The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-08-10
ONLY ONE KILLED.

Ouo hliAeU anu tHr6c WOUNDED.
"That all !" said l. Hardly worth the cost
of telegram"
There had been a reconnaissance, a surprise
of enemy's scouts, brief, sharp engagement,
ending successfully, and casualties as above.
A pair of sober grey eyes were turned upon
my face, and read in them silent rebuke for
this lghtness of speech.
.And yet" added, by way of apology for
my remark, " the loss of this single life may
shadow more than a single home, Cups that
held until now only sweet wine may be full of
bitterness hereafter"
"What company was engaged p asked
man, who sat near. The newspaper was re-
ferred to, and the answer given.
"Compary c."
"Colonel Rs regiment"
AYES, sir"
care the names of the killed and wounded
given ?"
noticed slight unsteadiness in the mans
voice.
"No names are given"
May see your paper for nomentT"
handed him the newspaper, in which /
had read about the reconnaissance, and what
seemed, at that moment a casualty not worth
reporting. / saw that his hand trembled a
little, and that his eye searched through the
| sentence of the telegram in an eager way.
"Thank you" he said, as he returned the
paper, "there are no particulars" Then with
a falling of the voice. he added, 81 have a son
in that Company
| Remembering the light speech into which a
| want of reflection had betrayed me, / did
venture to respond in any way lest the real
concern l now felt might be regarded, if ex-
pressed, as only a pretense. Soon after the
| man nodded 10 the conductor of the car in
| which we were riding; the check string was
| pulled, the car stopped and he went our. My
eyes followed him AS the car moved on until l
saw him enter house Two days afterwards
Il had forgotten the triAing matter of one
killed and three wounded-in passing this
house l saw Grape on the door. My heart
| leaped with painful throb.
"Who is dead in the third house below"
asked of the stoor-keeper at the corner.
Mr.. BIS son. He was killed"
2" In the WARP
"Yes, sir. News came three days ago, that
one man had been killed in a reconnaissance,
and it turned out to be his son, Edward. All
sir, he was a splendid young man, and it will
60 hard with his father and mother. And
hard, to" he added, lowering his voice, for
one besides them"
"Had he wife2" I inquired.
"No sir" he was not married"
"a sweet hearth"
"Yes. He was engaged, believe"
Only one killed How differently the fact
impressed me nowl 1t was no longer an un-
realized newspaper announcement, but at pres
ent, stern reality.
"Has the body arrived 2" asked.
ayes; they brought it home to-day Mr.
b went for it himself"
"Was it much disfgured ?"
"No. A ball passed through the heart
killing him instantly"
"Had Mr.. B--other sons ?"
| NJ - II L. Ia
great loss, sir"
How does he bear it. Have you heard7
"I saw him an hour ago."
aWell7"
"He was very calm; but sir, he looked te1
years older. Mr.. B is one of those mel
who bear things patiently; but he has deeI
feeling nevertheless. That boy was his idol.
"How is it with his mother ?"
The store keeper shook his head. 81 aske
Mr.. B, but his eyes filled, and he choke
in irving to answer. I'm almost afraid it wi
be too much for her. She is not very strons
D mDid they oppose his going to the war 2"
uMr. B--did not. He is an earnes
man and loves his country too well to hol
back anything while she is in danger.
Only one killed How Insignificant th
= fact seemed when the telegraph made this ar
nouncement; but what bitterness had followe'
Only one killed.
On the day following noticed, IN passing
a large funeral procession. OF the tens
thousands who had fingered scarcely n'
ment over the brisf telegram announcing bl
one killed and three wounded, had the inla.
!. nation of one individual pictured distinctl
q solemn scene like this as following in nat
raj sequence, or given the faintest realization
the sorrow and suffering that lay veiled b
hind?
Fifty killed and two or three hundred wour
', ded All, now the pulses beat. Here is som
nd thing worth whilel How strangely this fam
iarity with war ices over the heart One, tw
. three hundred killed or mangled. 1t is awf
to contemplate and yet we must como to Il
single cases to get at the heart of this fesrf
matter. Away from every battle field. fro
i. every skirmishing ground; heart cords stretc
in single lines, TO as many hearts and hon
AZ there are individuals, and death, or woun
ing. thrill these sympathetic lines, each wi
its own wild fire and anguish.
aThat is Mr. B.. His son was killed
q skirmish with the enemy. He belonged
Re. company c. a -, t..r,,.