The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-10-24
A BRAVE FRESHMAN.
Orderly Riley, Who Met Death With
q Laugh. -..


a Laugh.
Courage, fidelity, honesty, are the
soldiers cardinal virtues, which, sum-
med up, read the plain and simple do
ing Of ones duty. And it was in Rice
Graves battery before Fort Donelson
that the virtues of the Confederate SOL
der were tried to the uttermost," said
the old staff officer.
Among them all Tom Riley, the or
derby, shone out resplendently, for he
went to certain death against orders
because he thought it was his duty.
Graves battery had been got up in the
lower part of Kentucky. No married
man nor men with sweethearts need
apply had been the order of the cap
tain in organizing it. And the battery
looked the part. They were thee dare
devils of Donelson. They would sing
While they shot and crack jokes repuls-
ing charge. The captain had made
Riley orderly to keep the wild Irishman
in order. Between the two there was
an affection almost brotherly.
"On the second day of Donelscn
Graves battery was in a mighty tight
box. The battery had been ordered
into the rife pits, and it seemed to the
men that about a million bluecoats
were shooting at them. For hours they
lay under the leaden storm. The enemy
kept coming closer and closer: Some
thing had to be done. To show ones
head above the trenches meant death.
Run out gun and let 'em have it.,
boys said Graves.
Zone round was fred, but It seemed
only to bring down on that spot every
Federal gun in reach. To reload the
Confederate piece one man had to show
himself. Tie gunner sprang to his
place, hammer in hand. The piece was
reloaded, but the cannoneer fell dead
Again the gun from Graves battery
spoke. A second time it was reloaded,
and second cannoneer lay dead beside
his piece.
"Time after time this was repeated.
The dead piled up about the gun. The
entire Federal fire concentrated in an
effort to silence 1t. It took two men
now for one shot. The battery boys
had quit Joking. They lay grim and de-
termined in the pit. AS one fell the 9TH
ers moved up toward the gun. The
nearest would say, 'Goodby, fellows
and jump to his place, only to fall 4
minute later. The captain had ordered
Tom Riley to stay behind when the bat
terry went into the pits, but scarcely
had the linen got settled before Riley
appeared.
81 couldn't help it, SIR he said to
Graves and took his place among the
men. Slowly death worked it's way
along the line toward Riley. Now he
was three, then two and one before the
captain knew it. Then Graves saw the
danger.
"'Come here, Riley he cried. You
are not gunner. You are my orderly.
You have no business there
"The cannoneer before Riley fell
dead. The wild Irishinan seized the
hammer and turned to the captain. 1T
is my duty, SIR he said.
Then, as though on parade, but with
desperate swiftness, he began to load
the gun. A shot knocked him to his
knees, but he staggered up again and
finished the work. Then he turned and
bowed in the direction of the bluecoats.
"'Why don't We learn how to shootY'
he yelled.
"He stepped back into cover and fell
bleeding from half dozen wounds.
II wouldn't "a given 'em the salts
faction O. knowing it, he murmured
family.
"Two Of the men picked him up ten
derby and began to carry him to the
rear. They passed Graves, and Riley,
looking up, saw tears in his captains
eyes.
"The orderly, already dying, was re-
called to life. He forced a bloody laugh.
SShure, captain, darlint,' he cried,
don't ye mind. Why, I amt had so
much fun since me mither died.
"And Tom Riley tried to salute, but
died before he could quite manage it,"
louisville Courier-Journal.