The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-08-10
BOLDIERS' STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphic Account OF Stirring Scenes
Witnessed ON the Battlefield and n
camp-Vetsrans Of the Rebellion Re-
cite Exps~iences Of Thrilling Nature.

Camp-Vetsrans Of the Rebellion Re-
cite ExHs~iences Of Thrilling Mature.
AT recent campfire of a local chap
ter Of the G.. A. R. several old fellows
IS usual had much to say Of the Civil
War, particularly concerning events
and circums .ances in which they either
participated or were able to relate with
the soundest reasons for belief In their
ruthfulness. says the Washington
Star. Every man In the little group
had snuffed the odor of hostile powder,
and each had hardened to the "Con-
federate yell' as 1t 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 enc Of the departments, who
carried with him constantly a souve-
mir Of that terrific struggle In the shape
Of an empty sleeve, told of certain ex-
periences that befell him after he be-
came hors de combat. He was resid-
ing In the Green Mountain State when
bugles first called men to arms to save
the Union, and though he had Lot yet
advanced to mans estate, he enlisted
promptly in Vermont regiment, and
from first to last had his full share
Of fighting. His story, embellished
with many points Of humor, had yet
considerable pathos with it. and Is Civ.
en-, as nearly as the writer can recol-
lect, In his own vernacuiar.
II received my quietus,' he said, ION
the second day of the Gettysburg fight.
One thing 1 recollect perfectly, and
that the day was scorcher. I'm talk
ing about the caloric In the atmos-
phere, not about the heat of the fight.
Men on both sides knew all about that.
About o'clock in the afternoon / was
kneeling on one knee all ready to take
another shot, when all of a sudden
thought a hornet stung me. Well, it
was hornet, but 1t was made Of lead,
and came out of a Confederate rife
I soon found that out, and reported to
the rear in double quick order 1 had
been on the fighting line nearly the
entire day, and was perfectly tagged
out.
well, as 1 could show blood, was
passed on, and | swear that then
felt as though 1 were on vacation 1
wanted a drink of good, cool water
for that remaining in my canteen was
as hot as If it had been boiled; so
went on looking for river or brook
or spring or any place where 1 could
Quench my thirst. Soon 1 found one In
q sort OF little grove. 1t was jus.
bubbling and gurgling and sparkling
and 1 thought it was one of the pref
test sights I ever saw in my life /
Just lay down on my stoma ch, and
with my wounded arm thrust deep
into the water, drank my fill. I never
had such a refreshing draught in all
my born days. 1t put new life In me,
and I remember to this day that 1 sat
down fer long time, and wondered,
among other things, If there wasn't
good trout fishing In the stream; then,
after long rest, 1 resumed my Jour-
ney. I knew I was bound to pull up
somewhere. and didn't care much
where.
81 hadn't gone far when I met two
officers. They had boxes under their
arms, and it was not difficult for me
to recognize them as medical officers
They were young men, both Of them,
and after short talk with me and an
examination OF my wounded wing
they began to talk to each other about
modification and amputation, and all
that sort Of thing, and at the same
time informing me that 1t was neces-
sary to cut my arm of then and there.
They assured me Of their regret that
they had nothing In the nature Of anes-
thetics. / kicked, metaphorically and
physically. I wanted to go to a hos
pital, but they said nay, and the re-
suit is here" and he held ND what re-
manned of the arm.
"And now comes the third thing In
this eventful tragedy"
Here the veteran waxed pathetic and
grew poetic. It was nearing or quite
shutdown when the surgeons met me,
and enjoyed their company for about
half an hour, when 1 went my way
and they continued on their journey.
About o'clock over a little range of
hills saw the big round yellow moon,
flooding the country with light. The
evening was growing cooler, and /
was ready for all the repose I could
get saw by the moonlight a barn
or outbuilding OF some kim and made
Cor 1t. When looked into the door /
saw 1t was already occupied, but there
was room for one more. The tempo
fary tenants were scattered around in
III directions, some sitting up against
the wall and others on their backs on
the floor. They were all soldiers, and I
noticed particularly one who was sit
ting down with his nausket between
his knees. He was leaning against
some boards. Nobody said anything to
me. so I entered without the slightest
ceremony and was asleep before the
second hand of clock could traverse
the tenth part of It's circle. The sun
was high In the heavens when woke.
and noticed that Iny roonamates were
still asleep. The an with his rife In
his knees was in the same attitude, and
90 were all the othsrs. Yes, they were
ell In slumber from which they will
never wake until the trumpet louder
than any yet sounded on earth shall