Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1905-09-01
First Battle Experiences.

First Battle Experiences.
Il was jokingly called chicken heart
ed" said the sergeant, when l en-
listed in the Union army in April
1861. could not bear to see anything
or anybody hurt. l found in a few
days that had lots of company, and
wondered if any of the tender hearted
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 l was keeping as far away
from them as possible when l was or
dered to lift one of the most severely
wounded onto stretcher.
STOPPING to take hold Of the mar S
,egs, it seemed to me l could not
ouch him. But, as my hands sought
along his bloody trousers for a place
o take hold, and became red with
blood, realized how much need there
was for help in such extremity, and
ny nerves were as if made new. In
hat instant my nature, so far as re-
'ulsion against blood was concerned,
vas changed After that never hest
ated to help man who needed help,
10 matter how he looked.
"One of my old chums, jovial fell
ow of good parts, not only became
hardened to scenes of blood, but came
% see amusing features in battle
ragedies On one OCCASION when a
comrades foot was shot off by shell
md hurled into the. air, Dick called
O the PROSTATE man, shouting: !
ay, John, see your foot spin The re-
mark was not hysterical. Dick told
ne later that the spectacle of spin
ling foot struck him as being very
wonderful and very amusing.
"At Cold Harbor Dick wore straw
lat and was very proud of it. In the
leat Of the fight shell exploded over
Dicks gun One piece of the she'll
iilled his corporal and another grazed
DICKS head, tearing nearly all the rim
IF his favorite hat and taking it off
lis head. Dick watched the whirl-
ng hat until it touched the ground.
Then he picked up the remnant and,
.rowding it on his head, said, as if
addressing the enemy: IF you no
ike him fer this kind take 'em fer the
,dder kind" --.-.. ..,..
II thought at first that it would
sreak my heart to see comrade, shot,
ind even as late as Stone River I was
,fraid might bolt if men near me
we're shot down. The first man struck
vas one of the tallest' and largest men
N the company. There was nothing
distressing about it. heard the 'spat
Of the bullet, and saw Charley topple
over and settle down in restful sort
Of way. Then a little fellow at my
side was struck in the right arm as he
was ramming home load. He looked
1t me in a puzzled sort OF way, then
smiled and raised his left arm to ram
nome. Another bullet struck his left
arm, and third bullet struck him in
he leg. He didn't seem excited or in
pain, but exceedingly annoyed.
81 turned then to our color bearer
who was waving the flag and making
splendid picture of himself. | saw a
aole 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 | was
not greatly disturbed. A bullet cut
across my leg above the knee, a
something struck me on the side OF
he foot a splinter of rock seemed to
pierce my ear, but all seemed trifles
It did not occur to me that was hurt
didn't feel sorry for myself or the
color bearer. We seemed to be doing
pretty we'll, and waited for the
slaughter to begin. But the battle was
over when thirteen of our men were
down.
"A week later went to the hospi
tai to look up our wounded. The fac,
that wounded and bandaged men
could be so clean and seem so com
Portable and cheerful was shock
to me. l caught bright
ook from two black eyes
that knew and went over te
shake hands. Both arms were dis
abled, and I didn't shake hands.
was disappointed and depressed when
ne of the black eyes said, We licked
EN-, didn't we? That was great
fight, my boy Then my big mar
said, Did you see me lie down in tina,
corn field? Never felt SO disappoint
ed in my life. But had to do it, and
lost most of the fight .....
Il have no disagreeable recollec
tions 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. I am as tender-hearted as
ever was, but am not faint-hearted
when men need help."-Chicago Inter
Ocean.
Winning the Medal of Honor.
The idea Of the medal Of homo!
originated with the late Gen. E. d
s,,Ir - -