Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-10-30
Survivors of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Forag-
WAS it murder p
No; it was mercy.


to give the gentleman's name. One of
his men was MORALLY wounded at
Williamsburg shot through the stom-
ach. Such wounds, then, meant death
as certainly as the guillotine. The civ
ilized world gratefully touches its hat
to the great minds of the medical fra
ternity for having so advanced in the
science of medicine and surgery that
wounds of that character do not, now,
except in extreme cases, mean death.
After the battle the captain went
over the field and assisted in caring for
the wounded and gave directions for
the burial of the slain. One young
man, an associate in school, lifelong
friend, was otthrough the body NOR
tally wounded. His sufferlngs We're in
tense. He knew he had TO die. His
captain and comrades knew he must
soon pass away. He beckoned the cap
tain to come close to him. The officer.
sorely afflicted at the loss of his friend,
and in great agony over his safferings,
knelt by his side, took his hand and lis
tened to the messages he wanted sent
to the dear ones at home.
do you think am going to die, cap
tain? Don't be afraid to tell me-"
Il am afraid you are, old friend.
81 know l must die l wish / might
die now, this instant. Only God and
myself know how am suffering. Come
closer; let me whisper to you. Captain,
IN Gods name, help me out of the
world-free me from this torture. Do
not be shocked; it would be no crime.
1t is the last favor have to ask; it is
the greatest favor l ever asked of any
one. If you love me-and know you
do-help me out of the world. Do it
now; do it any way This pain is.un-
bearable; it will make only few
hours difference. Help me, captain.
Oh, help mev'
Il can't do it, my dear boy; l can't
do it. / know it would be mercy;
know it would be a kindness; know it
would not be sin, but how can l do
lt?" The captain gently pressed the
poor boys hand, said good-by. and
started away. The young fellows
groans drew him back Again he
knelt at the sufferers side. With his
eyes and his lips he begged again and
again for 'help." Once more the Off
Ger started away. Again he looked
back at his comrade. Then, as if he
had nerved himself for action, he
reached into a pocket, took from it a
box and from that morphine enough
to produce the final sleep. His courage
was weakening. He stood looking at
the soldier, offered a silent prayer, and
then sprang to his side, gave him the
medicine and a drink from his can
teen.
THANK you, captain, thank you; God
bless you-God bless you. A thousand
times thank you. have not been a
very bad boy, have II" The captain
could not answer. But / wish you
would pray for me-pray just a little.
God knows l am not afraid to die;
that's what l want most to do, but
pray for me, please, captain" The OIL
Ger was not a praying man, but there,
on that battlefield, surrounded by dead
and dying, he prayed for his comrade
and asked the Almighty to forgive him
If he had done wrong In Fastening the
soldiers approach to the pearly gates
and golden streets at the end of the
last march.
1t was not long until the pain ceased;
1t was not long until there was another
soldier to bury recruit for
heaven.
In telling the story the captain said:
II have never felt that l did wrong.
There are people, possibly, who would
call it murder; it was mercy. Strange
as 1t may seem, good came to me from
the scenes | witnessed that evening, for
the part | took in the quiet tragedy.
How? I'll tell you Not a morning or
an evening, sick or well, has come and
gone since that sorrowful event on the
ield of Williamsburg, nearly thirty
four years ago, without seeing me on
my knees in prayer. Don't smile when
tell you that nothing but extreme
sickness or death will interfere with
that custom"
Isn't there a sermon in that remark?
1t is a sorrowful story, this of the
dying soldier, but it Is one phase of
army life in those years from 1861 to
1865. Will the reader be shocked
when l say that there were hundreds
Of instances where poor fellows begged
for such help and were helped, IN both
the Union and Confederate armies?
Many pleaded in vain 1t required
more courage to extend such help than
It did to charge double-shotted cannon.
"Was it murder?1
Certainly not.
At the battle of Gravelly Run, a few
days before Appomattox. our brigade
received hard treatment at the hands
Of McGowen's division The lines of
battle were close together. Both sides
fought desperately. A number of Con-
federates charged around on the right
Of one of our regiments. Some OF them
were wounded, some % them made
their escape Is dod.ng behind trees
and pushing back to their line, but one,
giant in size and a Caesar la bravery.
the equal Of any man | ever saw, thrust
at officers and men with his bayonet
after be was ordered TO surrender;
dubbed his musket and hit two or
three Of the boys who were loading and
firing at the enemy in front and then
made a bold dash al Lieutenant Kelly.
who warded off the blow with his
sword and called for assistance in Sc
curing the Confederate. At that mo-
ment Lieut. Frank A. Waller. seeing
the danger Of the officer and the daunt-
less courage or the assaiIant, struck
him blow and felled him to the
ground. He recovered almost instant
IL. seized his gun and made q lunge at
Waller. barely rissing him. and then
gathered himself as If for another
blow. when Waller seized sargeant's
musket and called 20 him 10 surrender
ssNo. Never be defantly replied. and
vv,ad IL q fourth r74zh AZ Waller A. Qslfsz-