba
bies on crutches, or will they bury me OIL
yonder slope? There was whirl of if:
and possibilities about this life and tht
next rushing through my brain. Why
not turn over, dodge it, jump up, any
thing to get out of range of coming
| death? Was l doomed to be a witness O
every detail of my own death? Th'
4 mind outran the speed of the cannon bal
thousand times, but there was not TIM
1 to telegraph the danger to the dull mus
| cles for action.
In the midst of this mental confusion
there came heavy spat, tremor of tn
ground a sprinkling of something warn
in My face, and l jumped to my feet un
harmed, to look down on the manglet
form and face struck with death of tn
young comrade at my side, whose lief
side had been carried away by q 81,
pound shot.
AIoA te, 1tNe I ynn
down and heard the faint words twice re
peated, water" And the sou
of Corporal Bird, a good soldier, cleal
hearted boy with whom for nearly yea
had touched elbows in line and on th
march, took its flight.
We buried him near the fatal tree tha
caused the accident, and year later
furnished detail to eXhume his body
that it might be laid beside his kin at hi
northern home on the banks of the beau
tiful Kankakee.
The death Of this young soldier eve
has weird interest for me. Why shoul
it strike him and leave me? Did til
fates decree it, or was it for some wis
purpose of him who numbers the hair
of our head and notes the fall of a spal
row?
have seen the smile of incredulity o
the faces Of friends while relating thi
incident of seeing cannon ball in ii
flight. reply know it is true, but deer
it possible only to close observers,
strong eye and favorable atmosphere
conditions. doubt if it is possible in tn
hazy atmosphere OF the coast. At NJ
bile l watched for nine days, but SAY
none. At Arkansas post l saw severa
The flight Of honeybees far above tn
tops of trees has been frequently oil
served. Sherman's corps ON the marc
to join Grant at Port Gibson witnesse
a bright star at MONDAY.
In 1860, in going down into the Plat
valley from O'Fallon bluffs, the write
with the natural eye, plainly saw the ga
rison flag at Fort Kearney. The di
| Lnnno L.. rniI 70 hn six, ailns -Elynh no. N nn