Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-11-24
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphic Account of Stirring Scenes
Witnessed on the Battlefield and in
Camp-Veterans OF the Rebellion Re-
cite Experiences of Thrilling Nature.

cite Experience of Thrilling Nature.
i have lately been reminded" said
3. +. Bauman. of the Thirtieth Iowa
infantry. of my experience ut the
siege of Atlanta. A few days before
"e went To Jonesb0ro we were on the
hrins line day and night, and we
selzed every opportunity to advance
ohr picket line. One day when we. on
the left, were within 200 yards of the
main rebel lines. the right was or
dered TO swing forward 10 our lise
AT the same time we on the left were
70 make a demonstration and hold all
we gained
We were lying close in our little
yideste holes, or scoopouts, and when
the bngle sounded the charge our boys
made a rush. We had selected our
destination in advance and had fixed
on tree fifty yards in my front, l
made the tree. which had been shot
on fifteen feet above the ground, and
was almost paralyzed to find a Johnny
holding the other side He thought he
had me prisoner and commanded me to
surrender. At the same time he poked
his gun around the tree trying to cover
me. | made the same demand on ann,
put my gun around the tree TO his
side, and, regardless of the fierce fight
Ing going on about us. we edged around
that tree, each keeping opposite 10 the
other and each hoping 10 get the drop
on the other fellow.
This was more exciting than ii
seems now, and | never gave my whole
attention TO any matter | happened TO
have in hand as l did to shooting that
Johnny. But finally my foot slipped,
ana he seized the opportunity and
banged away. with the muzzle OF his
gun not six inches from my nose. He
missed me. and | felt my chance had
come. As | stepped out to make sure
OF him he made one jump, turned n
somersault, lit on his feet and made the
quickest run to cover | ever saw. He
got to his lines all right | did the
same little later with quite as much
agility as the reb'
That reminds me- said John Over
bolt, of the Eighty-fifth PENNSYLVANIA
Infantry, that things Of that kind oc-
CURED in the Eastern armies. When
Gen. Benjamin f. Butler made his Der
muda Hundreds campaign In May and
June, 1864, our regiment had a full
week of fighting. ! had been on the
firing line for six days and nights
when we arrived at Wier Bottom
Church, on the south side of the James
river, above Dutch Gap Loss of sleep
and constant shooting in skrmishing
had worn me down. The day was hot
and | got under the cover of log.
one end of which rested on the ground
and the other santing up, so as to
screen me from the enemy in front.
"Skirmishlng was in progress, but
dropped off to sleep, and 1t was about
or 3 O'Clock in the afternoon when
| was awakened by pieces of bark from
the log striking me with stnging force
in the face. The rebs in front had
shifted so as to almost enfilade and ex-
pose my position. The boys on either
side of me had been driven back, aud
as was lying fiat and motionless they
received the impression that had been
killed, and left me without remark.
As soon as | was fairly awake
realized that / was In a very danger
GUS position, and began to calculate
the chances of getting back :. mimic
ball struck the earth at my side, show.
ing that the rebels had my range.
made a ZgZag rush toward the regi-
ment. very much to the surprise Of
the boys who thought | was dead. Aft.
er rubbing my eyes and stretching my
self l Joined In defense of the line.
But every few minutes the boys would
ask me how felt bottled up behind
that log"
There Is a man in Chicago" said
the Major, who had more exciting
adventure than that. lie went in bath.
ing, not suspecting the presence Of the
enemy. Through an unexpected and
tliailkt III Attt ittlie the fEDHIS
came upon him at close range aud
made him walk out on their side of the
river. He was made prisoner stark
naked and was double-quicked toward
he rear. Fighting was In progress
al along the line aud his guards were
IN as much danger rs himself.
Finally he persuaded his guards 10
permit him to remove the clothes from
me Of the rebel dead and put them on
Then he was hurried toward the left
Just as the Unlouists made a charge
In the confusion he slipped away from
he guards, fell In with a rebel regi.
nent making counter charge. d1,opcd
)ut as they neared the waiting Union
ines, hid under a log and when Cd
J0rtunity offered sneaked back 10 his
,wn regiment and in time donned bis
'wn clothes and fought through the
attic in frnpar raj mont s. hfneo,, IT,