The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-31
A LIVING BURIAL.
BY DIR. s. COMPTON SMITH.

One night, while one of those bitter "northers'
of the month of June ls4G, was strewing the Texan
coast with the wrecks of vessels engaged in trans
porting troops and supplies to our army, it hap
pened to be my regular turn for guard mounting;
and in spite OF the thick Mackinaw blanket had
thrown about my person, the cold wind and frecz-
ing sleet pierced to the marrow Of my bones; and
on returning to my tent, after guard relief on the
following morning, carried with me ali ague that
threatened every moment to shake the very teeth
out of my head.
cd, upon my wet blankets, than was attacked by
the prevailing camp epidemic, which after few
hours assumed the more terrible and alarming
type of cholera. While writing with the fierce
spasms, that racked every fibre OF my body, l
was conveyed by my comrades OH blanket to the
crowded hospital tent and consigned to the care
OF the inexperienced young surgeon and his volun-
teer assistants.
But in spite of "Number SIKH and the rough
manpulations Of the hospital attendants, my ter
rible spasms continued, causing me the most excru-
tating agony. Had | been broken on the whit el
my suiferings could not have been more intense.
At length, after several hours Of the most acute
tortures, the cold, cadayerous perspiraton Of the
collapse stage OF cholera began 10 exude from my
eXcoriated surface; and as my physical prostitution
increased, with the same ratio my nervous excite
ment subsidized, till all pain was gone, and lay
niotioness and scarcely breathing upon my pallet
The attendants, under the directions of the young
doctor, had toiled most nahiuliy at the sl,inning
process till they had become as exhaust as nv
self-and fancied heard expressions OF satisfac
ton from them as they dcsstcd from their labors,
when informed by the medical man that it was
useless to proceed any further, as was then past
recovery.
''Poor fellow'' said the knd-hcarted surgeon;
"he's a goner; he's past all human skill, and the
dead march viii be playing for him before night!
Have q blanket ready, boys, to sew him up n!'
And saying this he turned away from me, and
walked away 10 the open air.
But although speechless and motionless, and
believe GREATNESS, still retained consciousness;
and with extraordinary acuteness Of perception,
was observant Of all about me. ! could hear every
groan uttered by my sick companions, and took in
every word whispered about myself. Some turned
their faces towards my blanket, and spoke kindly
OF me; others jested unfeelngly, and said had
been mustered out Of the service before pay day
had come round; while another replied, in what he
considered wtticism, that the Paymaster General
would settle my arrearages.
81 say, boys" suggested another, Suppose we
swap blankets with him. His is new one; he
drcy it from the Sutler only last week, and this
ere old un's good enough to bury fellow in''
So saying, the speaker, who was lane from an
accidental ieshot, tossed his out aud tat
tered blanket towards me, and reaching for a cor
ner OF NY new Mackinaw, appropriated it TO his
own use.
This cool robbery of the dead, as they then sup
posed, was looked upon as a good joke, aud was
applauded accordingly; and it was owing to this
trade of blankets, in which | was not consulted,
that doubtless ! am now permitted TO pen this
article.
SHORTY after TINS transactoa, the doctor, re-
turned, followed by my captain. The latter looked
around the tent, if searching for person he
could not readily discover, when the doctor point
ing to me, sad -
That's the man, Captain Bennett"
"Thats not one oil my men," replied the
captain.
ayes, sir! That's Benson, or rather what was
such, half an hour ago!"
lis it possbei Is that Benson, my company
clerk! My God! what change this terrible dis
ease has wrought in the poor fellow. How long,
doctor, did you say since he brcathed his last!'
'About half an hour so,'' was the reply.
- could have better spared better man" sighed
The GOOD captain he raised one hand 10 the corner
o, his eyes and walked ont OF the tent. Bat al
| lie reached the entrance lc TUNED and inquircd:-
"At what time shall send round burial party
| doctorgh