Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-11

But there's something inside the sock. -
Sotd Smith.
rights and lefts to the humber of hun
dred, with the heap growing all the
time. The messenger made g selection
and removed the shoe, but there was
no money. He tried again and again.
but did not hit it. Then he gave up
and searched no further. Soon after
he let go a soldier who had been
slightly wounded in the head came
along and looked the "serap heap" over
and said to himself:
There are some good shoes here, and
II would be pity to bury them with
legs and feet. I'll change mine for a
better pair"
In overhauling the relics he came
upon Corporal McFadden's left leg. He
removed the shoe and found 1t a fit.
Then he found n right one and was
provided for. Grant moved by the
flank that night. and the Confederates
did the same. The field was left in pos
session of the Union forces. Next
morning the work OF burial began.
While big hole was being dug for the
amputated arms and legs Corporal Nc
Fadden sent word TO the sergeant In
charge OF that detail about his S3Oe.
Hes crazy" replied the sergeant.
Here's a whole wagon load of left
legs. all looking alike, and how are we
to pick out his?"
No effort was made to do so. After
an hour or so the last limb was tossed
into the pit, and the men began shovel
ing in the dirt. AS they worked away
the sergeant suddenly said:
Here, now, but you've overlooked
that leg In the bushes. You, Smith.
haul 1t out and dump 1t in"
But there's something inside the
SOCK" said Smith. Hold easy, now, till
see what 1t ISL
With his knife the soldier ripped up
the sock, and there was the corporaPs
greenbacks. Only three of the, party
saw the money. They winked at each
other and pocketed the find and later
on made divide. That closed the in
cident for several weeks. CORPORAL
McFadden was sent to a hospital In
Washington and soon rallied. The SOL
diers who had gobbled his money went
to the front, and one day before Peters
burg Smith was MORALLY wounded.
To ease his conscience he told about the
divide" and chaplain wrote down
bis confession. When the other two
men were called up, they denied the
story. surgeon and staff officer be-
came interested with the chaplain on
one side, and the captain OF Company
b, the colonel of the Sixteenth and
others took up the other side. Curious
iy enough, the soldier who stole Nc
Fadden's shoe came forward and ac-
knowledged It. but 1t was a long time
before the money could be traced. By
this time colonels, brigadiers and major
generals had become interested, and
Corporal McFadden's name was n
household word in the Army OF the Po-
tomac. AT length the guilty private
broke down and confessed. He got off
with three months in a military prison.
while the sergeant was drummed ont
OF the army. Between them they had
70 make good the $500, and the boys OF
the Sixteenth Clipped in as much
more, and so the soldier who lost his
leg and his shoe and his bank deposit
didn't come out so badly after all. On
The day Lee surrendered, and while we
were having lively skirmish, star
ofhcer rode up and ordered us to fall
back and announced that negotiations
were In progress. There were cheers
all along the line, but later on we be-
gan to doubt the good news.