The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-04-26
IlIS0RILLLAN NIATOSo
THE SOLDIERS TEAR
By s. C. HALL.

Ii il now many years since the first bal
r talon of the l7lh regiment of foot: unde
orders TO embark for lnda-ihal far dislan
Hand, where so many OF our brave country
men have fallen victims 10 the climate, and
where so few have slept in what soldiers
call the bed Of glory'-were assembled in
the barrack yard of Chatham, to be inspect
ed previously TO their passage on board
the Transport which lay moored in lhc
Downs.
Ii was scarcely daybreak when The meI
ry fife and drum were heard over all pari,
If The town, aud the soldiers were seer
sallylng forth from their quarters, 10 JON
The ranks with their bright fire locks on
shoulders, & knspsacks and caneens las
tened TO their backs by belts as white as
snow. Each soldier was accompanied by
some friend or acquaintance, or by sOm5
t..-i: 81 .--:.L Io-----....I--- =
han either, and there was a strange aud
,omlimes whimsical mrngling OF weeping
and laughing among the assembled group
The second battalion was 10 remala ~
England; and the greater portion OF Ihr
Division were presenlto bid farewell To
iheir old companions 10 arms. But among
The husbands and wives, uncertainty a, u
their destiny, prevailed; lor The lots were
yet TO be drawn-ihe lots that were 10 de
lcide VIII ch of the women should accom-
pany the regiment, and which should re-.
main behind Then Of each company were
10 be taken, and chance was the ony arbD.
Ter. Without noticing what passed else
where, | confined my attention 10 that COM
pany which was commanded by my friend
Cap,. Loder, brave aud excellent officer
who, AIN sure, has no more than myself
orgo ,len The scene to which refer.
The poor women had gathered around
he flag surgeal, who held The lots in his
asp-len of them marked TO co --and all
The others contained the fatal words, TO
REMAIN il was a moment dreadful
suspense and never have seen The ex
treme ofanxiey SO powerfully depicted in
counlenance of human beings as in the lea
lures OF each of the soldiers wives who
composed lha. group. One advanced and
drew her tickct-lt was against her, and
she rstrsated sobbng. Another, she sue.
ceeded, and giving loud huzza, ran off 10
the dislan, ranks 10 embrace her husband
A third came onward with hesialing step;
tears were already chasing down her cheeks
and there was an IN natural paleness or her
Interesting ard youthful counlenance. She
unrolIed the paper, looked upon it, and
with deep groan fell back and tainted,
So intense was the anxiety Of every per.
son present that she remained unnoiced
until all the tickets had been drawn, and
The greater number of women had left the
spot. then looked around, and bOheld
her supported by her husband, who was
knee!lng upon the ground, gazing upon her
face, and drying her fast fallen tears with
his coarse handke erchiel and now and then
pressing it to his own manly cheek.
Captain ..oGer advanced towards them.
/ am sorry, Henry Jenkins, said ht
that fate has been sgains! you-but bea
up, and be stoul-hearled.
Il am so, captain said The soldier, a,
he looked up and passed his rough hand a
cross his face, but 'lis a hard thing IL
part from wife, and she SO soon 10 be q
motter.'
'Oh, captain sobbed the young woman
'as vCu are bo;h husband and father, do
not lake him from me! have no friend
IN the wide world but one, and you will
let hi n abide with me-! Oh, take me with
him!-lake me with him, captainH She
Hell on her knees, laid hold of the officer,
sash, clasped it itmly between her hands
and looked up into his face, eGCalming
IOh leave me my only hope, at least Nil
God has given me another and repeated
IN heartrending accents, On, take me with
, him! take me with him!
The gallant officer was himself in tears