CADETS IN THE AMERICAN WAR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2617, 20 April 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

CADETS IN THE AMERICAN WAR.

The Hon. John S. Wise, of Virginia, contributes to the Century some of his reminiscences as a cadet of life at " The West Point of the Confederacy," and gives a vivid account of boys iu battle at New Market, an engagement in which 56 of the boys out of a crops of 225 were killed :—" Up to this time I was still corporal of the guard, in charge of the baggage-waggon, with a detail of three men —Redwood, Standard, and Wondlief. We had not been relieved, in the general bustle and confusion. My orders were to remain with the waggons at the bend in the road, unless our forces were driven back, in which case we were to retire to a point of safety. When it became evident that a battle was imminent, a single thought took possession of me, and that was that I would never be able to look my father in the face again if I sat on the baggage-waggon while my command was in its first, perhaps its only engagement. He was a grim old fighter, at that moment commanding at Petersburg. He had a tongue of satire and ridicule, like a lash of scorpions. I had nearly worried him out of his life with applications to leave the institute and enter the army. If, now that I had the opportunity, I should fail to take part in the fight, I knew what was in store for me. Napoleon in Egypt pointed to the Pyramids and told his soldiers that from their heights forty centuries looked down upon them. My oration delivered from the baggage waggon, was not so elevated in tone, but equally empatic. It lan about thuswise: —"Boys, the enemy is in our front. Our command is about to go into action. I like fighting no better ' than any body else. But I have an enemy in my rear as dreadful as any before us. If I return home and tell my father that I was on the baggage guard when my comrades were fighting, I know my fate. He would kill me with worse than bullets —ridicule. I shall join the command forthwith. Anyone who chooses to remain may do so." All the guard followed. The waggon was left in charge of the black driver. Of the four who thus went, one was killed and two were wounded. We rejoined the battalion as it marched by the left flank from tho pine. Moving 1 at double-quick we were in an instant in line of battle, our right near the turnpike. Rising ground in our immediate front concealed us from the enemy. The command was given to strip for action. Knapsacks, blankets, everything but guns, canteens, and cartridge-boxes were thrown down upon the ground. Our boys were silent then. Every lip was tightly drawn, every cheek was pale; but not with fear. With a peculiar norvou9 jerk wo pulled our cartridge boxes round to the front and tightened our belts. Whistling rifleshell screamed over us a?, tipping the hillcrest in our own front, they bounded over our heads. Across the piko to our right Pattou's brigade was lying down abreast of us. ' A-tention-n-n! Guide—Cen-tre-r-rr ! shouted Ship, and ofl we started. At that moment fruin, the left of tho line, sprang Sergeant-Major Woodbridge, and posted himself forty puces in front of the colours as directing guide. Bravo Evans, standing over six feet two, unfurled our colours that for days had hung- limp anil bedraggled about the staff, and every cadet in the institute leaped forward, dressing to the ensign, elate and thrilling with the consciousness that ' This is war!' We reached tho hillcrest iu our front, where we were abreast of our Bmoking battery and in full sight and range of the enemy. We were preying towards him at ' arms port' with the light, tripping gait of the French infantry. The enemy had obtained our range, and began to drop his shell under our noses along the slope. Echol's brigade rose up and were charging on our right with tho rebel yell. Woodbridge, who was holding his position as directing sersreaut, wns ordered to resume his place in the line. Down the green slope we went, answering tho wild cry of our comrades as their musketry rattled out its opening volleys. In another moment we should expeot a pelting rain of lead from tho blue line crouching behind the stone wall at the lane. Then came a sound more stunning than thunder, that burst directly in my face; lightnings leaped ; fire flushed ; the earth rocked ; the sky whirled around, and I stumped. I fell on my knees. Sergeant Cabell looked backed at me sternly, pityingly, and called out: "Close up men," and he passed me. I knew no more. When consciousness returned it was raining in torrents. I was lying on the ground which all about was torn aud ploughed with shell which were still Hcreeehiug in the air and bounding over the earth. Poor little Captain Hill of " C " Company wan lying near, bathed iu blood, with a fearful (rash over the tomple, and was gasping like a dying fish. Read, Merritt, and another, also badly shot, were near at hand. The battalion was 300 yards away, clouded in smoke aud hotly engaged. They had crossed the lane tho enemy held, and the federal battery in tho graveyard had fallen back to the high ground beyond. ' How came they there ?' I thought, and ' Why am I here ? Then I saw that I was bleeding from a deep and ugly gash in the head. The villainous rifled shell that burst in our faces brought five of us to the ground. ' Hurrah !' I thought, 'youth's dream is realised at last. I've got a wound, and am not dead yet !' and so, realising tho savoury truth, another moment found mo trudging along to tho hospital, almost whistling with delight at the thought that tho next mail would bear the glorious news to the old folks at home, with a rather taunting suggestion that after all their trouble they had not been able to keep mo from having my sharo of the fun.