American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-02-27
A BOY SOLDIER.

INC before The Gpen door OF Connect
cut farmhouse with little fosling piece
upon his shoulder. while matronly
looking woman was standing in the
door way and gazing with moistened eye
upon him.
60 my son." she said. "but remem
Der. when amid the smoke and heat Il
battle, the sentence in the blessed book
Il | have given you. The merclful man
shalt obtain mercy"
Il will mol forget II. mother" he re-
piled. ''bnt our company is waiting, and
now fare we'll -
Good bye, my son. she kissed him
for two score years watched over the
mother. protect the son -
A cloud of smoke hung over and en-
veloped The blood stained soil Of Bunker
Hill. A noble looking man in the uni
form Of an American General was slowly
retreating with his face to the enemy.
The sharp report of rifle was heard.
and Warren fell A young soldier
almost boy-sprang towards him
and lifted his head. at the same instant a
giant grenadier in the British uniform,
came charging at him with levelled bay
onet.
To draw an old rusty horse pistol
from his breast, present. and fire it at the
approaching foe. was but the work of a
moment The grenadier fell. wounded.
aud sizing the sword of Warren which
had fallen from his grasp. the boy sol
dier ran and raised it over the red coat 10
dispatch him.
L. Al
sword is npiftrd, and allow it to fall
slowly to his side. and then turn away
and strike not He remembers the in
junction of that mother whom. two
months ago. he left in the open door OF
the farmhouse, Remember. my son,
amid. the smoke and heat of battle, the
merciful shall obtain mercy
The tide of battle had swept like a
whirlwind over the plains of Trenton.
The British cavalry had ridden with ir-
resistable force over the detachment OF
men and boys forming portion of the
left wing Of the American army. and
among the dead and dying. lay bovish
soldier mounded, and his right arm bro
ken.
A merciless party of Hessians were
raging over the field numbering and
plundering those who had fallen. They
approached the boyish soldier. tho. dauni-
less. awaited the impending death. and
one Of them drawing his sword was
about to plunge it into the boys side.
when gigantic red coated grenader
rushed between the boy and the murder
Gus Hessian and struck up the weapon.
Hold. ruffians That boy spared
my life at Bunker Hill. 1t is now my
turn and raising him in bis strong
arms, he bore him from the bloody sod
TO place OF comparative safety.
All ! how those parting words of his
dear mother again rang through his
brain and made sweet music in his soul.
i Remember, my son, when amid the
smoke and heat of battle. that The
merciful man shall obtain mercy.
4 1t was never forgotten, and when a
little more than three years ago / stood
above the venerated form and gazed up
on the calm features Of the aged boy
1 soldier, whose life had gone out like the
last Pickering of candle which had
burned down to its socket. thought oil
those words, and in Imagination could
see the parting of mother and son. at the
old farmhouse eighty three years ago.
The Women and the Private Soldiers.
The following is an extract from a
private letter written by an officer now
in the army to his wife:
You are The most incorrigible patriot
l know. Hang me-. If | don't believe
you would sacrifice me for the cause.
These women as old Stein use TO say.
care de devil - but If they were entitled
to that distinction in time of peace, they
are certainly The incarnate deities Of a
revolutionary war. l do not say this in
disparagement to the sex; for / really
beleave that If We ever achieve our in
de pendence, the glory Of il should belong
the South. The great work will be due
to The upgruding spirit Of devotion and
sacrifice animating women. and stimula-
ting and supporting the tireless energy
and heroic endurance of the soldiers.
Take my word for it. the people who
stay at home have no conception what
ever Of the splendid material OF our SOL
tiierv. The tones it sends out when
struck by the Wild hand of war. will ring
through all history in purer and grand
er key than was ever realized In the
olden ages Of chivalry- The mailed
warriors Of aDcient romance were sickly
children Of sentiment compared TO the
stern manhood and unconquerable grit
of Southern soil.
i ..For my part there are but two class.
es engaged in this war who command
my respect and acknowledgements and
the private soldier. l love. cherish and
obey the first as becomes christian
gentlemen. and / honor and reverence
the last as the only living PRESERVATION o.
a pure and unsel6sh patriotism May
| God protect their lives. and give to thei'
country that peace and independence fol-
which they arc 50 nobiy struggling.