Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-01-01

lie stopped ana grOaned with pain. TAT
tacks Of which REQUIRED SUDDENLY then
again repeated his fr ends name.
Robert Johnson was a corporal in the
same company as Black, and he too had
been wounded that day in the arm Sc
verely, but not dangerously, 1t was only
a short time before, that he left Blacks
I bedside, to 90 and lie down for little. as
he himself was faint and weak, | walked
along the room, and told johnson that
/ Black would like to see him again.
All sir, IS he worse ?? said the corno-
raj, in a most touchirg manner, as he rose
to follow me
"He is very much, johnson" said I won
had better come at once" and returned
softly. As | went | could see the moor
men in the other beds with difficulty rails
ing themselves, and trying to learn how if
was going with their favorite sergeant.
and overheard one man, as | passed his
bed, trying to make me hear something he
was whispering | stepped towards him.
and he said:
Il beg your pardon, captain; but will
you kinkly remember me to Black. before
he goes? ? I'd take it very kindly, your do
ing so, sir
And l could see tear start to his eve
as he spoke and | turned and left that
bedside, overwhelmed with emotion
"Ah p | thought to myself, there are
men, indeed, around me-men that can
suffer quietly, and bear their own eriefs
uncomplainingly, and yet feel heartily for
another"
| was soon back again with poor Black.
and III n minute or two johnson came IN.
softly, his right arm all bandaged, and SUP
ported in a sling.
The expression on these mems faces. as
they looked at each other, shall never
forget. The glazed eve of the diving man
seemed for an instant to brighten. as
johnson approached, softly as a woman.
and putting his left hand upon his friends
shoulder, tremblingly exclaimed:
Black do you know me? Speak to
me, Black What is it?'
There was pause and Black said:
es, / know You well, johnson; | have
known you long. You Will not know me
much longer am going fast, johnson
thank God for this.
BY this time some Of the other men had
gone and told the doctor that they were
afraid he was wanted He came at once
softly, reverently, sympathizinelv. He
had been very attentive to Black, and had
sat by his side for an hour after he was
wounded, keeping up his strength with
stlm ulants, and lessening his pain by ad-
mlnIsterlnE opiates. Now he came to him
for the last time; knowing there was moth
ING more to be gained by medicine or hu-
man skill, he came to add one more death
scene to the many he had witnessed but,
as he aiterward told me, he had seen none
more impressive than this
We were stanoin@ round the bed intent
" looking 1T the sad picture before US.
when | recollected the touching request of
the private who had called me to him
| softly laid my hand on Blacks forehead
so as TO attract attention, and said:
Black Private Mallory has been ask
ing for YOU. lie wished to be remembered
to YOU.
"Ay, ay" said Black with difficulty.
its like the man He is a good man.
captain. Thank him, sir. and tell him and
all the men from me- that | prayed for
them with my last breath. You Will not
forget this, +, viii you?'
No, Black, | replied You NAV de-
pend upon it. the regiment shall know YOU
died happy, like good man, and that YOU
had time enough and heart enough to think
OF others IN a Christian spirit, even at the
last
oh, yes, sir he said, "oh. yes But
tell them oh, tell them that it was only
religion that made me happy"
tie had scarcely uttered these words
when q change seemed to pass over his
features, and each Of Us bv the bedside
instinctiyely stopped forward in great
anxiety to discover what it was Italmoet
seemed to take Us by surprise; and vet. in
point Of fact, we had for some time been
waiting for and expecting the chlnge
The doctor put his hand upon his pa
tlents pulse fXedlv looking at him for
moment; felt his feet, and put his hand
over his heart; then looking toward me
he said in a tone of unfeigned sorrow.
Poor fellow, the scene Is closing"
felt a dreadful numbness and tinoIino
pass over my body, and an indescribabIe
feeling of awe overshadowed nv thourhts
My breath was suspended until relieved
by deep SIGH and my eyes fell upon cor
poral Johnson Such picture Of manly
grief | never beheld.
\ few minutes passed. and, strange to
ne II seemed that poor Black partially re-
covered from the fearful faintness that
had come on SO suddenly lie only raj
he'd enough to express few more words
l wet his lips with water. and gently
passed my handkerchief across his fore-
head. His eyes opened slightly, and. with
the utmost exertion, and in broken svla-
bles he said
My Bible-mv Bi-ble-is below nv
pillow. O. give it to my to my-1 lis
tened anxiously, as was afraid he might
be unable to conclude his wish) to nv
mother he sighed God bless her
God bless
lie drew deep breath, then Law mo-
uonless. Again a light breathing oc-
Cured | heard dreadful, rafting
sound, observed a sort Of quiver and the
body before me was ifcless. We stood
motionless around until the doctor stopped
down. placed his ear upon the heart. and
gave sign that it was all over.
With heavy heart | turned and went
away Some time after chow long | could
scarcely saw ] woke as from a reverv.
and found myself sitting o. form al the
room. | then remembered his wish about
the Bible, and went back as noiselessIv
as could On approaching the bed, /
touRd johnson still there. He slightly
turned away his head, but | could see
that he was overcome with grief, and in
his hand | observed lock Of hair. his last
memento of poor Black.
What sincerity Of love, what nobleness
OF feeling what an earnestness of grief
was that wounded man capable of! | ren-