Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-06-17
Fr"m the Pittsburgh Journal.
The Wages Of the War.

"
vista-the very day when The mail brought
\ the official list of the billed and wounded
we were seated IN the office reading over the
names with ssd curiosity. seeking out ihos'
with which we were of old familiar. Nc.
Kee We remembered wcli-a dasbing, daring
artillery otlicer-he was in the third when
we knew him. But he married, left the ser
vice. engaged IN business, aud at tho open.
ing Of The war resumed the epanlettes as
colonel Of n Kentucky volunteer regiment,
\ Brave fellow !-..none btaver fell IN that
bloody field.
! We were sorrowfuly 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 ob
served their features, were dressed with ex.
lreme ncoiness, though oil the little elogan.
ces Of decoration were bestowed upon the
child.
! We Just looked over the top Of the paper,
10 note these particulars, when, having been
directed to us by the clerk, she came for
ward To our desk.
We handed her o chair, and while we on
deayorcd as well as we could To soolhe her
very apparent agitation, we were somewhat
at a loss 10 account for It's existence.
After n few minutes conversation, we dis
covered the reason IN the fact that she was
relntive of n soldier ~ Captain -s
company. Tins corps had been engaged,
and we remembered, had suffered very sc.
vercly. 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 ms to read over the names.
We again ,ooh up our paper, and proceed
ed TO comply with her request. We shal
never forget the expression Of that woman's
features, as we read. Her agony was terri.
bile. She was not unhandsome !; but her
face became ghusty pale and her eyes look.
ed unultorable despair as she fixed them up
on the child. who was playing with news
paper and laughing joyousy in its needless
innocen ller lips were colorless, the
prrspiratlon started on her forehead, and as
she lifted her hand to wipe the large drops
away, we could see /, trembling as though
palsled
Tho prcscn'iment Of evil had already al.
most broken her heart, and we knew that the
relative must be very near one.
She had avoided giving us her name, and
which comprised the casualties of the Gesig.
mated corps, we began TO read. We did not
know when we would reach the fatal name,
f at all, and at each interval we looked in.
quiringly in the ,womnn's facc. She said
nothing, however. for some time, and we lie.
gan TO hope that the name was not down
when we read -
"Juhn-, sergeant KILLED"
Such a scream 1t was the wall Of a
broken heart. Only onc-and then still as
death. The cry was ringing in our ears for
month. We Immediately ran towards her,
but she arose from her chair motioned US her
thanks. and without a word left the office.
We had read to her the announc emcnt
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 completely. 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 deter
mined to repair to her friends, and await the
conclusion Of the war; She had heard of
the battle, and knew that Cap,ain-'s bat
tery was engaged, and on her arrival in
Pittsburgh had been directed to the Journal
Office for information. She arrived the very
morning after the receipt of the list OF killed
and wounded.
We bude her good bye. She continued
her route to her grlhood'S home, now DESC
late, aud we TO our daily business, a sadder
man indeed.
The little incident recorded above was re-
called to our mind on Saturday by reading in
Western paper the notice OF the death OF
Mrs. Sarah---, widow of John---,
soldier, killed in the battle Of Bnenu VISTA"
II was our there could be
no mistake.
She had grieved herself to death for her
husband.