The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-08-31

First Battle Experiences.
7 was lokingly called chicken heart
ed, said the sergeant when ! en-
listed In the Union army In April,
1861. ] could not bear 10 see anything
OF anybody hurt / found in a few
days that ! had lots Of company, and
wondered II any OF the tender hearted
squad would ever become hardened
20 the inevitable crualties OF war. Ny
own baptism in a new order Of life
came in our FIRST engagement The
sight OF the enemy wounded sicken-
ed me and I was keeping as far away
from them as possible when ! was or
dered to lift one Of the severely
wounded onto 3 streteher.
STOPPING to take hold Of the mars
legs. Il seemed 20 me 7 could not
touch him. But. as my hands sought
along his bloody trousers for q place
20 take hold. and became red with
blood. ! realized how much reed there
war for help Ia such extremity, and
my nerves were as n made new. In
that instant my nature. 80 far as re
vuision against blood was concerned
was changed. After that ! never hest
tated TO help a man who needed help
40 matter how he looked.
zone Of my old chums, a jovial Eel
low OF good parts. not only became
hardened 10 scenes az blood, but came
q Fee amusing features In battle
t~racodlcs. on one OCCASION shea a
comrades foot was shot on by a she'll
and hurled into abe air. Dick called
q the PROSTATE nau. shouting
say. John. see your foot spin The re
mark was not hysterical. Dick told
me later that the spectacle 81 a spin
ming foot struck him as being cry
wonderful and very amusing
AT Cold Harbor Dick wore q straw
hat and was very proud % a. To the
heat Of the hght a she'll exploded over
Dicks gun One piece Of the she'll
killed his corporal and another grazed
Dicks head. tearing nearly all ihe rim
on his iavorite hat and taking it of
his head Dick watched the Nhirl-
ing bat until e touched the ground
Then be picked Up the remnant and.
crowdlng Il on his head. said. Is Il
addressing The enemy IT You no
IKE him fer this kind take en- Ter the
odder kind"
n Thought a. ars, that 81 would
break my heart 30 see q comrade shot
and even bs late as Stone River I was
afraid { might bolt N men ncar mc
we're shot down The drst MAJ struck
was one % the taliest and largest men
in the company. There was nothins
distressing about o. beard the 'spat
of the bullet. and saw Charley toppie
over aud scttlc down Ia a rcEtful sort
OF way Then q little fellow az my
side was struck In the riEht arm az he
was ramming home a load lie looked
az me &c a puaEltd sort OF way, thea
smiled and miked his len arm 10 ram
home Another bullet struck bis len
arm. and a thir3 bullet struck him In
the leg He didn't seem excited or In
pain. but exceedingly annoyed.
4 turned then 10 our color bearer.
Who was waving the Tag and making
a splendid picture Of himself saw .
hole appear in the center % his hiEh
forehead. saw him put the Gas Ia 40.
other mans hand. SaW him 10 down
aud cross bie arms on his breast il
was all simple and diguihed and Vas
rot greatly disturbed. A bullet cut
across my ioE above the knee, a
something struck me on the side 81
tho foot. a splinter o. rock seemed 20
pierce my ear. but all seemed tribes.
n cid not occur 10 me hat ! was hurt.
I didn't feel sorry for myself Or the
color bearer We seemed 20 b. dolng
Pretty we'll. and I waited for the
slaughter 10 begin nut the battle was
over when thirteen of our men were
dovh.
"A week later I Ueni Ia the hespi
thl TO look up our wounded The fact
that wounded and handaEed men
could be 80 clean and seem 40 com
Portable ard cheerful a a shock
20 me caught a bright
look ffom two black eyes
that I knes and went over Ga
shake hands Both arms were els.
ahlcd. and didn't shake hands
waa disappointed and depressed when
be OF the black eyes said. We licked
en-. didnt weg That was a Rrca,
nrht. ms hoy Then my bic man
said. DID you see nae no down In that
corn aelag Never felt 80 disaproint
I'd Ia my ufe. But ! had 10 DO a. and
I lost most Of the Heht'
4 have no disaErceahio ~rncoilec
tious OF that hospital and Gee scores Of
wounded, have no unpleasant recol
lectlons u the men shot dead az Stone
River. There Is no tremor OF nerve
n I recall tho fshuns when the lines
closed in. ! am a. tenderheartcd as
ever vas. but l am not faint hearted
when men need help -Chioago later
Ocean,