The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-04-23

~ WV
The WOUNDED SOLDIER.
BIT .. A. M'KEE, CO. K, 17rH RECT, o. v.L
Among tho pines that overlook
Stone Rivers rock ky bed,
Ohio knows full many a son
There numbered with the dead.
'Tis' hard to die mid scenes of strife,
No friend or kindred near,
To wipe the death damp from the brow,
Or shed affections tear.
To soothe the sufferer In his pain,
With words of holy cheer,
Go bend the knee in earnest PRAYER,
For the Dying Volunteer,
That day when all along our lines
Rained showers Of shot and she'll,
Thus man brave young soldier died,
Thus many hero fell.
When night closed o'er this bloody seen
Returning o'er tho ground,
heard the piteous means of one
Laid low by mortal wound.
Twas by the ford we crossed that day.
The ground so dearly bought
Where Miller led his stalwart men
And gallant Moody fought.
The wounded soldiers cheek wss wan
And beamless was his eye,
II knew before another morn,
The wounded man must die,
built fire of cedar rails
The air was cold and damp
And filled his canteen from the spring
Below the rivers bank.
And then I sat me down to ask
Ifhe would wish to send
A last requesl or parting word
To mother, sister, friend.
have some word the boy replied,
My friend would love to hear,
'Twould fill my sisters soul with joy,
My mothers heart would cheer.
-
Tell them died soldiers death,
Upon the battle field,
But lived to know the day was ours
And see the rebels yield. ....
That ere died their colors fell,
Their columns broke, and then
Iheard the wild, victorious shouts
or Neley's valiant men.
But most of all I'D have them know,
That with my latest breath,
spoke Of him loved in life,
Twas joy and peace in death.
Tell sister have read with are
For holy ties endeared- 'fF
The Bible mother gave to me
Before l volunteered
I'm very tired with talking now,
Please raise my head some higher,
And build larger fire.
The air is very cold ton ight,-
raised his head with care,
He closed his eyes as IL to sleep,
But clasped his hand in prayer,
In silent converse with his Gsd,
Thewounded here lay,
1t seemed to him communion sweet,
For agony lie pray.
He smiled as does the gentle child
When angels whisper near
No anguish worked his brow
Nor blanched his cheek with fear.
saw that death was coming fast,
his mind was all ia prayer,
asked him for his regiment
And VIII ere his comrades we're.
My captains dead, the boy replied,
In accents low and mild,
Ihaye heard my mother speak of him
When was but child.
Iknew his mind was wandering,
That he was thinking then.
or him who gave his life to save,
Hisfsithful, valiant men,
And thus he died that stormy night,
M friendo or kindred near,
To wipe the death dmsp from his brow,
Or shed affections tear.
Thus have known the love of God.
Joy, Peace and Comfort yield,
To one who fell with mortal wound
On the bloody battlefield.
And should you wander o'er the ground
Where fell so many brave,
Among the cedars on the hill
Their lies his lonely grave.
The flowers win soon light up with smile
Stone Rivers rocky shore,
His spirit knows brighter cline,
Where flowers bloom evermore,
And mild eyed Peace may visit soon,
Stone Riverss rocky shore,
But Murfr ee's Ginning Ssbbath bells,
Will never wake him more.