Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-06-17
THE WAGES OF WAR.

1t was few days after the news of Buena
Vsta-the very day that the mail brought the
official list of the killed and wounded-wc were
seated in the office reading over the names with
a sad curiosity, seeking out those with which we
were of old familiar. Mckee we remembered
we-a dashing, daring artillery officer he was
in the third when we knew him. But he mar
red, left the service, engaged in business, and
at the opening of the war resumed the epaulets
as Colonel of a Kentucky Volunteer Regiment.
Brave fellow none drawer fell on that bloody
field.
We were sorrowfully enough engaged IN these
thoughts, when young woman entered the Of
fee. When we say young, we mean under thir-
ty. She had small girl by the hand-a beau
tiful little creature, about three years old. Both
mother and child flor such no one could doubt
to be their relationship who observed their fea-
| tures) were dressed with extreme neatnesS, tho
all the little elegancies of decoration were be-
slowed upon the child.
We Just looked over the top of the paper to
note these particulars, when, having been direc-
ted to US by the clerk she came forward to our
desk.
We handed her chair, and, while we endeav-
ored as well as we could to soothe her very APP
parent agitation, we were somewhat at a loss to
account for its existence.
After few minutes conversation, we dscov-
cred the reason in the fact that she was rea-
tive of soldier in Captain IS company oil
artillery This corps had been engaged, and,
we remembered, had suffered very severely
She had been informed that the list of killed and
wounded had arrived, and size had called to hea:
some intelligence of his fate
She wished me TO read over the names.
We again took up the paper and proceeded to
comply with her request We shall never for
get the expression of the woman's features as
we read. Her agony was terrible. She was not
unhandsome; but her face became ghastly pale,
and her eyes looked unutterable despair as she
fixed them upon the child who was playing with
a newspaper, and laughing joyously in its heed
less Innocence. Her lips were colorless, the per-
spration started on her forehead, and, as she If
ted her hand 10 wipe the large drops away, we
could see it trembling as though palsied.
The presentiment of evil had already almost
broken her heart and we knew that the relative
, must be Uery 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 that fatal name, if at ALL and at each
individual VIC 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 we read
"John -, sergeant, KILLED"
Such scream! 1t was the wall of broken
heart. Only one--and then still as DEATH That
cry was ringing in our ears for month. We
Immediately ran towards her. but she arose from
, her chair, motioned TO us her thanks, and with
out word, left the office. We had read 10 her
HE announcement 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 60
ing on board the Cincinnati packet. She recog-
| nized us, and we spoke TO her. She was crushed
completely. She had grown twenty years older
in many hours. She informed US that she had
resided with her husband IN New York; that she
was originally from the West; and, on his corps
being ordered to Mexico, she determined to re-
pair to her friends, and await the conclusion OF
the war. She had heard of the battle, and knew
that Captain --'s battery was engaged
and, ON her arrival in Pittsburg had been dlrec-
ted to the Journal office, for further Information
She arrived the very morning after the receipt OF
the list of killed and wounded.
We babe her good bye. She continued hel
route to her girhood's home, now desolate, as
, was all the world to her; and we TO our daily
, business sadder man, indeed.
, The little incident recorded above was recall
ed to our mind, on Saturday, by reading, IN
Western paper, the notice of the death Of Mrs
Sarah -, widow of John -, soldier kIlle,
in the battle of Buena VISTA"
1t was our acquaintance -there could be NJ
, mistake. She had grieved herself to death TO
! her husband-PiHsbugh Journal