A Touchiug War Incident.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 143, 16 May 1884, Page 2

A Touchiug War Incident.

The Milwaukee Sentinel tells a war story how a desparately wounded sol. dier was shot dead at his own request by a comrade : Henry J. Savage, one of the soldiers' home veterans, tells the follow* ing thiilling story of a war incident : The ofuinooted question, " Was ever a desparately wounded soldier shot doad, at his own earnest solicitation, by a comraJ ?" is answered m the affirmative by your humble servant. It happened as follows . The writer, a member of G Company, First Dela* ware Infantry, was then attached to the Third Brigade (Weber's), Third Division (French's) Second Corps (Suiuner\s). After wading Antietam creek, plunging through ploughed fields, stubble fields, aud corn fields, his regiment was finally located with-, m plain view of the enemy, when the welcome command ran along the line to " load and fre at will." It was | then that our daily target practice at Fortress Monroe came into excellent use, as many a poor devil of the Sixth ! Alabama learnt to his cost. After firing eleven rounds the writer was wounded and ordered to the rear. While retreating m order, but making most excellent time, his route led him through a portion of the Irish Brigade. Here he saw a sight that capped the climax of horror. A member of that devoted brigade was aimlessly stumbling around with both eyes shot out, begging some one, " for the love of God," to put an end to his misery. A Lieutenant of the Fourth. New York was passing by, and seeing the poor fellow's con* dition and hearing his appeal, he halted before him and asked him if he really meant what he said." "0, yes, comrade," was the reply, " I cannot possibly live and my agony is unendurable." Without another word the officer drew his pistol, placed it to the victim's right ear, turned away his head and pulled the trigger, A halfwheel, a convulsive gasp, and one more unfortunate had passed over to the silent majority." "It was better thus," said the Lieutenant, replacing his pistol and turning toward the writer, " for tho poor follow could — " Just then a solid shot took the Lieutenant's head off, and the " subsequent proceedings interested him no more."