Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-06-02

hind. l snatched up a cup OF conee
and we took after them. Marching
all night, by noon the mex day we
covered the 40 miles between Man
chester and Gettysburg, and there the
first thing we saw was the burying OF
the dead. It wasn't an inspiring sight
to a tired. hungry man.
Bushes? You just bet! There
weren't any macadamized roads or
velvety lawns around Gettysburg
those days. We struggled through
bushes so thick you couldn't see the
man next to you When we got De-
hind Little Round Top we laid down
for sleep, for we didn't take an active
part in that battle, but were held IN
reserve. Still a good many OF US were
killed by spuAt bullets. Jim Lord OF
East Milton had his upper lip torn
away and George Lord had his shout
der smashed and his left eye out.
Nov, don't you believe | was anx-
ious to get into the thick OF 1t; a
such talk as hat for those who never
saw q battle. You feel as though you
wanted to run, but you don't. some
thing makes you stick. Maybe -ts
honor, or patriotism, or duty; you can
call It what you please. You just stay
and obey orders, and hats all there
Is to it.
There were a good many hot fights,
but / guess S~pottsylvania was about
the hottest. Cedar Creek was an
other; the Johnnies got In our rear
and we had to fall back about three
miles, but General Wright rallied us
and was ready to sound the advance
when Sheridan came on the field. Inc
men cheered and hurrahed when he
rode down the line and he, instead OF
Wright. gave the order to advance.
but we'd have won Just the same II
he had been in Japan.
INC we were not in the battle OF
Antietam, being detailed to guard
Harpers Ferry, and it was late IN the
afternoon with the fighting all lone
when we arrived on the Held. Inc
lead were lying where they a iali-
on and we lay down among them to
snatch a few hours rest, expecting
TO renew the fight in the morning.
when we were in winter quarters
at Falmouth, Burnside was super
cedsd by Fighting Joe Hooker and
he put the regiments in splendid
shape. There was only a small stream
between us and the Johnnies, whlle
the best Of feeling prevailed on potp
sides. Our pickets and theirs dio
quite a commercial business. Inc
g~ray-backs rugged up a miniature
boat. which they named The Louise,
and when the wind blew from the
south they would send it over loaded
with tobacco; then when 1t blew from
he north we would return 1t loaded
with sugar and conee.
when the weather grew warm our
man went in bathing and, one day, a
shot WAS fred from the Johnny side,
which struck one of our men anc
killed him instantly. Hooker sent an
officer over the river Win a nag Oh
truce to learn what y meant n Lee
informed him that he had not hearo
~ the event. but would inquire and ii
tbe culprit could be found he would
deliver him up to our general for pun
Isbment. A few days afterward a boat
carrying a white flag came over the
river bringing the man who fired the
hot. Hooker Immediately summoned
a court-martial, the man was tried
found guilty and sentenced to be shof
the next day. Accordingly a grave
was dug. a coffin placed beside II eno
the man was brought u and ordered
RI kneel upon it. hen his sentence
was read to him, the firing party o
position in front of him n bis yes
were ~bandaged. After a few MN.
ntes of silence the bandage was re
moved and he was told that as he
was not considered worth the powder
TO shoot him he would be sent back
over the river. What was done with
him there we never learned, but no
wore men were killed while bathing"