The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-04-09
LANCASTER, OHIO, THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1868.

ldelicatsly written supsrscriprions. opened
one OF the, letters. and glanced IhrouQh il
hurriedly. Tie oticrr's gaze was on
him. and he read on bis countsnaDce The
rapid play Of various emotions. Then
be opened the second letter which wal
read twice. As he flushed it. he drew
his hand hastily across his eyes.
~"From homer" querisd the officer.
The young soldier stood up. giving the
usual sigo Of respect, - be answered in
the affirmative. The officer noticed thai
his face was Rraver and paler; and that
all The late look Of logged ds6sncs had
faded out. an 2 sa 'aF. 3 - 200
"Aud now Rogers. what have you to
say for yourself7 Will you drive US to
severer punishment You know a,
well as l do lha. discipline must be en-.
forced" There was rernoDstrancs noI
angsr. In The officers voice. n6's lis Z
| "Only .his," answered the soldier,
lhumbly. yet in a frm voice: 81 have
done wrong. and am sorry. Forgive
me; and il break rule Of the service
again, shoot me" rH-' fhv 'Eo
'.Spoben like man ard a soldicrl
will trust you Rogers" said the Ofiser
aud dismhsiug the guard he sent him TO
duty. "
Two days afterward came that over.
whelmipg assault. upon our right wing,
and on the next day the terrible conflict
at Gaines Mills Among the coolest and
bravest in all the fierce battles that fol
10 we'd, and among tbs most enduring in
the long nights Of retreat was young
Rogers Hs. was with that body Of la.
fantry which l.y al the bottom Of Nal
verp Hill, under our death dealing bat.
ieries. The Ere IRON which stAggsrsd and
then drove back the rsbel masses, whose
deep, rate courage in that maddest Of all
assaults was werthy IF better cause -
Twice during this series Of battles, al
oace at Williamsburgh. bad Rogers, risk.
ling his own life, saved that Of his cap
tain; and 10 several Of The conflicts he
had shown such coolness and courage,
that positions we're saved. which but for
the infusion Of HE spirit into his com
iades would have bs.n lost.
One day, shout three weeks after the
letters had been written - Thomas RI
gers, the young lady; whom We have call
cd Annie, received reply from The sol
dier, dated, "In Camp. near Harrison
Landing 1t ran thus;
"A good angel mus. have putoit intc
your he,d to send lns that letter, for il
came Just in time TO save me. l was II
the guard house. Tor nsglect Of duty an,
liso obedience of orders. i wss reckless
and despsra.e. All my comrades were
getting word from home-le,tcrs from
home came to them by every mail-bu
no one wrote to me. OF seemrd to care TO
me. So | lost respect Tor myself. grew
sour. unhappy. and indifferent TO duty =
But your kind words your talk aeCu
he past tim, when you were my teach
er-your appeal 10 my better nature
your calm, t. ue. sweet sentences, d"a
ladyl stirred my heart with new feelings
and filed my eyes with tsap. l was be
fore my captain in disgrsce. when you
letter was placed in my hands. He wait
ed for mo 10 read il; saw that / was touch
en-. and like true man. as he is, forgav
my offsnss. Tlen and there 1 resolve
TO die sooner. Than swsrve hairs bread,
from duty. l have been in fearful ba,
, tlss since. but God has kept me fror
harm, To day, for bravery and faithfr
service in these battles, | have been mad
a second Lieutenant. Thanks. thanks t
you, kind. good friend! You have 81
we'd one who came nigh being losll''
Fair reader. is there not, in some "a
: away camp. soldier who would b. mad
:, better or happier through letter fio'
: your hand? Think II there is. wri
to him. Brothers. sisters. fathers, mo,l
ers. write often 10 the soldiers who haV
o." ono out from your homes. They are
he midst of temptations, trials, suffe
= 'ings and priuations, and your words
! love, your iendsrly manifested in,eres
your exhortations to courage and dut,
: coupol fail to do them good, ., ...