The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-05-12
"Mulligan," a Humble Hero.

''Mulligan," Humble Hero.
81 often, musing, wander back to days
long since gone by.
And far-off scenes and long lost forms
arise to fancy's eye"
There's Muligan, living at the Soldiers
Home. The same little red-headed Irish
man he was at the battle of Lexington.
His name isn't Mulligan, though; that's
his nickname. and rightly did he come by
it. Mullgan the First was Colonel, and
commander at the siege of Lexington.
Mo-. and Barrie, this little red-headed
Irishman, was high private in the Irish
Brigade. The regiment had marched nine
days before reaching Lexington, living
most of the time on the country, and then
the eaemy came up all about the town and
had us fenced in without water. except Tor
the scant' supply from the village wells
and a small creek at the edge OF the town
between the two hostile lines. For nVe
days the fight went on and for five nights
the picks and shovels were kept busy build
ing up defensive works. Every day the
enemy were reinforced by new arrivals,
while the little garrison looked in vain for
the promised help. Hemmed in on every
side, the food gave out, while 16 pieces OF
artillery and hundreds of men prevented
access to the stream of water at the base
of the hill. About this time the enemy
took possession of large building between
the lines, used as hospital. and from the
windows and roof picked off our boys be-
hind the breastworks. The supply of shot
and shell was exhausted, and only muskets
could be used TO drive them out. Here
Barrie's company did the work, charging
down one slope. up another. into the build
ing, killing every Confederate. Then gath
ering up their own dead and wounded, they
returned to the lines, greeted by the cheers
of comrades who had witnessed the gal
liant deed.
Two hours later the Confederates re-
turned. and were again driven out by the
same company. Then the enemy obtained
bales of hemp, wet them, and rolled them
along before them up the slopes as nova
BILE breastworks. and thus were enabled
to approach our lines. Hundreds of Con
federates lay about the fields dead and
wounded and other hundreds of Federals
We're put out of the fight. There was no
moan or cry from the wounded, except for
water, water, water-oh, for but a drop.
With shattered limbs, with blood-stained
clothing and pallid faces. the wounded
comrades lay on the ground under the
scorching sun. There came a lull in the
firing: the enemy had charged up the hill
and had gone Keeling back beyond the
creek. the only place where water was
to be had. And then Barrie. the hero of
two successful charges, was seen stripping
to the waist. Getting two buckets from
the gun caissOn near by. he sprang over
the works and down the hill to the creek.
Crack. bang! went a dozen rebel guns.
Zip. zip! came mimic balls about his head,
and puffs of sand spitefully flew up in his
face. all about him. and vet on he went.
Finally to the water, where with a dash
the two pals were filed. Then back up
the hill, not so fast. but at last safely in
side the works. Not till then did the Con-
fo
1t seemed thousand men in gray sprang
into sight with waving hats and shouts of
admiration for the man, and behind the
lines there were other cheers and blessings
from the parched lips of wounded for the
water that brought back many departing
life. The water was for the wounded. and
not drop of it would Barrie take to quench
the, thirst that was burning the life out of
his exhausted body.
That night Col. Mulligan called his chief
officers about him for a council of war
The sentiment was of hopelessness. Nearly
all advised surrender, but few bold
spirits. determined to fight their way out
And the word was passed along the lines
that all who wished might try to do it.
All others would be surrendered at day
light the next morning. About 200 de-
cided to fight. and Barrie was in the lot
as they formed in line at midnight.
The rumbling of wheels, the noise of
moving men and animals all about the
besieged garrison plainly told that the
enemy were awake as the little band of
soldiers quietly went outside the breast
works TO form under guidance of young
Captain: then quietly the line disappeared
In the darkness. A moment later came a
fash. then Others then the cheers of the
charging line, and pandemOnium had let
loose. Into the very midst of the Con
federate camp the men had gone. In the
rush the touch of elbows was lost. and
each man was for himself Bayonets had
been fixed with thrusts and butts club
bed. 1t became fight to delight the soul
Of any trueborn Irishman. Barrie's first
shot sent down a picket; the next went
into the midst of crowd hurriedIy form
ing: then. with swinging musket, he
charged single-handed. telling men right
and left until. with nothing but the barrel
left he pounded head where ever it came
into sight At daylight he was out of the
Confederate camp. with but a few Others
like HIMSELF. hiding in the jungles by day.
marching by night. He was a free man.
And that is how he got the nickname
Mulligan. except on the pay rolls, where
he was known as Barrie.