Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-01
MORTALITY WOUNDED.
BY CAPTAIN DASH.

Inc 1actS narrated IN the following SKetcn
occurred as an episode Of war in the midst
Of the thrilling incidents Of an Indian cam
paign.
The narrative, simple as it is. may teach
those who depreciate the character of SOL
diers, land there are many who are apt to
think they are but fighting machmeS,) to re-
gard them in new light, and from no.
bier point of view.
The harsh music of war had died away,
the noise and smoke of battle had subsided,
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 of massive ediices. Rattling of light
artillery, clanking of horsemen, pattering
volleys of musketry, the wild cheer Of bat
talions rushing on the foe, and the glad
shout of victory-all were hushed.
The gunner was at rest his port-fre was
extinguished, and in dreams he wandered
amidst the ruins he had made; the charger
saddle girth was loosed, and the horse kept
watch over his wearied rider. The strong
holds Of the enemy were now the resting
places Of our men. But, alas the heart
rending groans of the wounded were heard,
and the last trembling whispers of dying
man fell on'my ear.
was sitting by the bed of one who had
but short time to live, and taking down,
at his request, the few words that he could
with great difficulty utter at irregular in
tervals.
His name was John Black, q sergeant in
Her Majesty's - Regiment of Foot as
splendid a man as ever l saw, whose death
scene presented to my mind picture which
shall never forget. had seen a good deal
of death. had often beheld hundreds of
wounded lying on the field" had "got
used," as the saying is, " to those sort of
things.n Yet the death-scene of Sergeant
Black could never be looked on, or thought
of, unconcernedly. A single day before, he
was strong and well, perhaps the strongest
and the finest man in his regiment and
that reader, is saying good deal when
you have British regiment to deal with,
(as every nation in the world will confess
French, Russians, Turks, Persians Hindoos,
Mohammedans, Afghans, Ghoorkas, China
men, and .Maories.) John Black was not
only, however, a fne-looking man, but
with all his soldier-like bearing he was
gentle and courteous, and great favorite
in his company. The officers of the regi-
ment used to talk of him very often to-
gether, and always with evident pride, for
there was no doubt about it, he was q
splendid specimen of "a man. Wasl Sad
tense, indeedl Even the morning befol Q
he was in his very prime--lusty, strong,
and happy. That day the regiment were
taken into action, and as they were storm
ing one of the last of the enemy's positions,
a bullet struck poor Black. And the strong
man fell shot through the side-mortaIly
i0oanded.
Heart-rending words, that convey the idea
of an irrevocable doom, over which millions
of the world Is inhabitants have shed burn
ing tears of griefF Thrilling verdict that
separates forever comrades in arms. Nor
tally wounded An end to earthly ambi-
ton, 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 were lying.
The place which had been selected for them
by the surgeon of the regiment was long
room in one of the largest buildings in
Lucknow. When first secured (which was
only two hours before) it was quite empty
and dusty. 1t had been cleared up little,
as many cots as could be had put into it,
and some dim oil-burners placed at inter
walls in the long apartment. There lay some
of our sick, and about thirty others who had
been wounded few hours before. TheiI
wounds had been looked to and dressed
but many Of the poor fellows were moaning
in great pain.
l could see the doctor slowly passing from
one bed to another, kindly attending to th
sufferers, and anxiously ministering to thei
wants cheering the men with hopeful
| words, and, as he left each patient, gently
| patting him on the shoulder, and looking a
| him with smile of comfort, which severa
| Of the men afterward told me beguiled tn,
pain Of their wounds, and filled their heart
with love; not only for the conseientiou
surgeon, but for all around them. Happy
glorious power of sympathy
In the midst of that impressive scene
them was sitting by poor Blacks bed, an
talking with him for the last time. He kne'
quite well that he was dying, for the tortul
ing pain of his wound told him it was mol
tai. He felt, too, as he expressed it, Ii
blood "frotbing' from his side, and h
strength failing, gradually at first but no
more quickly.
His face was pale and haggard, and thel
was a cold sweat over his brow, whiC
damped the fair hair about his Torches
and temples. His beautiful daIk-blue ey
had sad, restless look about them; b
lips were livid and dry, and he complainC
of incessant thirst. He had been tossir
about great DEAL but now he was t
weak TO do so. Occasionally his bod
} seemed TO writhe as it were, raising Il
clothes for few seconds, and then lettir
them sink again on the bed.
Such was mis- condition, poor fellow al
yet, much to my delight be it confessed
he was still brave, collected, and self-po
sessed. had written down q good man
of his wishes, which all displayed the affe
tionate and intellectual nature of the ma
then asked him if there was anything ell
he would like to express.
"Oh, yes, sir" he said, with falterir
voice; "but I'm giving you d great deal
trouble, sir"
ait is no trouble, Black" l replied; I"
will be great pleasure to me If can q
tend to your wants in any way"
ayes, sir" was his reply; "you've a
ways been kind captain and friend TO me,
The poor fellows unselhshness and graf