Year: 1873

erprogress on the part of the engineer corps.
One of the spiked guns, 200 FOUNDER Par
rot, completely rakcd the rifle pits, and 1t
was of the utmost importance that II sh )u!d
be brought into action but every attempt
made by the Union men TO effect this met
with murderous volloy from the vigilant
rebel marksmen. In this difficulty the
chief of ordnance called for volunteers to
restore the piece 10 service.


To do this it was necessary to mour the
cannon and drill out the spike obstructing
the vent while the foe were diligently oc-
cupied on their part, in picking off the
venlIresome workman from his perch.
Us no one seemed ambitious TO undertake
the venture, the chief of ordnance, Col.
Mordecai, applied to John Stray, private
in the 1st New York Volunteer Engineers,
who, besides being skillful machinist,
had given proof on several occasions of un-
usual GOODNESS and daring. At the request
of the Colonel he inspected the gun, but the
shower of bullets which greeted his appear
ance was not calculated to encourage him,
and he reported that he did not think any
one could live long enough OIL the cannon
to unspike it and havnga wife and young
children, he was not desirous of making
the effort. without trying to influence
him against his inclination, the Colonel re.
piled that he were willing TO make the
attempt and should be killed, he Uhe Col
oneD would see that his family were pro-
vided for


This promise decided Stray, and he con
cuded to try and achieve the feat. At
nightfall he went forth on his perious er-
rand, armed simply with brace and bits.
Stradding the breech of the monster piece,
and crouching as low as possible, he piled
the drill vigorously. No sooner had he
begun to work than The enemy perceived
him, and flash after flash succeeded from
their rlfe-pits. 1t is one thing TO exhibit
prowess amid the clash and rush of battle.
fred by the contagion Of enthusiastic COM
rades, and another 10 brave death singly
and deliberately. Stray could see, as he
worked, the long rfle-p pits of the rebels.
not a hundred yards distant, abaze with
the light Of fifty rifles, and feel the wind of
their bullets rs ihey whistled past him.
Occasionally one struck the cannon, as he
noticed by the peculiar chirp of the impact.
Favored partly by the obscurity and more
by good luck, he remained unscathed, save
by one skin-scraping shot. In fifteen min
utes-it seemed to him an hour-the vent
was clear As the gun was loaded lam
yard and primer were passed up 10 him.
and these affixed, he slipped quickly off.
The rebels seeing him drop imagined they
had shot him and sent up yell of exulta-
tion, which was suddenly checked as a dis
charge of grape scattered death among
them. The rifle pits were at once abandon
ed, and our sappers and miners enabled to
proceed without further interruption. The
captain Of the battery reported twenty-five
| lead marks from bullets that had struck
the piece.


In reward for this exploit Stray was Offer
ed Second Lieutenancy, but being mod
est man, and not fitted by education for the
position, he declined it and was satisfied to
accept the appointment of Master Mechanic
in the Ordnance Department.


This was by no means the only adven-
ture of peril that Stray was engaged in dur
ing the war. and his history would make a
readible volume. He was presented by
| Mai. Gen. Gilmore with the bronze medal
for valorous conduct, of which we believe
but thirty mine in all were ever distributed.
Stray is now an engineer employed in a
factory in Jersey City. He is short, thick
set man of fifty or so, with a gray beard
fringing a quiet but determined counte-
nancc.'