The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-05-03
DEATH OF COL. RAITH.

We have received from Mr.. Charles Me-
yenp, Of Capt. Tobien's company, copy OF a
long letter written by friend Of the gallant
43d regiment, giving minute description OF
the two terrible days at Pittsburg Landing
the 9th and eth Of April. The honorable part
bore by the ADD has been the subject Of fire.
quent praise, and we should be glad to pub
lish this letter, had we the space to spare.
We copy from it the following in relation TO
the brave Col. Raith:
Col Ralth was picked up by four men,
to be carried along, but his leg being badly
shattered, he suffered exceedingly, and insist.
ed on being laid down. lie told the men they
could be Of more service in the ranks with
their regiment than by carrying Of disabled
officer, and alternate entreaties and com.
mauds, induced them to leave him resting
against tree in rayine near Il stream OF
water. Here the poor man had to lay for
nearly "a hours
During the day time the trees over his head
were completely riddlcd and shvered to pec'
es by the artillery of the opposing armies,
whilst the patterng Of the Minnie and mus.
ket balls, sounded like u shower of rain on
the roof of house, The roar Of cannon, and
continued report of small arms, was unintcr.
rupted Col Raith was during the day time
almost covered by falling branches, pieces Of
bark and splinters. and during the night lay
exposed to "a drenching rain. The enemy, rs
they passed, would occasionally inquire after
his wants, and administer to them as best
they could. One scoundrcl however, differ.
ing from the great majority of the brave and
generous enemy rifed the colonies pockets Of
their contents 1t may be us well to remark
here that with but very few exceptions, the
enemy treated our wounded with the same
consideration and kindness that they did their
own, and it is not to be wondered at that in
all army of 100000 men, like that led by
Beauregard, there should be a Il few indyd.
uals whose moral standard was not high
enough to prevent them insulting disabled
enemy. The wounded Of the enemy were al
40 in majority of cases treated with great
kindness by our men. The only authentic
instances that have been able to hear Of
where insult and injury are said to have been
given to the wounded OF the enemy and pris
oners in our hands, was by those who had in
gloriously fled from the field Of battle, and Ia.
ken refuge below the river banks. On Mon
day morning Col Ralth was carried by the
enemy into a tent, and the position shortly
after falling into our hands, he was removed
TO the river On Tuesday morning he was
put on board the steamer Hannibal, where on
Wednesday his leg was amputated. But the
exhaustion and loss Of blood he had expert
enced were too great, and he died on Friday
night at / o'clock.
Although Col. Raith demanded of every
man in his regiment the punctual perform
ance of every military duty, and if necessary
enforced this performance with the utmost
rigor, yet as he never demanded Of Others any
more than what he cheeriully rendered him
self. His loss is felt by everylman in bis reg
imen., like that Of a father, and have fire.
quently noticed many II man wiping tears
from his eyes when the conversation turned
to the brave and manly Raith.