The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-01


frozen to the roof Of my mouth, and was
utterly immovable. The fierce struggle
that then cOnvulsed my spirit,it is impos-
sibIe for human words to describe. felt
a clammy dampness streaming from every
pore of my body; so profuse was it that
the men observed it with evident disgust;
and as they proceeded with their ungrate-
iul task, | was certain | had thrown into
my limbs slight degree of muscular mo-
ton. But so absorbingly were they en-
gagged in their work, that they paid not
the slightest heed to this evidence of lin.
gering vitality, but hastily proceeded, till
at length the last stitch had been taken
and, enclosed in tight fitting sack, like
an Egyptian prepared for the tomb, | was
laid along the ground to await the arrival
Of my comrades to bear Inc to the chap.
paral.
My horrible Gaie ysNN seemrd irevoca.-
bly, sealed, and ceased to struggle with
it. My doom was inevitable So strong
indeed became this impressiOn-so utterly
devoid hope was my Situation-t my
soul was now plunged into depth Of calm,
resOlute despair, and Iprayed to God that
death might suddenly come, to rescue me
from further lingering sutferingS, and that
| might altogether cease to exist wIile
this comparative calmness was upon my
soul.
I-eOuld not have remained long in this
condition, when heard the measured
tread of feet approaching me X aud then
the familiar voice Of my orderly sergeant,
as he gave the order to halt, and in few
low spoken words, directed his men 10
place me upon the rudely constructed bier.
felt myself lifted gently from the ground
and placed upon the rough crossbars Of
the tottering machine, which had already
borne many a poor fellow to his long
home, whittier my bearers doubted not
they were about to convey me. Then |
heard the order to march; and the plain
tive notes of the softly blown fife, and the
mutfied drum, tloated upon the brcczcless
air, and fell upon my senses like healing
balm.
The sweet but melancholy music SEEM
cd to vibrate through my brain with the
force OF galVansu, and | ain sure it was
not cadavrrous sweat that bedcwed my
checks, but tears-warm, gushing tears!
ohN Nith W
Heaven, | was now wholly resigned. o!
how the sweet melody Of that death
march" thrilled through my soul, and
seemed but the prelude of that sublime
song of welcome which was TO greet me
on the other side of the dark barrier was
SO soon to pass
With regular and measured motion |
felt myself borne along, and cxquisitely
sensitive was its external impressions, that
| was conscious of every bush and tree by
which | passed; and the cold shadows Of
ing breath Of the late norther
When the procession, moving with slow
rand solemn step, at length reached the
grave, and the melancholy dirgc had ccas-
ed, heard the low nuttcred words Of my
comrades, as they spoke kindly Of me, or
commisserated my early death T.: and one,
it was my messmate Harry Waters, with
one hand resting ON my breast, read aloud
but with trembling accents, the solemn
aud impressive service for the dead, ap-
pointed by the church. Then was lifted
from the bier, and with gentle hands and
low tones placed safely in the marrow
house"
The grave was found too shallow, and it
was proposed to lift me out again and dig
it deeper. But fortunately for me, as the
sequel proved, Sergeant Fry objected to
this, upon the plea that doubtless as soon
as the news of my death had reached my
friends at home, they would probably re.
move the body. And So was suffered to
lie, while my comrades heaped the light
sandy soil carefully upon me.
As | felt the cold earth upon my breast
and over my face. and the last rays of light
were shut from my eyes, my desires for
life returned again with u hundred fold
more force if possible than ever, and again
| essayed to st tuggle. But as before the
effort was in vain; and in few minutes
felt the last pats of the shovel upon the
finished mound; and even. then, buried as
| was in two feet Of earth, heard the or
der to the men to form in platoonS on each
side Of the grave, anu prepare to fire the
last parting volley over me.
1t was to that friendly crack of the ri.
ties, that burst in simultaneous explo-
sion, that am indebted to life for the
sudden conclusion seemed to rend my
brain, aud the violent shock, like current
of electric fluid, shot through my frame,
and instantly restored the action of sus-
pended circulation; and once more, blessed
be the God of Heaven! | found the use
of my tongue!
The porous earth did not entirely cx-
cfude the air, and from the grave shout
ed aloud for help. But had been above
ground, and my lungs in perfect health,
my friends could not have heard me for
at that moment they had resumed their
rrarch, and were huFrie6}y moving van1ps
ward 10 the step of cheerful aud noisy
tune.
As soon as found the use of my hands,
strove with violent efforts TO free them
from the tight swathmgs in which was
bound and, thanks to the heartless
wretch who had substituted his own rot
ten blanket for my new Mackinaw," it
soon gave way! And then slowly, but
with desperate struggle, dug the soil
from my breast and face; and, Heaven be
praised !-once more the warm, glorious
light and air of the upper world were
mine
But this terrible effort was too much for
my exhausted frame, and must have
sunk into lethargic but refreshing sleep;
for when | again recovered sensation, the
cold, calm moon was streaming down thro'
the scattered branches Of the mimosas
above me,-the silence of the grave was
about Inc. The cool, fresh night air en-
tered my lungs with the invigorating effect
of tonic cordial and, as | gradually
gained strength drew myself limb by
limb from that living grave.
After several unsuccessful attempts, |
at length, with the aid of the surrounding
thickets, gained my feet, and with slow,
faltering steps, reached the open plain,
upon which was. cleaning the low and
nearly consumed fire of our camp. In
my enfeebled state i: seemed long jour
ney to perform; but finally reached the
/ I