Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-09-19
THE BOOMING CANNON
RECiTALS OF CAMP AND BAT.
TIE INCIDENTS.
Survivors of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing aud Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, ForaS-

AT the recent Confederate reunion in
New Orleans the hearts of the old
soldiers We're saddened by the state
ment of their comrade. Gen. John b.
Gordon. that his health was failing
and that he was about to wind up his
career.
The most wonderful part of 1t all is
that he has survived until this day 1t
is almost miraculous that he should
have passed through such an ordeal
during the war between the States
and come ont with his life. In Scrib-
ner's Magazine Gen. Gordon has an
article en- "Antietam and Chanceilors-
vile, In which he recalls the notable
fact that in the former battle he was
wounded no less than FIVE times.
Gen. Gordon's troops had the most
advanced position on that part of the
field where they Were stationed, and
there was no supporting line behind
them, lie soon saw that almost des-
perate attempt would be made by
the FederalS to break the line at that
/ PS'AANf HiA0 AZ was ~ UC tutNdHu SAlRtf
force. 1t was GEN Gordons business
10 prevent this, and 50 he gave orders
that his men were not To fire until he
should give the signal The Federals
came forward with unloaded guns,
their purpose being to charge with
bayonets and through their superior
numbers break through. In spite of
the Impotence OF his men, Gen. Cor
don waited untE they should see the
whites of their enemies eyes" When
the FederalS Were almost upon him he
ordered his men to fire, and their rifles
famed and roared in the face of the
Yankees like binding blaze of light
ming, accompanied by the quick and
deadly thunderbolt. 1t was impossible
for any body of men to Withstand this
fire, and the Federals withdrew. but
only TO renew the attack again and
again, in the same way, and thus the
battle waged furiously until shutdown.
During this engagement Gen. Cor
don was shot five different times,
twice through the leg, once through
T.
and finally through the face. In spite
of four wounds, from all of which he
was suffering and bleeding. he held
his position at the front, giving his
commands and rallying his men. At
the last shot, however. he fell forward
and lay unconscious with bis face In
ms cap, and he thinks that he would
have been smothered by the blood
from this last wound but for the act
Of some Yankee, who, as II to save
ny life, had at a previous hour dur
ing the battle shot hole through my
cap, as IL to let the blood out" He
was borne to the rear in an uncon-
sci0us condition and the surgeon de.
SPARED of his life. But Gen. Cor
don declared that he would not die.
and little later, when his devoted
wife arrived. he greeted her In an
affectionate. jocular way and assured
her that he would get well. Thanks
TO her faithful watching and nursing
he did get well. and was. by aud by,
after seven months. restored to his
command.
1t Is no wonder that Gordan's men
said and believed that he had Il
charmed life" 1t is inconceivable
THAT a man should have been shot
five times during single engagement
and survived the shock: II is equally
remarkable that Il man who suffered
so terribly from the enemies bullets
should have preserved his life and
lived TO good old Richmond
Times Dispatch.