Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-07-31
THE sHARPsHooTER.

THE sHARPsHOoTER.
THE following striking episode is
token bodily from the personal nara
tive Of Capt. w. S. Hawkins, Q. ). A,
who in the spring of '62 was serving as
a private soldier under Brig-Gen. ). b.
Magruder. Early in that terrible April,
when General Mcclellan began his ION
to Richmond peninsular campaign,
Bully Magruder," as his men called
him, obstlnately blocked the way. 1t
was in the fighting which ensued that
the following events took place, which
give a graphic picture OF war as the
man in the ranks knows it.-Editor
Leslie's Monthly
There was one piece in the enemy's
battery, so true in its range, with such
a spiteful report when discharged,
that it was dubbed the little devil.
1t was a hearty cheer which greeted
the explosion Of its caissOn by shell
from the twenty-four FOUNDER at re-
doubt No. IA. Though relieved of
its tormentor, there yet remained one
even more annoying in the shape OF a
sharpshooter entrenched on the other
side of the Warwick river, nearer to
the Confederate line than any other
Yank, and in easy speaking distance,
of which he took advantage to hurl
his taunts at the Confederates, He
had by some means obtained and trans
ferred to his pit a rocking chair, and
though the Confederates could see the
movements Of the top Of the chair as
he rocked contentedly, yet SO perfect
was his concealment that they could
catch no glimpse of the man himself.
He commanded the spring at the
foot of the hill on which the redoubt
was situated, and it was almost GER
tain death to attempt to draw water.
Many shots had been fired at him,
and his position repeatedly shelled,
but with no avail, all the efforts Of the
Confederates to dislodge him but ellc-
tied his laughter of derision, accom-
panied by sneering tauntS. Several
picket SHOTS in their attempt to kill
him had themselves by him been killed.
Beside the annoyance, it was terribly
notifying that one Yank should keep
so many men crouched behind the work
Drew's battalion, the support of the
redoubt, had suffered considerably,
and when affairs appeared at their
worst and the men were getting de-
moralized by these successive losses,
William Pratt, of our company, asked
our captain for permission to try his
skill on the Yank. The captain tried
to dissuade him, representing that no
less than six men had lost their lives
in the same endeavor, but as he was
determined to try it the captain at
last reluctantly gave consent.
Pratt made his preparations by dis
charging and cleaning his musket, re-
loading it and seeing that the powder
was we'll up in the tube. Then cover
ing the lock with the flap of his coat
he sat down with his back against the
inner wall of the earthwork, and de-
spite the rain and mud, was soon
asleep, much to the disappointment of
those who expected him to take
shot" AS night set in, Pratt, olsen
cumberihg himself of all superfuous
clothing, got over the brea'tworks'
gun in hand. We could see him be-
gin to make his tortuous way through
the abatis, but we quickly lost sight
of him in the darkness.
1t was a weary, anxious night to
the battalion, for Pratt was deservedly
popular, and many a wakeful eye and
eager ear was strained to catch the
least sight or sound that might tell
how Pratt Jared in his daring adven-
ture. But not sound disturbed the
stiffness of the night, and it was
feared Pratt was a prisoner.
With the first streaks of day anxious
eyes peered over the parapet and were
rewarded by a bullet whistling by
their ears and the report Of the gun
of the sharpshooter, which was fol-
lowed by another discharged in quick
succession, the commencement Of a
general fusilade along the Yankee
lines, replied to by the Rebs to the
best of their ability. The fire lessened
to the irregular dropping shots of the
sharpshooters, and, as daylight in
creased, Pratt was seen at the foot Of
the hill lying fat on his face.
Pratt, Pratt, are you hurt?" cried
the boys
mo, not bit, replied Pratt. "lf
you fellows will only stop firing, l
will make a run for the works"
At his desire the boys ceased firing
and Pratt got safely inside the works,
though the Yanks sent many lead
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