Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-04-25


listed, but they felt from that day that
they must let him go. He went home
with them, and after few weeks they
gave him up, and he enlisted in the
Massachusetts 23d, Colonel Kurtz, as
drummer for one of the companies, be-
ing the youngest in the regiment. Dear
little ones, I cannot tell you how his
mother felt, how his father in his bitter
grief prayed, how many hot tears stained
the few articles he could carry, and then
almost as sorrowful as if to his burial,
they went to see him start. That day
the poor parents talked long together,
then the father went out, and while he
was gone the pale mother knelt with her
face hidden, asking for strength and pa
thence. When he came in, Albert knew
that he should not go alone, his father
had enlisted as private in the same
company, so as to take care Of that idol
lied boy. They sailed in the Burnside
Expedition, and ON all that long, dreary
passage, Albert was the light and joy of
his regime ent, and indeed of all the reg
iments on the vessel. So full of hope
and enthusiasm was he, that his father
wrote his mother, ''all the petting he
got did not seem to hurt him bit. -
Officers and men delighted to do him
tavors, and his prompt, saucy drumming,
won praise from the gallant Commander
| himself.
When the hazardous work of landing
began, Albert managed to be in one of
the first boats, and was, consequently,
among the first to stand on the enemys
island of Roanoke-theirs then, ours
now, thanks be to God. In that march
through slime and water, he did his
part we'll, not allowing his father to
touch his cherished drum for an instant.
At last they came in sight of the ene-
my's battery "Who will go and take
it?" asked the General COMMANDING
"The Massachusetts 23d." was the re-
ply. Forward, then, double-quickl' and
in the teeth of that CALLING fire they
rushed to their death as if it had been
to their bridal. Albert slung his
drum over his sholder, and seizing ri
he from wounded man near, dealt
true shots for his country. His father
fell wounded by his side, but he needed
him not, his whole soul had lost itself
in the work before him. ssLook at that
child" said one officer to another; "no
wonder we conquer when boys ightso." q"
At last the position was ours; the rebel
gunners turned and fed and for an instant
the roar of the battle ceased. So intent
was Albert that he never stopped, and
was loading again. when the Golonels
touched his shoulder. "Wait, rest a
minute, my young hero-don't, you see
they are running?' "Oh, glory
hallejah!" sang out the excited boy;
didn't l say they should run to the
old tunes?' and seizing disabled re-
volver for drum stick, he struck up,
in a wondrously defiant way, our impu-
dent old strain of Yankee Doodle. 1t
was strange sound as it rang out over
that field of death, and faint and weary
as our brave fellows were, they gave it
rousing welcome. a flying rebel
heard it, and looking back, took sure
aim at Albert. A man near the boy saw
him, and tried to pull Albert down, but
he stood his ground, and the ball did
not fail to do its deadly work.
"Oh, father!'' burst from the fearful
children; mot killed, was hep
"They thought him only stunned at
first, and bore him out of the crowd; /
they bathed his brow; and you will love
his knightly Colonel none the less when
| tell you that his strong arms held the
dying boy. His pale lips moved at
last, and they bent eagerly to hear his
words. Some inquiry for his missing
father, some last precious word for his
lonely mother? No; only his boylike,
(Which beat, tell me quick?' Tears ran
down the blackened faces, and one with
a voice husky with sobs said, 'We, AL
bert, the field is ours The ears of
death had deadened and they caught no
sound, and his slight hand tluttered i'm
patiently as again he gasped, what, tell
quick?' we beat EN- intirely, my boy,
said big Irish sergeant, who was cry
ing like baby. He heard, then, and
his voice was as strong aud as bright as
ever, as he answered, why don't You go
after EN-? Leave me, | II catch up-I m
a little cold, but running will warm me.
He never spoke again, the coldness of
death stifened his limbs, and so he
passed from the victory Of earth, to the
God who gave US the victory. They laid
him down tenderly, with his head rest
ing on a smooth green sod, and as his
wounded father crawled up to see him,
they feared wild scene Of lamentation,
but he only said: He would rather die
than have us beaten He was urged to
go home with Albert, to his mother, but
he would not, only saying to their So
licitations, albert would be ashame if
l did, and l will fight for him as long
as the war lasts.
The children did not play gunboat
any more, but wen5 quietly up to bed
and as Nellie said her prayers, she added,
in simple childish words, a hope that
God would make Albert's mother will
ling he should be dead, and that God
would tell her how Nellie loved her; and
here the tender little heart broke down
but VIII said, ''God knew just as we'll
as if she said it all, aud think he did.
Insect Appetite.
The man who wished he had throat
mile long, and palate all the way.
L o,,,, ~, Co in ho