Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-06-25

troops. He had just turned his head
TO look for his supporting columns
and hasten them on when a rife bal
struck him I'm the back OF the head
Freed from the firm hand upon the
rein, his horse plunged few rods
forward before its stricken rider fell
to the ground dead. And 900 yards
away. the Confederate officer seeing
the fall, lowered the GLASSES he had
held to his eye, and grmly said: Ben,
it did its work"
Ben Thorpe had been one OF the hun
drcd sharpshootcrs selected from the
| Twenty North Carolina despite
the fact that he was but 1G years old,
and the position assigned to him was
in the top Of n cherry tree which com
mand, d the low ground or swale over
which the Union troops must make
their way to reach McPherson's
woods. What followed is best told
in his own words:
II had been in the treetop perhaps
half an hour when the Wisconsin regi-
m'nt came charging across the low
ground toward the woods, and had
made a couple of shots, when the party
Of officers rode up on the little knoll
ana halted.
81 was trying to make up my mind
which one | should try for when my
lieutenant appeared under the tree and
b gan observing the party through his
field glasses. A moment later he
glanc ID up and said:
Ben. Go you see the tall, straight
man in the center Of that group? He
is evidently an officer of some high
rank and is directing operations
which threaten our line. Sight your
gun at 700 yards and see if you can
reach him.
II did as he told me, but saw that
the bullet struck far short Of the mark
THAT was a little short, Ben said
my lieutenant, and after another long
and careful glance through his field
glasses he said:
Sight her at 900 yards this time
and hold steady, for we must have
him.
Carefully / sighted my long-bar-
relied rifle at the range given and
steadying it on big limb, took good
aim and fired. knew before the re-
port died away, before l saw Gen
Reynolds fall, that the shot had been
a good one and would reach its mark
Il saw the horse plunge forward
saw the rider sway and fall from his
saddle and then heard the voice of
my lieutenant saying:
Ben, 1t did it's work. You may
come down now, it's time for us to
be moving
mot until long afterward did l learn
who it was my bullet had brought
down, and when l did learn, when |
heard and read of what great and
good man and splendid soldier l had
brought to death, l was genuinely sor-
ry. l have been sorry ever since and
when the war was over l took occa-
sion to write to his relatives informing
them of the facts and expressing my
sorrow and regret.
81 have letters from them, splendid
letters, in which they tell me not to
worry over it, that was the fortune Of
war and that they could hold no ami
mostly or hatred against soldier boy
who had fought as he believed and
simply obeyed his superior officers or
ders. These letters are among my
most treasured possessions and no
money could buy them.
ut was, of course, the fortune OF
war, but | cannot help feeling even at
this late day that 1t was a cruel for.
tune which selected me, mere boy,
to bring to his death this gallant gen
eral who had won fame and escaped
the enemies bullets OH so many fields.
II have read his history since. He
was a grand man on his record and
from all | have otherwise heard, and
| only wish | could undo my work
now"