The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-07-04
READY TO BE SHOT.
George Barry, of Milton, Mass, Tells
Of His War Experience.


Optimistic, with ready laugh
and a hearty handshake, every man,
woman and child in his neighbor-
hood knows and loves George Bar
ry and can distinguish his horse and
cart among all those that help to
make and keep Milton roads smooth
and delightful to the pleasure driv-
er, says the Boston Globe.
Il was twenty-four when I enlist
ed and went to Washington with
the rest of the Milton boys" said
Mr.. Barry. From there we march
ed to Manchester, Pa, to head off
Early, but he was away to Gettys-
burg. We were all tired out and
most of the boys had lain down,
but I belonged to the mess and had
gone to a spring about a mile for
a bucket of water. When l return
ed the regiment was moving to the
battlefield, only few stragglers, like
myself, being left behind. 1 snatch
ed up cup of coffee and we took af-
ter them. Marching all night, by
noon the next day we covered the 40
miles between Manchester and Get
tysburg, and there the first thing we
saw was the burying of the dead.
1t wasn't an inspiring sight to 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
behind Little Round Top we laid
down for sleep, for we didn't take
an active part in that battle, but
were held in reserve.
There were good many hot
fights but I guess Spottsylvania was
about the hottest. Cedar Creek was
another; 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. The
men cheered and hurrahed when he
rode down the line and he, instead of
Wright, gave the orde" to advance,
but we'd have gone just the same if
he had been in Japan.
''No, we were not in the battle OF
Antietam, being detailed to guard
Harper's Ferry, and it was late in
the afternoon with the fighting all
done when we arrived on the field.
The dead were lying where they had
fallen and we lay down among them
to snatch a few hours rest, expect
ing to renew the fight in the morning
when we were in winter quar-
ters at Falmouth, Burnside was su-
perceded by Fighting Joe Hooker
and he put the regiments in splendid
shape. There was only small stream
between us and the Johnnies, while
the best of feeling prevailed on both
sides. Our pickets and theirs did
quite a commercial BUSINESS. The
gray-backs rugged up miniature
boat, which they named The Louse,'
and when the wind blew from the
south they would send it over load
ed with tobacco; then when it blew
from the north we would return it
loaded with sugar and coffee.
"When the weather grew warm
our men went in bathing, and, one
day, a shot was fired from the John
nv side, which struck one of our
men and killed him instantly. Hook
er sent an officer over the river with
a flag of truce to learn what 1t
meant and Lee informed him that he
had not heard of the event, but
would inquire and if the culprit could
be found he would deliver him up
to our general for punishment. A
few days afterward a boat carrying
a white flag came over the river,
bringing the man who fired the shot.
Hooker Immediately summoned
court martial, the man was tried,
found guilty and sentenced to be shot
the next day. Accordingly a grave
was dug, coffin placed beside it and
the man was brought out and order
ed to kneel upon t.. Then his SEN
tence was read to him, the firing
party took position in front of him
and his eyes were bandaged. After
few minutes of silence the bandage
was removed and he was told that as
he was not considered worth the