Holmes County Republican

Incidents at the late Fight in Western Virginia.

There were incidents connected with the late battle in Western Virginia which, in justice to some of the more humble participators in the contest, should be known. While the bullets were flying as thick as hail, several of the privates belonging to the Tenth fearlessly passed the space dividing our line from that of the enemy to a spring, for the purpose of procuring water for their wounded comrades. One gallant fellow who, although an Irishman, has acquired the name of 'Yankee Sullivan,' devoted himself to this employment, and when those for whom he ran such fearful risk begged him not to expose himself to what appeared certain death, he calmly shook his head, and replied that a man can die but once. By a seeming miracle, he got through the ordeal without receiving a scratch.
Those who were familiar with the Tenth, when they were at Camp Dennison, must have noticed the 'Little Corporal,' bright beautiful boy, some nine or ten years old. During the heat of the engagement, the 'Little Corporal,' was observed seated upon a fence calmly surveying the progress of the fight. He afterward said that he didn't mind the whistling of the bullets, until one struck a rail between his legs, when he concluded that his position was not the safest upon the field, and he beat a retreat.
At one time when messengers were hurrying to the rear for more ammunition, and Colonel Lytle, who, wounded and lying upon his back was nevertheless directing the movements of his men, had commanded them to close and fix bayonets, expecting that enemy would charge with his cavalry; many took advantage of the interval, to quietly load their pipes and indulge in the luxury of a smoke. Had not the Colonel been shot at a critical moment, there would have been a more bloody denouement. He had calculated the chance, and made up his mind to a desperate charge upon the enemy's works. Turning his horse sideway to his men, at the same time that he presented himself a prominent mark to Floyd's rifles, he waved his sword, and in a voice which rung above the roar of battle invited the Tenth to follow. A deafening cheer was the response, when at the moment he was struck, and the same ball killed his gallant steed. The odds would have been fearful, but with such fighting material, there is no doubt would have been successful.
Not calculating that our men would obtain such close quarters, the enemy had ranged his guns at an elevation which caused the balls to pass too high. To depress them it would have been necessary to expose themselves, but this, with characteristic prudence, they forbore doing. Had the Spartan band who, for one hour and a half stood the shock of Floyd's entire force, wavered and fallen back, there would have been sad havoc, and perhaps a panic. But to the discipline as well as courage of the Tenth is due the bull dog like determination with which they stood their ground, nor even in pain and prospective death was this feeling of military etiquette lost sight of. As they lay wounded side by side, the Colonel and his Secretary, Mr. J. H. Green, a cup of water was handed the latter, but although parched and feverish, he refused to touch it until his superior officer had been served. We might fill a page with similar records of courage and determination, and it must be a source of unalloyed pride to the commander that every private of the Tenth proved himself a hero.