The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-12-27
MOrtally Wounded.
A STORY FOR SOLDIERS READING.

The following facts occurred as an episode
of war i'll the midst of the thrilling incidents
of an Indian campaign. The narr ative, sim
pie as it is, may teach those who deprecate
the character Of soldiers land there are man,
who are apt 10 think they are bat fighting
machtnes) to regard them in a new light, aid
from nobler point of view:
The harsh music of war had died away
the noise and smoke OF battle had subsidized
and the British standard was futtering over
the gorgeous palaces of Lucknow.
The laundering boom of heavy guns and
the crashing blow of mortar-shells no Longer
reverberated amid the crumbling ruins o.
massive ediiices. Rattling of light artillery
clanking Of horsemen, battering volleys Of
nusketry, the wild cheer of battalons rushing
on the foe, and the glad shout of victory, al
were hushed.
The gunner was at rest; his pOrtfre was
extinguisheu, and in dreams he wandered
amidst the ruins he had made the chargers
saddle girth was loosed, and the horse KEEP,
watch over his weary rider. The strongholds
of the enemy were now the resting places oi
our men. But, alas the heart-rending groans
of the wounded were heard, and the las,
trembling whispers of a dying man fell on
my ear.
Twas sitting by the bed of one who had
but a short time to live, ard taking down, at
his request, the few words that he could with
great difficulty utter at irregular intervals.
His name was John Black, sergeant in
one of her majesty's regiments of foot -as
splendid a man as ever saw, whose death
scene presented to my mind picture which
| shall never forget. had seen good deal
of death. had often beheld hundreds OF
wounded lying on the field. | had got used
as the saving is, 'to those sort of things. -
Yet, the death scene of Sergeant Black could
never be looked on,or thought of unconcerned-
ly. \ single day before he was strong and
well; perhaps the strongest and finest man
IN his regiment-and that, reader, is saying a
coed deal. when you have British regiment
to deal with, (as every nation in the world
will confess-French, Russians, Persians,
Hindoos, Mahommedans. Afghans, Ghoorkas
Cinnamon, and MaorieS.) John Black, how
ever, was not only fine looking man, but,
with all his soldier-like bearing, he was gen.
lie anu courteous, anu Sio"I A"'oAAee Ai' hio
company. The officers OF the regiment used
TO talk of him very often together, and always
with evident pride, for there was no doubt
about it-he was splendid specimen of a
man. Vas Sad tense, indeed, Even the
morning before he was i'll his very prime
lusty, strong and happy. That day the reg-
ment were taken into action, and, as they
were s.orming one of the last of the enemy's
positions, a bullet struck poor Black, and the
strong man fell shot through the side-mo1-
tally rounded.
Heart-rending words, that convey the idea
Of an irlevocable doom, over which millions
of the worlds inhabitants have shed burning
tears of grief. Thrilling verdict that sepa-
rates forever comrades in arms. Mortally
wounded an end to earthly ambition,
earthly glory, earthly fame, earthly existence,
and yet the prelude to the greatest of human
victories.
1t was night as l sat by Blacks cot, in the
hospital where all our wounded men were