New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-06-29
From the Pittsburgh Journal.
The Wages of War.

i, WAS few days after the news Of Buena
Vista-the very day that the mail brought the off.
c;si list Of the killed and wounded-we 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 veil
dashing daring artillery officer he was in the
third when we knew him. Bot he married left
the service engaged IN business. and at the open.
ing Of the war resumed the epaulets as Colonel of
Kentucky Volunteer Regiment. Brave fellow
none Drawer fell on that bloody field
We were sorowfaly enough engaged by these
thoughts, when young woman entered the off ce.
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. flor such one could doubt to be their rela-
tionship who observed their features were dressed
with extreme nestness. though all the little ele-
cances of decoration were bestowed upon the child
We inst looked over the top Of the paper to note
these particulars when having been directed to us
bv the clerk she came forward to our desk
We handed her a chair. and while we endeavor.
ed as well as we could to soothc her very apparent
agitsfion. we were somewhat 81 loss 10 account
for its existence.
After q few minutes conversation. we discovered
the reason in the fact that she was a relative Of
soldier in Captain IS company Of artillery -
This corps had been engaged aud, we remembered
had suffered very severely. She had been informed
that the list Of killed aud wounded had arrived and
she had called to hear intelligence Of his fate
She wished US to read over the names.
We again took up the paper, and proceeded 10
comply with her request We shall never forget
the expression Of that womans features as we
resd Her agony was terrible. She was not nm.
handsome but her face became CHASTITY pale and
her eyes looked uuuttersble despair as she fixed
them upon the child, who was playing with a
newspaper and laughing joyousy in its Needless
innocence. Her lips were coorless, the perspira.
ton started her forehead, and as she lifted her
hand to wipe the large drops away we could see
il trembling as though pasied.
Ine presentlment of evil had already almost
broken her heart, and we knew that the relative
must be rery near one.
She had avoided giving us her name, and. so soon
aswe found the list appalling long which comprised
the casualties Of the designated corps. we began
10 read. We did not know when we would roach
the fatal name if at all, and at each individual we
looked inqulringly in the womans face She said
nothing. however. Tor some time, and we began 10
hope that the name was not down, when we read
John -, sergeant KILLED"
Such a scream 1t was the wall Of broken
heart Only one-and then still as death. That
cry was ringing in our ears for q month We i'm.
mediately ran toward her. but she arose from her
chair, motioned us her thanks, and without word
left the Office. We had read 10 her the announce.
meRt Of her husbands DEATH We did not do much
service in the Office that day
The next morning, happening down on the
Wnar1, we saw tne woman and her little girl going
on board the Cincinnati packet. She recognised
us, and we spoke TO her She was crushed com
petely. 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
originally 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, aud knew that Captain
--'s battery was engaged, and on her arrival
In Pittsburgh had been directed 10 the Journal Office
for farther information She arrived the very NOR
ping after the receipt Of the list Of killed snd
wounded.
We babe her good bye She continued be r route
TO her grlbood's home, now desolate, MS was all
the world TO her and we to our daily business. a
sadder 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 -, a soldier killed
in the battle Of Buena Vista"
IL was our acquantance-there could be no mis-
take. She had grieved herself to death for her
husband.