The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-01-28
S ENG A sHo


forming our lines and preparing for
another assault on their works
Two days had lapsed, and we Were
ready for our task. On the 22d we
We're ordered TO occupy one OF those
waves OF hills that offered such excel
lent opportunities for the defense OF
NickSburS.
The crest was about 500 yards IN ad-
vance OF our artillery line and about
an equal distance from the Confeder-
ate fntrenchmcnts. We advanced in
good order and reached the crest with
Sight loss and lay down to await or
derS for the final assault
As~Se lay upon our backs gazing up
! ward We looked into an italian sky,
cioudless Ind serene. 1t was Il typical
sunny south" day. warm without dis
comfort. the air, balmy and fragrant,
Not leaf stirred. \au nature seemed To
be peacefully resting, in strong con-
trast TO the roar OF war that now was
rendinS this peaceful vale, only to be
equaled by heavens laundering guns
when the storm king is abroad in his
power.
Being located midway between our
artillery and that of the enemy, with
Kissing. screaming shot and shells hur-
Ting over our heads, made our position
hell OF dcmoniacal sounds. but so
protected that we carefully listened TO
the roar and philoSophically ,contcn-
plated the chances of victory or defeat.
Our rcveric. however. was soon rude
ly aroused by thud and a little cloud
Of dust but a few feet down the hill
from whore we lay.
Comparatively safe from the enc
my's fire, our blue lines in plain sight
of our GunI.crs. we confided In the cor
rectneSs of their aim.
But here comes n shot from our guns
-Watcrhouscs battcry-pIunSing into
our line. Colonel IIoGc sent an order
~. acquainting the gunners with their
carclessncSs.
AS the shot had struck but n few
feet below where l lay. 1t is needless
to say I watched the further firing of
that gun with interest. Ten minutes
elapsed. and shots passed safely over.
was lying resting on my left elbow.
Corporal Bird, Il manly soldier, lay
upon his back close to my side.
1 was watching that gun.
a white pun of smoke. and instantly
the top of n tree standing I'm a hollow
about 100 yards in advance of the gun
topplcd over.
The activity Of the human mind IS
phenomenal. In the next few seconds
l lived an experience seldom given to
We're in direct line
The shot, before obstructed by the
tree. had been sufficiently elevated to
go over. But what now?
Would the obstruction lower Its ele-
walton and plunge it into our line?
What IS that l see? 1t is coming
straight at me! Like n bee in its hight
l see it What will it do-take Off an
arm or leg? Will 20 home to wife
and babies on clutches, or will they
bury me Oh yonder slope? There was
n whirl of ifs and possibilities about
this life and the next rushing through
my brain. Why not turn over, dodge
1t, jump up. anything to get out of
range of coming death? Was doomed
TO be n witness Of every detail of my
own death? The mind outran the
speed OF the cannon bail n thousand
times. but there was not time to tclc-
graph the danger to the dull muscles
for action.
In the midst of this mental confu-
sion there came Il heavy spat, n tremor
or the ground, sprinkling of some
thing warm in my face. and 1 jumped
to my feet unframed. to look down on
the mangled form and face struck with ,
death of the young comrade at my |
side. whose left side had been carried
away by n six pound shot.
Observing that his lips moved. 7 |
knelt down and heard the faint words |
twice repeated. "Mothcr-water." And |
the soul Of Corporal Bird. good SOL
dtcr. clean hearted boy with whom |
for nearly year had touched elbows
In line and on the march, took ITS
flight.
We buried him near the fntaI tree
that caused the accident and n yenr
later ] furnished Il detail to cxhume
his body that 1t might be laid beside
his kin Mt his northern home on the
banks of the beautiful Kankakee.
The death OF this young soldier ever
has weird interest for me Why
should It strike him and leave me?
Did the fatcs decree it, or was 1t for
some wise purpose Of him who num-
bcrs the hairs of our heads and notes
the fall of n sparrow?
/ have seen the smile Of fncrcdulftv
on the faces of friends while relating
this incident of seeing cannon ball in
its flight I reply 1 know 1t is true. but
deem it possible only to close OBJ
servers, strong eye and favora bic at
moSpheric conditions. I doubt If it is
possible in the hazy atmosphere of the
coast Mobile T |