Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-05-02
GENERAL NEW 8.
INCiDENTS or THE VAR.

ever Illuminated Lue plouu "'''''
There is D great spirit animatng inc ulsss-A
spirit Of pure, unseitsh PATRIOTISM; OUT there
IS greater still, which lives alone III 'no
hearts Of individuals; which burns not less Ill
the souls OF age, than throoa IN tho restless
impulses OF youth--s spirit which SPEAKS WIN
q voice of thunder amid the din OF battle, and
yet beco,ues Christian balo around Inc oea
of suffering and death. But alas the "orid
does not always see and recognise Inc lnsplra.
ton until the honorc1 pnsseSsor mas slipped
the cables Of life, and been borno beyond
tho reach OF everything but memory and
tears.
These thoughts arc suggested NJ an incident
which vas related TO me by Or. Keller, Of this
city, concerning lad fifteen years of age,
named Charles Jackson, VINO was wounded IN
tue recent battle, and is nos lying hopeessly
a. the point Of death.
Some months ago his father raised COM
panv, in which Charlie was permitted to drill
with the privatcs, and finally became so expert
in the manual OF arms that, young as nc was,
he was chosen the drilllnsster. In due time,
marching orders were received. Then, the
father consulting the sgo OF his boy, and pro-
badly his own paterna feelings, gave him to
understand that it was his wish nc should re-
main at home To this Charlie strenuously
dcmurred, and plainly told his parent that if
he could not 60 with him, no would join an-
other company. Yielding to his obstlnacy,
sort OF silent consent was given, and the lad
left Memphis with his comrades. The regi.
mcnt to which they belonged was detached to
Burnsvillc, several miles distant from Corinth,
and here it remained until the Friday on Satur-
day preceding~&se battle Orders were then
received that it should repair at once to the
field and take its position. Charlie was
asleep at the time Of the departure, and the
father, unwilling that one SO young should un-
dergo the fatigues Of tie long march OF twcnty
miles, and the dangers OF the coming fight,
gave orders that he should not be disturbed
Several hours after tho boy swcko Of bis own
accord.
Al n glance his csc took in ilic condition III
affairs, and his nowledgo oi coming events
satisfied lim octhc ca,ise. With him TO think
WAS 70 ac;. lie seized his llL;lo gn.a mini.
atllrc muskct which, his la:;cT had made for
him, and alone started on the trail Of his Hb
sent regiment. Hour after hour no trudged
along, and finally jus. as thcy we're Soont halt
Ing preparatory 10 going into battle, lie sue
cccded in joining his company. lie had ira
veied moro than fifteen miles. Has f.ibcr
chdcd him, bu. how could he DO otherwise
than admire the indornitahlc spirit OF his boy.
The battle commenced Charlie took bis place
By his fathers side, and was COON III The thick.
est Of tho fight. a bullet struck him in the
body and tore and ugly wound. Still hu press.
ed on, firing, cheering and charging with tho
remainder OF his regiment uc seemed not to
know the sensation Of fear, and his youthful
l., ~
rallying point from which 10 men took fresh
spirit Suddenly, at late hour IN tho day,
tho little fellow fell shot through the leg, few
inches below the hip. lie gavo cheer and
told his father to 60 on. Don't mind me-"
said ku, "but keep on; III lay here till you
come back" This Of course the feelings Of
the parent would not permit him to do, and
picking him up in his arms he carried him to
tho nearest hospital Within day or two
Charlie was brought to his home in Memphis,
feeble, vet full Of hope and courage.
Dr.. Keller was called upon TO examine the
wound, and, if necessary, TO perform amputa
ton but st a glance his experienced eye saw
that the poor boy VAS beyond the hope of ro
coverg. Modification bad set i'll. and an opera
ton would only increase the sltTcrinss without
prolonging life Tho lad noticed the sober
countenancs OF tho physician rs he turned
away, and went to an adjoining room to break
the moGrnfUi Intelligence to the weeping father
and mcthor. Nothing could no done, but to
relieve him Of pain by means OF opiatcs. A
few moments afterwards he returned to the
bedside of the sufferer, when the young hero
abruptly met him with the question:
doctor, will you answer me straight!
forward question, ard tell me tho truth p
The physician paused moment, and then
said: YES, Charlie, ! will, but jou must
prepare for bad news
"Can live!" was the response.
No! Nothing can save ycu now but n mi
raclc from Heaven"
swell, have thought 50 myself. have
felt as if was going to die. Dc father and
mother know this -
Yes" replied the surgeon, 81 have just
told them"
"Plcase ask them to come in here"
When the parents hsd done so, and taken
their places on either side Of the bed, Charlie
reached out, graspcd their hands in his, and
said:
"Dear father and mother, DR.. X eller says
that can't live. And now | want to ask
your forgiveness for all wrongl have done. |
have tried to be good boy in every way but
one and that was when disobeyed you both
and joined the army. couldn. help that,
for felt az if ought 10 be- right where you
were, father, and to fight as long as ! was
able. I'm only sorry that can't fight through
the war. IF have. said anything wrong or
done anything wrong won't you forgive me?"
The afflicted parents could only weep their
assent.
"Now, father" continued tho boy, "one
thing more. Don't stay here with me, but go
back TO camp. Mother will take care Of me,
and your services are more necessary in your
company than they are at home. aln not
afraid to die, and | wish mad thousand
lives to lose in the same way. And, father,
tell the boys when you get hack how died
just as soldier ought to. Tell them to fight
tho Yankees AS long as there is ono loft in the
country, and nerer gire upf Tell them, too,
to Kill just az many as they think will nvenge
the death of Charlie, and whenever ron fiji up
the company with new men, let them know
that besides their country there's little boy
in Heaven who will watch them and pray for
them as they 20 into battle"
And so is dying one of the bravcst spirits
that was ever brcathcd into the human body
by its Divine Maker. The scene have de-
scrloc0 10 u'!" - .phinh We sometimes read
but rarely behold, and the Surgeon told me
that Injured as he WAS to spectacles of suffer
ing and woe, az he stood by thia, silent
spectator, bis heart ovrIfowed in tears, ard
no knelt down and sobhed like child.
How trnr arc the lines of the p9ct--
'Tbo good iio first,
And they whose hearts dry ~ SnrnIuers dust
Burn 10 the socket"
Another similar incident has been related 10
me by Captain in ono Of the Kentucky Regi.
menis concerning tho dying mom"nts Of Lent.
Colonel Holbrook, his superior officer.
make no apology for thaso variations.
first bccanso they arc part Of history and
deserve place upon its noblcst paee; and
secondly, because there are touches IF nature
in ihenn which mrSt find q rncnnncn In thn