Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-05-08
Correspondence Charleston Courier
MEMPHIS, TESS, April 16. 1862

patriotism but there Is greater s which lives alone
10 the hearts of individuals which burns not less 10 the
souls OF age than throbs in the restless impulses of you.n
spirit which speaks with a voice of thunder amid
the din OF battle, and yet becomes a Christian halo |
arOund the bgd of suffering and death. But alas the
world dos not always ard recognise the Inspiration
until tue h0nortd p)sessOr has slipped the cables OF lie
and been h0rOe oeyOnd the reach of everything but
memory and tears.
1hese-thoughs are suggested by an incident which
related to by Dr.. eler, Of tits city, concern
ing lad fifteen years OF age named Charlie Jackson
who wounded in the recent battle and Is DOW lying
hopd-ssly at The point of death.
some months ago bis father raised q company in
which Charlie permitted to drill with the plvates
and finally became cert in Il manual OF that
young he was, be chosen The drill iaster Ia due
lme marching orders receiv,d Then, the father
consulting h age OF his boy, aud probably his own pa
terna feelings, gave him to understand that it was bis
wish he shosd remain at home 10 this Charlie sren-
uousy dEmurrd and plainly tod bis parent that if be
could not go with him, he would join another company,
Yielding to his obstinacy, sort Of silent YVES
giyen and the lad left Memphis with his comrades The
regiment TO which til belonged detached TO Bur0s
vile, several miles sta1t from Cornh and here it re-
NAMED until the Friday Saturd cading the bat
tie. Oders we're then recved that sh uld repair
once to the field and take its position. Charlie
asleep at the time of the departure and the father,
willing that young should und rgo the fatigues
Of the ong march Of twenty miles, an the dangers OF
the coming fight, gave ord~rs that he shou not be dis
turbed Several hours afer the boy awoke Of his
accord.
At glance his eye took in the condition of afAirs
and his knowledge OF coming events satiSh him of the
cause. With hlm to think was to- act He selZ4d bis
! little gun-a miniature musket which his father had
made for him, and alone started on the trail of MS alb
sent regiment Hour after hour he trudged along and
finally just they about haltiDg eparatory to
going into battle be succeeded 10 joining bis company
His father chdel him, but how could he do otherwise
than admire the indOmitabe spirit of his boy The bat
tie commenced. Charlie took bis place by bis fathers
side, and in the thckest OF the fight A bullet
struck him 10 the body and tore ugly wound. Still
he pressed firing cheering and charging with the
mainder Of bis regiment He seemed not to know the
sensation of fear and his youthful ample more than
one occasion t1e raying point from which the men
took fresh spirit Sunddenly at late hour IN the day,
the little fellow fell shot through the leg few inches
below the hip. He gave cher and told his father to
go On. Don't mind me = said he, but keep on I'll
lay here till you come back" This Of the feel
ngs of the parent would not permit him to co, and
picking him up in his he carried him to the
est hospital. Within day Or two Charlie was brought
10 bis home 10 Memphis, feeble, YET full Of hope and
courage.
DR.. Keller was called upon to examine the wound
and, il necessary TO perform amputatioD but at q
glance bis perencad eye that the poor boy was
beyond the hope Of recovery. Modification had set in
and operation would only Increase his suferings
without p o!oDging life. The lad noticed the sJhe
cOuueDance OF the physician as be turned away, ano
went to adj Jining to break the moCrnIu In e.
ligence to the weeping father and mother Nothing
could be doUe, but to relieve him Of pain by meats
opiates. few nom nts afterwards he retun-d 10 the
hedsjde Of tie sufferer, wien the young gro abruptly
met BIN with the question
Decor, will you answer me strag ghtforward qaes
tiyn. aud tell me the truth?'
The physician pausr d moment, and then said Yes
Charlie, l will but you must prepare for bad news
Can live p was the response
| No! Nothing you now but miracle
from Heaveu."
Well, have thought so myself | have fl az is
going to die Do father aDd mother k00w this 2
"Yes," repli-d the surgeon, have just told Them
Please ask them to come in here"
| When the parents had dOue so, and taken TIER T a
either side ol the bed, Charlie reached cut grasp
/ ed their hands in bis, ard said
ar father and mother, DR.. Keller says that
can't 1--we. AID now | want to ask your forgiveness;
for all wrong | lave done. l have tried to be goOC
. boy IN every Way bGt one, aid that when dis
bey ed ycn both aud j ned the army. | couldn't heiE
tha, for fell ii ought he rght where you were
itther, aud to fLUt lOng as | was able. Im Ouiy
sorry that can't fight through the war. If / have
said any thing wrong done anything wrong won't yol
J. forgive ma?"
. The fl cted parents could cny weep their assent
" Now, f4tGer," continued the boy, Oue thing more
Don't stay beIe with me, but 90 back to camp Moth
" re will take Of m, AMI your services ne
cessary in your company than they at home
| am not afraid to die, aud | wish | had tlolsan'
lives 10 lose IL the same way Aud, father, re! the boy
"Il1u you EeI odth hp" uedj JUST as SDldItF ou8h
to. ieii item TO Fl 5ht the Yaak Iong there
one Ie in the country. at "eUe' g'Ue up! Trli them
: too. kill Just maty they Inuk will avenge th
l. death Ct Charlie and "h never you up Il cOmpan
with men let them know that bts des their cou
I try there's little boy in Heaven who VIII watch then
: and pray for tbem as they 20 into battle"
, Ard 80 is dying one OF the brave8t spirits that wa
ever bGeatLed into the human body by its Divide Ma
ker. The scene | have described is of which "
! sometimes read, but rarely behold, and the Surgeon TO,
NE that Injured as he 10 specaces of sud-rn SD
woe, as he stood by this, silent spectator bis hear
ove'f1wed in tears and be koet down aud sobbed k
- d child
y How true are the lines Of the poet
5, The good die first
1 ID rhau ,rkn hca dru Srr hnst