Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-06-18
TERMS 80 so in advance.
WHOLE NO. ia.
From the Pittsburg Journal
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR.

AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR.
1t was few daysafter the news OF the bat
tie of Buena Vista-the very day that the mail
brought the official listof the killed and woun-
ded-we were seated in the office, reading O.
yer the names with a sad curiosity, seeking
ont those with which we were, of old, famii-
lar. Mckee, we remembered well-he was
in the Third when weknew him. But he mar
rled, left the service, engaged in business, and
at the opening of the war resumed the epau-
lettes as colonel of Kentucky volunteer regi-
ment Brave fellow none Drawer fell on
that bloody field.
We were sorrowfully enough engaged by
these thoughts when young woman entered
the office. When we say young, we mean
under thirty. She had a small girl by the
hand-a beautiful little creature, about three
years old. Both mother and child, for such
no one could doubt to be their relationship
who observed their features, were dressed
with extreme neatness, although all the little
elegancies of decoration were bestowed upon
the child.
We just looked over the top of the paper to
note these particulars, when, having been d.
rected to US by the clerk, she came forward to
our desk.
We handed her chair, and while we en-
deaVored as well as we could to soothe her
very apparent agitation, we We're somewhat
at loss to account for its existence
After few minutes conversation, we dis
covered the reason, in the fact that she was a
relative of a soldier in Capt IS company
of artillery. This corps had been engaged,
and, we remembered, had suffered very severe
ly. She had been informed that the list of
the killed and wounded had arrived, 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 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 newspaper and laughing
joyously in its needless innocence Her lips
were colorless, the perspiration started on her
forehead, and as she lifted her hand to wipe
the large drops away, we could see it trem-
bling as though palsied.
The presentiment of evil had already almost
broken her heart; we knew that the relative
must be gerry near one.
She had avoided giving us her name, and
which comprised the casualties of the designa-
ted 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 in
quiringIy into the woman's face. She said
nothing, however, for some time, and we be-
gan to hope that the name was not down,
when we read
John --, Sergeant, killed"
Snrh ccraapo r Of, l,ro
ken heart. Only one-and then as still as
death That cry was ringing in our ears for
a month. We Immediately ran towards her,
but she arose from her chair, motioned US her
thanks, and without word left the office
We had read to her the announcement of
| her husJand's 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 completely She had grown twenty
years older, in as many hours. She informed
New York. That she was originally from the
West. On his corps being ordered to Mexico
she determined to repair to her friends, and
| CIV DIT LIC COICIuSIOu vi lllc NdI. CHc lldI
heard of the battle, and knew that Captain
-'s battery was engaged, and on her ar
rivalin Pittsburg had been directed to the Jour
nal office for further information. She arr.
we'd the very morning after the receipt of the
list of killed and wounded.
We babe her good bye. She continued hel
route to her girlhood'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 re.
called to our minds on Saturday, by reading il
a Western paper the notice of the death O
g Mrs. Sarah --, widow OF John --
a soldier, killed in the battle of Buena Vista.
1t was our acquaintance-there could be nc
mistake.
She had grieved herself to death for be-
husband.
We have often been called upon, on bust
ness of similar nature, by the wives Of off
GERS and soldiers, but none of them ever lef
so strong, yet so painful an impression, a
the wife of the artillery man killed at Buen;
Vista.