Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-09
the dead and wounded that lay thick

Of horses; some bent back ward with
arms outstretching like n trying an
odd trick; some lay as II listening en-
gerly, an ear close TO the ground; some
like a sleeper, them heads upon their
arms; shrieked loudly. g%esturing
with bloody hands. Lord God AL
mighty, have mercy on me"
had come suddenly to n new world.
where the lives Of men were cheaper
than blind puppies. I was a new sort
Of creature and reckless Of what came,
careless Of all I saw and heard.
A stan officer stepped up to Inc as we
Joined the main body.
you've been shot. young man," he
said. pointing to my left hand.
Before he could turn ! felt q rush Of
air and saw him fly into pieces. some
Of which hit me as I fell backward. I
did not know what had happened; I
know not now more than that l have
written. I remember feeling something
under me, like a stick Of wood, bearing
hard upon my ribs. I tried to roll OF 1t,
hut somehow 1t was tied to me and
kept hurting. I put my hand g my
hip and felt 1t there behind me-my
own arm! The hand was like that Of a
dead man-cold and scnseless. I pulled
1t from under me, and It lay helpless;
1t could not lift itself. | knew now that
I, too, had become one Of the bloody
horrors Of the battle.
l struggled to my feet. weak and
trpn,hliuU and cinG 1vith nQtIgaa /
must have been lying there II long
time. The firing was now at n dis
lance. The sun had gone half down
the sky. They were picking up the
wounded in the near field. A man
stood looking at me. Good Cod" he
shouted and then ran away like one
my face quickly and then uncovered II
as they came near. They sheered away
as l felt the foam of their nostrils. l
had split them as a rock may split the
torrent. The last Of them went over
me, their tails whipping my face.
l shall not soon forget the look of
their bellies or the smell of their
tanks. They had no sooner passed
than I fell back and rolled half over
like . log. l could feel a warm flow Of
blood trickling down my left arm. A
shell shot at the retreating army pass
ed high above me, whining as 1t few,
Then my mind went free Of its trouble
The rain brought me to as 1t am
pelting down upon the side Of my face
l wondered what 1t might be, for ]
knew not where | had ONE l lifted
my head and looked to see Il new
1t was dark-so dark | felt as IL l had
no eyes. Away in the distance l could
hear the beating Of n drum. 1t rang In
n great silence. l have never known
the like of it. could hear the fall and
trickle Of the rain, hut it seemed only
grass under my face and hands. Their
knew it was night and the battlefield
where l had fallen. | was alive and
might see another day. thank God!
felt something move under my feet.
heard a whisper mt my shoulder.
Thought you were dead long ago.
it said.
mo, no." I answered.; lin alive;
know I'm alive. This is the battle
field
"'Fraid l amt goin' T. live" he said
"Got Il terrible wownd. Wish it wa!
mornin'."
Ozark long?" asked.
For hours" he answered. "Dunn'
how many"
He began to groan and utter shor
prayers.
"Oh, my soul waiteth for the Lore
more than they that watch for tin
morning." | heard him cry in a loud
despairing voice.
Then there was a bit Of silence. IL
which l could hear him whispering
Of his home and people.
Presently he began to sing:
Guide me. O thou great Jehovah!
Pilgrim through this barren land.
] am weak, but thou art mighty
His voice broke and tremblcd an,
sank into silence.
had business Of my W to look att
er-perhaps I had no time to lose-an'
went about it calmly. l had n
strength to move and began to feel tn,
nearing Of my time. The rain was fall
ing faster. 1t chilled me to the marrow
as l felt 1t trickling ove my back.
called to the man who lay beside me-
again and again | called to him-but n
answer. Then l knew that he was dea'
and ! alone. Long after that In the ia
distance l heard a voice calling.
rang like a trumpet in the still air.
grew palmer as l listened. My ow'
name! William Brewer? 1t was cer
tainly calling to me, and l answers
with a feeble cry. In n moment
could hear the tramp of some n CON
ing. He was sitting beside me present
ly, whoever it might be. ! could no
see him for the dark. His tongue wen
clucking as II he pitied me.
"Who are youT" l remember asking
but got no answer.
At first l was glad; then ! began I
feel a mighty horror Of him.
In a moment he had picked me u
and was making off. The Jolt OF hi
step seemed to be breaking my arms d
the shoulder. As I groaned he ran.
could see nothing In the darkness. bu
he went ahead, never stopping, saw
for a moment now and then to rest.
wondered where he was taking me an
what it all meant. l called again. WI
are your" but he seemed not to hes
me. "My Cod" l whispered to mysel