News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-03-05
death WARNINGS.
Soldiers Who ForesaW Their Fate
on the Eve of Battle.
KNEW THEIR TIME HAD COME.

| NNEW lIIEIn lWE IlHG SS"-
II Was Not Mere Fancy, but Grim Pre-
nonition, That Moved These Men Il
Read Their Own Death Warrants
Case of Red Tape and Bullet.
Premonitions get little attention. anI
those who have them little sympathy
In these days. During the war. how
ever, d premonition came to be looked
upon as most unwelcome guest. II
the company | went out with there
were two Garfield brothers. The young
err, a quiet, modest fellow who spehl
his leisure time writing letters and
| reading, never joined in camp amuse
ments, told a few of his more intimate
| friends while the regiment was IN
camp opposite Fredericksburg. Va, in
1862, that he would be wounded in
the first battle he went into and die
from the effects of it. The boys laugh
ed at him and tried to cheer him up,
but is was of no use, he never changed
his mind. Aug. %, 1862, was the first
battle of the regiment. Young Gar
field was as brave as the bravest ut
Gainesville.
This is my first and last fight, boys,
and l shall do my duty is what he
said when the regiment plunged into
that battle. in which the Iron brigade
of four regiments and two regiments
of Doubleday's brigade, the Fifty-siXth
Pennsylvania and the Seventy-siX,A
New York, met "StoneWall' Jackson's
sixteen regiments and held them in
check for four hours, our brigade alone
losing 500 of its $500 men.
I'm hit; goodby. boys" said Gar.
rear.
Yours is a flesh wound in the calf
of the leg and in few days will be
all right" said the surgeon to Garfield,
Tell my parents did not shirk my
duty" pleaded the poor boy.
And he lay there without Il word of
complaint and died.
Near him was "Kicker" Finch of the
same company with Il shattered knee
much worse wound than Garfield'S
Finch demanded attention He forced
the nurses to keep his wound bathed in
cold water, and if they were at all neg
lectful he swore at them. Finch lived
to kick about poor bareback and salt
junk cut from dead horses. but Garfield
is sleeping in the Bull Run cemetery.
Frank King was a rollicking young
fellow in the same company, generous,
brave and popular, singer who always
drew an audience. Like hero he
fought at Gainesville, Second Bull
Run, South Mountain. Antietam. Fred /
and Fitzhigh Crossing
Lime, this finishes my fighting" was
what Frank King said to Lime White,
a comrade, just as the Sixth Wisconsin
swung into line for a charge the first
day at Gettysburg
KILLED in battle" is what the orderly
entered after Franks name that night
Have all the fun with me you de-
sire, gentlemen; it is your last chance"
was what Major Phil Plummer of the
Sixth Wisconsin said to a company of
officers who were chatting him about
being so very sober the day before
Grant moved into the Wilderness in
1864, FOrty-eight hours later they roll
ed his blanket about him and buried
him where he fell Nothing could con
him thot lNo
N that battle, though he had escaped
n dozen other great battles
Captain ROllin P. Converse. who had
won his way from the ranks and gone
through n score of great battles, went
nto the first days fight of the Wilder.
hess, May 5. 1864, confident that he /
would do his last fighting that day. He
never fought more bravely. They left
him on the field with a thigh cruelty
orn and death looking him squarely in
he eye.
A Confederate surgeon told Converse
hat his leg would have to come off.
THAT would not save my life. so let ,
t alone" was his quiet reply. But the
urgeon began to arrange for an ampu. 1
alton. {
LET that leg alone" said Converse. Z
The surgeon paid no attention to the
wounded captain until Converse had l
aiken out his revolver and pointed it at
i'm. There was no amputation, and +
he next day they buried Converse with
9th legs
Lieutenant John Timmons of Com q
any c was entitled to muster out July
6. 1864. his three years having ended, !
ut red tape interviewed and delayed a
he order. Days and weeks passed 6
,ithOut the word which would take r
i'm out of the service On the night OF
ug. 16, 1864, an order came for the t
egiment to march. A march then, In T
ont of Petersburg, meant battle.
This is tough" said Timmons. a.
1vh 70 hoT