Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-09-09
First Battle Experiences.

ed, said the sergeant, when l en-
listed in the Union army in April.
1861 1 could not bear to see anything
or anybody hurt. 1 found in a few
days that 1 had lots of company, and
wondered if any of the tender hearted
7 squad would ever become hardened
to the inevitable cruelties of war. My
own baptism in a new order of life
came in our first engagement. The
sight of the enemy'S wounded sicken-
ed me and 1 was keeping as far away
from them as possible when | was or
dered to lift one of the most severely
wounded onto stretcher.
"Stooping to take hold of the mar
legs, it seemed to me l could not
touch him. But, as my hands sought
along his bloody trousers for place
to take hold, and became red with
blood, 1 realized how much need there
was for help in such extremity, and
my nerves were as if made new In
that instant my nature, so far as re-
vulsion against blood was concerned,
was changed. After that 1 never hest
tated to help a man who needed help,
no matter how he looked.
zone of my old chums, a jovial fell
low of good parts, not only became
hardened to scenes of blood, but came
to see amusing features in battle
tragedies. On one OCCASION when
comrades foot was shot off by a shell
and hurled into The air, Dick called
to the PROSTATE man, shouting: I
say, John, see your foot spin. The re-
mark was not historical. Dick told
me later that the spectacle of a spin
ming foot struck him as being very
f,,1
cat Cold Harbor Dick wore a straw
hat and was very proud of it. In the
heat of the fight a shell exploded over
Dicks gun. One piece of the shell
killed his corporal and another grazed
Dicks head, tearing nearly all the rim
off his favorite hat and taking it off
his head Dick watched the whirl-
ing hat until it touched the ground.
Then he picked up the remnant and,
crowding it on his head, said, as if
addressing the enemy: IF you no
like him fer this kind take 'em fer the
odder kind"
81 thought at first that it would
break my heart to see comrade shot,
and even as late as Stone River 1 was
afraid 1 might bolt if men near me
were shot down. The first mar struck
was one of the tal1est and largest men
in the company. There was nothing
distressing about it. I heard the 'spat'
of the bullet, and saw Charley topple
over and settle down in a restful sort
of way Then little fellow at my
side was struck in the right arm as he
was ramming home load. He looked
at me in a puzzled sort of way, then
smiled and raised his left arm to ram
home. Another bullet struck his left
arm, and a third bullet struck him in
the leg. He didn't seem excited or in
pain. but exceedingly annoyed.
81 turned then to our color bearer,
who was waving the flag ard making
a splendid picture of himself. l saw a
hole appear in the center of his high
forehead, saw him put the flag in an
other mans hand, saw him lie down
and cross his arms on his breast. 1t
was all simple and dignified and l was
lot greatly disturbed bullet cut
across my leg above the knee, a
something struck me on the side or
the foot, a splinter of rock seemed to
pierce my ear, but all seemed trifles.
| 1t did not occur to me that l was hurt.
l didn't feel sorry for myself or the
color bearer. We seemed to be doing
pretty well, and l waited for the
slaughter to begin But the battle was
over when thirteen of our men were
| down.
"a week later 1 went to the hospi-
| tai to look up our wounded The fact
| that wounded and bandaged men
could be so clean and seem SO COM
Portable ard cheerful was shock
to me- caught bright
| look from two black eyes
that 1 knew and went over to
shake hands Both arms were dis
abled, and 1 didn't shake hands l
was disappointed and depressed when
he of the black eyes said, We licked
| 'em. didn't we? That was a great
fight, my boy Then my big man
| said, Did you see me lie down in that
corn field? Never felt SO disappoint-
ed in my life. But l had to do it, and
| lost most of the fight
Il have no disagreeable recollec-
lions of that hospital and its scores of
| wounded. / have no unpleasant recol-
lections of the men shot dead at Stone
River. There is no tremor OF nerve
| If recall the fighting when the lines
closed in. 1 am as tender-hearted as
| / ever was, but /, am not faint-hearted
when men need help-"-Chicago Inter
Ocean