Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-08-27


children, unawakened, dreamed their happy
dreams, and the Oldest daughter-sad, aston
ished, but Weary-went to sleep again before
the cock-crow; but of all within that poor
log hut after midnight passed the mothers
sleep was the sweetest
Hardly had the toiiing woman gathered her
fall crop. Few hands made heavy work, and
it was slow and weary business indeed to go
over the two acres, hill by hill, till all was
done. The bulk of the harvest, however, was
gathered in las good yield as could be ex-
pected) when Johns letter came. And the
very next day, leaving as good directions as
she could to Susan, and charging the younger
children TO mind her, with promise not to
be gone very long, Mrs. Riley was on her way
to Green Ridge to find her wounded drum
mer-boy.
The feelings of the wife, that had so fierce
" struggled well-nigh to breaking her heart,
for her recent loss, were now subdued and
tranquil, as conscious that the old relation
ship had passed away with the husbands eb-
bling blood-lingered only in the silence of the
grave; and all the mother awoke within her
as she turned to the living. She was some
what nearer to her destination when the cars
left her at Shannon Dale terminus, a village
with seven houses. How to get conveyance
for the rest Of the way was the next question
Not even cart or oxen could she find
At length an Unlocking negro came along, to
whom she applied for information.
Can you tell me where I'll find team ?''
"Yes'm"
''Where, then ?"
Else got one"
'WcIl, what is it "a horse, donkey, or
pair Of steers? And what's the wagon
Tell me all about it."
Mule and cart, missus."
'What will ye ask to Green Ridge :''
''Fifty dollars"
''Stay at home with yer old mule, We wick
ed, swindlin' nigger--to take advantage of a
poor lone woman! Ask ten hundred. why
didn't We, when ye was about it T.? But We
may make yer money out O somebody else.
FL go afoot"
And off she started, leaving the exhorbi-
tant African materially sObered of his grin,
and staring at her with an expression of semi
ferceness, as if he half meditated doing
something wickeder still.
Mrs. Riley saw no cause to repent Of her
resolution. She had gone over but eight or
ten Of the weary stretch Of miles when an
army teamster overlook her and gave her a
seat among his powder kegs, The ride, how
ever, was rather a change of exercise than a
rest to her, for the road was frighfully bad
From the teamster she learned that the For
ty-ninth Pennsylvania was not within twenty
or thirty miles of the spot it was when her
son dated his letter, but had moved to or
near a place called Sullivans Pass, taking
their wounded with them. The communica-
tive driver furthermore informed her that he
was to stop eight miles short of this latter
place. He declared, after he had heard Mrs
Riley's story, that il he were not in the en-
plOy Of the Government, he would see her
clear for the Pass himself, free of charge.
The next foot journey of the resolute widow
was eXhausting in the extreme-rocks, gullies,
marshes, and above ALL the omnipresent tan
gle Of laurel brushwood lay across her path,
and INSTRUCTED her feet at every step. Sup
porting herself with the thought that her boy
had passed over that way, she persevered
and struggled through-to find, alas &! on ar
irving, worn out with fatigue at the place
she sought, only ashes and the scattered debris
Of a departed army! The regiment had Been
gone two days.
But the persistent woman was not to be
discouraged. Resting herself awhile, she set
about for a team, and after some trouble she
procured man, at large price, to take her
in his cart to the regiment where her boy be-
longed. As they came within the lines they
were hailed and fired on by a picket but es-
capped harm, and IN due time the flags and
white tents OF the Forty-ninth appeared
around the spur OF mountain.
Stopped by the sentinel at the camp line,
she inquired for Patrick Riley the drnmmnr
boy, and was told that he was not there.
That was all the soldier knew about it.
Whether he was dead or alive, he did not say.
She was not to be put off, and corporal of
H.. i
within the camp, and she FASTENED forthwith
to make inquiries of the colonel himself
" Which way did you come - said the
colonel.
"By the Plummer road"
"You passed your boy within half mile
| left him, with all my wounded, at Verrico's
Station, to be taken off to Harrisburg as soon
as they are able | think you'll find him
there. He was badly hurt in the arm"
With all possible Dispatch the widow drove
back the Plummer road to Verrico's Station
\ company of soldiers was placed around a
long, rough-looking house, with flag on it.,
and she knew it was the hospital A guard
stopped the horse long before they reached
the building, but Mrs. Riley, snatched the
whip from the driver and dashed the terrified
beast up to the very door, in spite of all op-
position-when, springing from the cart, she
pushed by the sentinel as quick as thought,
and, without stopping to hear the epithets of
{" hag =" and " she-devil" that were shot after
her as she passed in, she stood, in another
second, in the very midst of the wounded
soldiers.
"Patrick Rilcyn' she called out, almost
out of breath, and looking all about her, as
if afraid her senses would deceive her.
There was no installing the quick, down
right tone of Widow Riley. If the boy was
there, he would certainly answer.
80, MOTHER" gasped weak boys voice,
and a tumbled heap in one corner stirred, and
rushing towards it, the faithful woman saw
her poor little drummer boy sitting up, but
so changed that none but his mother would
have known him.
Poor Pat you've had sorry time, that's
clear"
And here the wonderful energies of the
mother, which had kept up so long as her
child was to be searched for Goods angels
bear up With hands the strength of mothers
in such emergencies) gave way now that her
child was found, and she sank down almost
tainting upon the straw pallet before her
Look up, mother, and don't We feel bad.
Pm all right" said the plucky little fellow
My arms hurt soft l shan't drum no more;
but now you come feel like l could lick off
the rebels with one hand"
Mrs. Riley soon recovered, and set about
nursing her boy.
She came in the nick of time, for his arm
had just been amputated, and he was some
what feverisr Probably his mothers care
was the only thing that saved him. In a
week he was able to go home with her; and
just as the November winds began to blow,
Pat took his old place by the cracking fire in
the log house among the Upper Alleg hanies,
and told his brother and sister his story of