The National tribune., 1900-03-29

Colonel, and Colonel, he was always on
duty, when able, and always filled the
of the place and the occasion.
He was not a military dude" in manner
or dress, and there was nothing of the
effervescent or gushing style about him.
He was simply a large, good-natured,
levelheaded, fair-minded, brave, cool fellow
to. / do not know how much he felt, but
he certainly could put on the greatest
appearance Of Indifference in times of
danger of any man l ever knew.
1t was in one Of those temporary ebulli-
tons that marked the close of the fighting
that another one of the student members
Of Co. F, r. w. Lesson, gave the last full
measure of devotion to his country. 1t
happened in brief collision between a
portion of our regiment and the 10th n. c.,
as VIC learned from some of the wounded
later. Mems heads and the top of a stand
ard appeared in the brush in our front.
Somehow there was an impression that
some OF our own men We're in front, and in
the coming darkness there vas u1cer-
tainty as to who they Were. While some
of our officers were discussing the matter
they gave us i volley, which we returned,
and they disappeared in the timber. So
far as can now recall, Lesson was the only
one of my company hit He received a
shot through the body that proved fatal in
Il few hours. He was Il Young man VINO
was trying to educate himSalf full of ambi-
ton and plans for the future. Alas, all
his hopes and aspirations for the coming
years ended, unrealiZed, with the close of
that fatal day.
THROUGH THE LINES.
When all was quiet AMI there seemed
no reason to expect further fighting | was
anxious to get some water, for | was suffer
ing. greatly from thirst. Remembering
ditch crossed in advancing, | took some
canteens and went back to il and filled them
with the liquid mud and wigglers in it:s
bottom. After drinking and filling the
canteens, | sat for few minutes leaning
against the cool, moist bank of the ditch
| tried TO think, but every sense and feeling
seemed numbcd and confused and every
fiber OF my body achei. Finding that to
rest was to sleep reused up ard started to
return to the regiment. ! never knew
Just how IT happened, but in returning,
somehow, passed through our line without
knowing ii; probably between my rcgi-
ment and Dana's Brigade. Thinking
had gone too far, and not knowing which
way to go, | inquired of some wounded
men, and found ! was in the track covered
by the advance Of the Third Brigade.
One of the men ! talked with that night
and gave some water belonged 10 Co. X
OF the 18th Mass; at least that is my i'm
preston now He was shot across the neck,
anu nlS I'lL SiIOuiutT WAS shattered. |
think he gave me the name OF Bloomer |
have often wondered what his fate NAV
have been.
/ was still uncertain as to where our line
was, but determined to go farther before |
returned, and cautiously felt my way
through the woods. AT the edge of the
woods came to road and Il broken fence
and beyond this "A field, or open ground
In this field and through this wood the
tide of battle had swept, and dead and
dying OF. friend and foe lay scattered
Across this open field at the edge of the
next wood, apparently. the rebel army
v S bivouacked in line of battle MANY fires
were burning, and about them could see
men moving, and "a confused murmur of
voices could be heard. Iii the open ground
squads OF men were moving about with
torches and stretchers, calling in loud
tones the names of individuals, the letters
OF companies, numbers and States of req
imcnts. Each regiment seemed to be
collecting its own wounded. | distinctly
heard the Sth Ala, 10th Ala. and 11th
Ala. called, and other regiments.
Having listened and watched the strange
panorama before me, fr few minutes, /
was satifie1 | did not desire to 90 farther
in that direction, and hastily sought nv
way back through the woods, going
farther TO my right, as | knew that the
Ihird Brigade was on my right in ad-
, wien L iiad nearly reached the edge of
the wood, returning, / was halted BY a
voice | recognized as belonging to Capt.
n. S. Messick, of Co. G.. I made myseIf
known, and the Captain told me he was
just posting few pickets as q precaution
against surprise. Having reported nv
little adventure to Capt. n, found my
company, gave the boys their canteens, and
lay down 10 sleep
was soon sent for by Lieut.-Col. Miller,
VINO questioned me as TO what had seen
and heard, and told me to go out again