Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-04-10

, take one if they offered it f; he was bound
to see the fight which would certainly
take place on their return march. We
insisted SO persistently that he agreed to
try, but received for answer that unless a
man dropped down in the ranks. he would
not be excused. The same day he in
formed us Of this decision, he read to US
letter from his mother, and its cheerful,
hopeful tone, so filled with true mother
love, went to my heart; do not mind
telling that | advised him f o put on citi-
zen's clothes and desert. | was rightly
punished by the horrified look which be
gave me, and by his careful avoidance OF
my neighborhood for day or two. At
last came the morning when they obtain
ed their marching orders, and when he
came to bid us good bye they were al
ready striking tents. We knew he could
not march five miles, but he declared he
should try, and if he gave cut he could
tumble into an ambulance; at any rate,
he should see the fight. We thought if
he had been of our own blood, our hearts
would not have felt much keener ache
than they did when he looked back, and
scolded US gaily for our mourning faces,
and the tears that in spite of US would
dim our eyes. We thought our eyes had
looked their last on his handsome face,
but we were mistaken. They passed at
length from our sight, and not long after
the whole city listen I'd in brealhless sus-
pense for tidings from Perryville. Those
hours agonizing suspense seemed years,
but we at length learned we were yicto-
rious; alas, every new dispatch told at
what dreadful cost. They brought the
wounded, and | shall never forget the
sad and ghastly procession that for days
crept along our streets TO tire hospitals,
where all that could be done for them had
been prepared by loyal hands. Every
where we looked for our friend, and Joy
fully we exclaimed that bis name was not
among the killed the wounded were far
too numerous TO be as yet correctly given.
Every new face, that lay white and rigid
on its narrow bed, we scanned eagerly, |
and came reluctantly TO the conclusion
that, as we foreboded, he had fallen ex-
hausted by the way. One morning a
curtaned litter, escorted by a squad of
soldiers, passed US in the street. and sup
posing it to be an officer of high rank.
we asked his name. He said it was
only private;" but before be could say |
more, white hand crept out from under
the curtain and voice we never thought
to hear again said in the old, light man
ner, " So l have turned up again, you
see." 1t was our brave boy, aud altho'
far too weak to tell bis own story, not one
of the guard, "of honor they proudly
styled themselves, but ccntended for the
privilege of doing i; for him. AS he said,
he bad seen the fight, but as we told him,
he was carried there, and his comrades
said he was so weak that he actually
staggered under the weight of his gun, as
his regiment took their place in the line
of battle. Once there, we knew him
well enough TO credit The accounts of bis
personal prowess aud hand to band en-
counters, almost impossible as they APP
peared. Up close he kept with the
stoutest, and when the color bearer of his {
regiment fell dead, he seized the flag
from bis elenched hand and waving ii 1
above his head, sprang for [
ward as if to hurl himself upon the on +
coming foe. {
Shell fell like hail around him, and
1ne in its remorseless course swept both ,
his limbs from his body, and he sank
down, still keeping the flag upright, and
rs high as he could. The trampling
hosts came on, and in the confusion they
ost sight of their hero. When the field !,
was won, they looked anxiously for him, =
md found him. with the soiled and bloody :,
,anner by his side. They thought him h
lead at first, but for his heroism they ;,
would not leave him among the unno- 9
iced slain, and as they lifted him, he
,pened his eyes and said family, That
le knew our side was all right They
hougbt he seemed so bright and smart
bat he would live, and SO did he, but we
new as we looked into bis eyes, spark >
ing with fever that would soon be de- =
irium, that it could not be. As we :"
gatched by him that night, be knew us, d
nd tried TO tell how glad he was that we
sere with him but he often lost him
elf and lived over fearful incidents Of y
he battle and the march. On his hot q
row our tears fell like summer rain, as
ge gathered each broken sentence, for
0 his mother, we knew they would be