A Soldier's Memory

My name is 1st Lt. Linbo Chen. I was a proud Union soldier who was in the 4th Michigan Infantry, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps. Col. Harrison H. Jeffords was my fearless leader. On July 2nd, he lead us to help the big hook- shape defense line that the Union troops formed on Cemetery Hill from Baltimore Pike and went across Rock Creek. After that, we went south and fought drastically against the enemies in the Wheat Field at about 5:00 p.m. Unfortunately, My left eye was stabbed by a long-bearded, short man and I passed out in the very beginning of the battle. This is the only thing I remembered at that moment and I couldn`t forget it for my rest life time. I couldn`t feel anything until I woke up in the next morning in a large tent. A field medic told me that a soldier in the same infantry heroically killed that man and saved my life in the process. However, I was permanently blinded on the left side. That morning, my best friend, Jim Martin, died after a short battle with smallpox. I was very sad but so numb that I couldn`t even cry. Off in the distance, the sound of cannons firing pierced my ears and the stench of gun powder filled the air. I shook uncontrollably at the thought of battling again and hoped that no one would see my trembling hands. But soon after that, I went back to the chaotic frontline with the bandage still on like a badge of honor. About 1 o` clock in the afternoon, I heard the good news came from Culp`s Hill, our brave and strong men beat back a fierce assault launched by the Confederates, that made me feel extraordinarily excited and gave the encouragement to fight even sharper. The two long lines bombarded the fields of each other on top of the brief break. The sounds of the horrible explosions were so loud that they almost made me deaf. The long trench was filled with bloody bodies and separated arms and legs. Acrid smoke was everywhere. It seemed like the danger was everywhere and I could neither escape nor ask for help. The...