The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1862-09-20
Saturday, September 20, 1862.
twelve Thousand Killed and Wound

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How easily the words are spoken;
how quickly they fash over the tele-
graphic wire. Hundreds Of Thousands
read them. and almost as quickly as
read is the subject forgotten. But
there are scme who never forget. who
never can forget the dreadful tidings.
Yonder is a mother. sitting lonely in
her home. A few months ago she
bade her son farewell. telling him to so
to the defense Of his country, and
mothers blessing vent with him. She
had asked the protecting care Of Heav-
en- tha. his head might be shielded in
the hour of battle. But now the It'd
ings comes that he is one of the twelve
Thousand. He has fallen in the sacred
cause for which he took up arms; she
will see him no more. The hope of
her declining years is cut of; the prop
on which she had expected 10 lean as
her life wore away to the grave is taken
from her: and oh. how sadly mouruful
is her heart. How to the latest hour
of her existence will she remember the
loss of the twelve thousand.
Yonder again is the young wife and
mother. She sits in the midst Of her
little ones. The news of battle has
reached her ear. With the one dearer
to her than life she has parted. Her
country called him and she would not
say no. though her heart ached. her
bosom heaved and her temples throb-
bed as she strove to conquer. She
clung about his neck and wept. oh such
tears. when he came to bid her adieu,
1t seemed she could not let him go
again and again she relaxed her EN-
brace only to renew it. She pressed
her tear-bedewed cheek against his
and murmured: "Oh, how can I Civ,
you up?" He cheered her with tender
words and loving caresses, and then the
parting kiss was given. "Oh would i
be the last!" she thought in her heart
But the days, and weeks and month
had glided BY. .cheered by frequent let
ters from the absen. ono. who neglect
ed no opportunity ;c write; and Away
there we're hope and life 10 her in hi
letters. He had passed through man
dangers safely. and she began to
more trustful. The news Of the gre.
bsttle came. Our army was victoriou.
but the loss was fearful. Eigh. thoul
and, said the General! That was fea,
ful. but the victory was ours! The
came the defeat of the following da,
Terrific lighting and fearful loss! tt
division 10 which her husband belonge
Was in the thickest of the fray. an
one-half the men we're killed or woun.
ed! Her cheek grew ashy pale. HI
heart almost ceased TO beat. She fea
ed to hear HE news, but it came.
''Your husband is among the killed!
The words arc spoken tenderly, b.
without due preparation and for
thought. and they fall with more tn.
leaden weight into her bosom. 81
staggers under the blow. Her eye fal
upon her fatherless children. How c,
she bear the trial. the loss? Oh, Il
dark. dark days Of widoehood tn
stretch away before her. She cam
muster courage TO look that dismal pi
ture in the face. and she turns from
All. she will remember the twel
thousand.
A maider has heard the intelligen
OF the battle. Her lover is there. 81
seizes the paper and hastily gIanc
over the columns to see if bis name
one among the fatal list. Suddenly b
eye pauses in its rapid survey. and
qaickly the paper falls from her nerv
less hand. She sees the name-he
one of the slain.
A few hours and his body arriv
among his friends for burial. Cans
see his remains? She must. Calli
up all her for'itude. she goes to t
place where the body lies in wait
the funeral rites. 1t 10 the sans not
brow. but oh. how pale! And the cy
are closed forever. those eyes that
often had looked with the language
love in her own-looked as they new
would again!
Oh, the desolation which swept oy
her spirit as hope died out of her bre.
and the pail Of a rayless night settl
down upon the future! Can she fors
the ''twelve thousand?"
The booming Of the cannon has har