Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-06-17
THE WAGES OF WAR.


THE WAGES OF WAR.
Ii was few days after the news of Buena Visits
The very day that the mail brought the oflicia
list OF the killed and wounded-we were seated in
the Office reading over the names with sad curl
osity, seeking out those with which we were of old
familiar. Mckee we remembered well-a dashng
daring artillery officer he was in the Third when
we knew him. But he married. left the service,
engaged in business, and at the opening of the war
resumed the epaulets as Colonel of Kentucky Vo-
unleer Regiment. Brave fellow none b.aver fell
ON that bloody field.
We were sorrowfully enough engaged by these
thoughts, when young woman entered the office
Nhen we say young. we mean under thirty. She
had small girl by the hand--a beautiful little
creature, about three years old. Both mother and
child, (tor such no could doubt to be the rela-
tlonshlp who observed their features were dressed
with extreme neatness, though all the little ele-
gancles Ut decoration bestowed upon the child
we Just looked over the top of the paper to note
these particulars when, having been directed TO us
by the clerk, she came forward to our desk
We handed her chair, and, while we endea-
vored as well as we could to soothe her very appa-
rent agitation, we were somewhat at a loss to ac-
count for its existence.
After few minutes conversation, we discover
ed the reason in the fact that she was relative of
soldier IN Captain IS company of artillery
L MS corps had been engaged, and, we remember
Ell, had suffered very severely She had been in
formed that the list of killed and wounded had ar
rived, and she had called to hear some intelligence
Of his fate.
She wished us TO read over the names.
we again took up the paper, and proceeded to
comply with her request. We shall never forget
the expression of that womans features as we read
Her agony was terrible. She was not unhand-
some but her face became CHASTITY pale, and her
eyes looked unutterabe despair she fixed them
upon the child, who was playing with newspaper
and laughing joyously in its needless innocence.
Her lips We're cooress, the perspiraton started on
her forehead, and, as she lifted her hand to wipe
the large drops away, we could see it trembling as
though palsied
The pIesentiment of evil had already almost bro
Ken her heart, and we knew that the relative must
be rery near one.
She had avoided giving us her name, and, so
soon as we found the list, appalling long, which
comprised the casualties Of the designated corps,
we began TO read. We did not know when we
would reach the fatal name, if at ALL and at each
individual we looked inquiringly in the woman's
face. She said nothing, however, for some time,
and we began to hope that the name was not down,
when read
''John ---, sergeant, KILLED"
Such a scream! II was the wall of broken
heart. Only one-and then still as death The
cry was ringing in our ears for month. We i'm
medlatey ran towards her, but she from her
chair motioned us her thanks, and without word
left the office. We had read to her the announce
anent Of her husbands death. We did not do
much service in the office that day.
The next morning, happening down on the
wharf, we saw the woman and her little girl going
on board the Cincinnati packet. She recognized us,
and we spoke to her. She was crushed complete
IT, She had grown twenty years older in as many
hours. She informed us that she had resided with
her husband in New York; that she was original
ly from the West, and, on his corps being ordered
to Mexico, she determined to repair to her friends
and await the conclusion of the war. She had
heard of the battle, and knew that Capt. IS
battery was engaged, and on her arrival in Pitts
burg had been directed to the journal Office for fur
ther information. She arrived the very morning
after the receipt of the list of killed and wounded
We babe her goodbye. She continued her route
TO her glrlhood's home, now desolae, rs was all the
world TO her and we 10 our daily business, sad
der man, indeed.
The little incident recorded above was recalled
to our mind on Saturday, by reading in Western
paper the notice of the death OF "Mrs. Sarah
-----, widow OF John - soldier killed i'm
the battle of Buena Vista"
1t was acquantance-there could be no mis-
take. She had grieved herself TO death for her
husband Pits. Jour.
The PRAlRIEs.-Bryant has written delight
fu poem-second only TO his "Thanatopss"-o
these gardens of the desert" poetcal contri-
butor to the Burlington (Vt.) Free Press has also
apostrOphized them, but in more practical and
familiar style He says:
Great western waste CT bottom land,
Flat as pancake, rich as grease
Where gnats are full as big as toads,
And 'skcctcrs are as big geese
D, lonesome, windy, grassy place,
Where buffaloes and snakes prevail
The first with dreadful looking face,
The last with dreadful sounding tail
I'd rather live on Cancels rump,
And be yankee doodle beggar,
Than where they never see stump,
And shake to death with feyer-na ger!
At an amateur theatrical performance at ST.
James Theatre, London, for the benefit OF the
Irish, prologue, written BY Lord Mo1poth, was
spoken. 1t contained the following ausion TO the
American contributions for the relief of the Irish
''Frcm every rank the generous aid has flown,
And caught its earliest impulse from the throne,
Nor pauscs here, but lands and occaus DER
Waits the best freight from far Counrba's shore !"
The Washington Union says that "the plorie,
Of this war cluster upon the brow of the Presi
dent" We think that martial glories are Just a.
bout as likely 70 cluster upon Mr.. Folks forehead
as corns are to grow upon Santa Annals wooder
toes,--Frentice.