Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-11
TOLD BY A VETERAN

iarly concerning events and circumstances
| in which they either participated were
able to relate with the soundest reasons for
| belief in their truthfulness. Every man in
the little group had snuffed the odor Of
hostile powder, and each had hardened to
the rebel yell" as it came from trenches.
over fields, on mountain tops and in the
valleys.
On this special occasion incidents more
or less relating to the battle of Gettysburg
were talked about An old clerk In one of
the departments who carried with him
constantly souvenir of that terrific strug-
! gle in the shape Of an empty sleeve. told Of
certain experiences that befel him after
he became hors de combat. He was resid-
| Ing in the Green Mountain state when bu-
giles first called men to arms to save the
Union, and though he had not yet advanced
to mans estate he enlisted promptly in a
vermont regiment, and from first to last
had. his full share of fighting. His story,
embellished with many points of humor
mad yet considerable pathos with it, and Is
given, as nearly the writer can recolIect
/ in his own vernacuIar.
Il received my quietus." he said. ION the
second day of the Gettysburg fight. One
| thlng recollect perfectly. and that the day
was scorcher. I'm talking about the
calortc in the atmosphere, not about the
heat of the fight. Men on both sides knew
all about that. About O'Clock in the
oilCliooH WdS hNGeIinS on one Knee all
: ready to take another shot. when all of a
sudden l thought hornet stung me- Well
II was hornet, but 1t was made Of lead
and came out of a confederate rife. soon
found that out, and reported to the rear in
double quick order. I had been on the
fighting line nearly the entire day and was
perfectly tagged out.
We'll. as l could show blood, was
passed on. and / swear that then I felt as
though L were on a vacation I wanted a
drink of good, cool water for that remain
Ing In my canteen was as hot as IL 1t had
been boiled; SO I went on looking for
river or a brook or spring or any place
where l could quench my thirst Soon
found one in a sort of little grove. 1t was
just bubbling and gurgIing and sparkling,
and thought it was one of the prettiest
sights l ever saw in my life. I just lay
down on my stomach, and with my wound
ed arm thrust deep into the water, drank
my I'LL. I never had such refreshing
draught In all my born days. 1t put new
life in me, and I remember to this day that
1 sat down for long time, and wondered,
among other things, II there wasn't good
trout fishing in the stream; then, after a
long rest, 1 resumed my journey. 1 knew
l was bound to pull up somewhere, and I
didn't care much where
Il hadn't gone far when I met two Off
GERS. They had boxes under their arms.
and 1t was not difficult for me to recognize
them medical officers. They were young
men. both of them, and after short talk
With HE anu an eXdmt1dllOn OF my wound
ed wing they began to talk to each other
about modification and amputatioiI. and all
that sort of thing. and at the same time
| informing me that 1t was necessary to cut
my arm OF then and there. They assured
me of their regret that they had nothing
in the nature of anesthetics I kicked.
metaphorically and physically. [ wanted to
go to a hospital. but they said nay. and the
| result Is here" and he held up what re-
manned of the arm.
Zone n ha Hvo ovA a.
me feel very comfortable, and the other
gave me the biggest drink of brandy I
ever had in nay lfe-that made me more
comfortable.
And now comes the third thing in this
eventful tragedy"
Here the veteran waxed pathetic and
grew poetic.
1T was nearing or quite shutdown when
company for about half an hour, when I
went my way and they continued on their
journey. About clock over little range
of hills I saw the big round yellow moon
flooding the country with light. The even
ing was growing cooler, and I was ready
for all the repose l could get. saw by
the moonlight barn or outbuilding Of
some kind and made for It. When looked
into the door I saw it was already occu-
pied. but there was room for one more
The temporary tenants were scattered
around in all directions, some sitting up
against the wall and others on their backs
on the floor. They were all soldiers, and
noticed particularly one who was sitting
down with his musket between his knees
He was leaning against some boards. Mo-
body said anything to me, so I entered
without the slightest ceremony and was
asleep before the secondhand Of clock
could traverse the tenth part of its circle
The sun was high In the heavens when I
woke, and 1 noticed that my room-mates
were still asleep. The man with his rifle
in his knees was in the same attitude and
so were all the others. Yes, they were all
in slumber from which they will never
wake until the trumpet louder than any yet
sounded on earth shall call them back to
life again"
Another member of the little company re-
lated an incident which came under his
personal observation at or near Gettysburg
during that three days fight. He told Of
early and came out after its share Of fight
ing only for the reason that nearly every
man in 1t was either killed or wounded.
The soldier referred to played on the fid-
die the veteran said: He was in love with
his fiddle. and as general thing. when he
wasn't fighting he was adding. The spirit
and the soul Of music were both vital es-
sences Of his being. His story. however,
which was inspired by the events related
by the comrade Of the empty sleeve was
to the effect that on the morning OF the
third day of the battle he. wandering by
a barn attached to a hosiery known as the
Tavern Of the Three Stars heard sounds
coming from it and looking in found it to
be sort of hastily improvised hospital.
There were at least a score of soldiers
laid out In cots on the floors. all more or
less wounded. Several of them were past
all surgery. To his Amusement he saw the
musician. who had suffered the loss of a
leg. He was, of course. lying on his back,
but the stump of his limb was propped up.
He had a pleased expression on his coun-
tenanee. his well-beloyed fiddle under his
chin and was filling the room with music.
The most beautiful and pathetic part OF
the picture was the calm, sweet and snntl-
Ing expression Of the poor fellows who were
being RECALLED with its melodies.
1T seemed" said the speaker, as II
beatification from heaven rested upon the
place and It's celestial glory shone In the
ceuntenance OF every poor sufferer within
It !"
One OF the Sufferers.
From the Chicago Tribnxe
.sy,roarerifv?ss said DIR Sffrhcar,. s,,a a..f !