American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-11-16
"POlk sample

"POlA sample.
For the last two months the food of
matter pressing us for publication, has
been so great that we have been rery re-
luctantly compelled to withhold much
that it would have given US pleasure to
have published, and to abridge much that
we would rather give in detail. Many
kind friends have furnished us with val
liable correspondence from the army some
of which were of political character,
and when therefore unayoidably delayed,
they became unusable; others have been
devoted to the hon or of the fallen brave
these never loose their value. Below,
therefore, we give an extract from letter
devoted to the last earthly scene of the
"lallen brave" whose name heads this
article-he was the son Of James Sam
pie, Esq, Of Cranberry township, this
county. He died, after having served his
country faithfully, at the tender age Of
10 years ana - uayS.
81 will now endeavor to give you, as far
as am able, q statement Of how hat no.
Bile young soldier, who is now sleeping
beneath the southern soil, came to an un-
timely end.
As [ have previously stated how We ar
rived at Malvern Hill, will say no more
as regards our journey to the noted place.
But before We reached the battle e-icld we
heard that familiar, but unpleasant roar,
the din of battle. Ere long we came in
sight Of the place where the contending
parties were dealing death in the most cf-
fcient way, formed in line, dismounted,
watched the fighting 60 on for a short
time, then our division fell back a short
distance, and our right was covering the
retreat, we were at this time mounted, and
formed in line, facing piece Of woods,
the front rank was ordered to advanqA
which they did a short distance, haltedw
short time, and then advanced into the
woods. During the time, the front rank
first halted, was, when the sharpshooters
fired, the balls whistling beneath, over
and at all sides Of us, and the first one
that I saw take effect, was one in Isaiah's
horses fore leg, at the same instant the
horse caused Isaiah to appear to fall for
ward, and [ being alongside of him, rein
ed back, and at the same time we both
dismounred, and our ears were filed with
the screams of poor Polk, who was in the
same-rank with US, (rear rank, and about
three rods to our left We both ran to
his assistance, and by the time | got to
him they had him up, (two of the com
pany, Hugh Miller of Butler, and Hugh
lie Stewart of Allegheny and Isaiah, he
being the first one that got to him). When
the bullets began to come inpretty thick,
Polk said to some of the boys " Let us
dismount," and in the act of dismount-
ing he was pierced through the small of
the back, little to the left of the spine
The Doctor said that the ball penetrated
his abdomen. When came up and took
hold of him, l asked him where he was
wounded, said he 40, my back is bro
ken, and I have no feeling in my legs"
The next thing he called for was water,
which we got as soon as possible. He
then said he was killed, and wanted to
know how far it was to the ambulan ce,
and that appeared to be his greatest de-
sire, but the poor fellow did not live osee
one.
We had not carried him more than fif- |
ty rods, until we could see that death had |
taken hold of him, and the thread of life
from that time, still grew weaker, until
he gradually fell asleep in our arms. By |
this time an ambulance made its appear
aice, and after carrying him short dis
tance after he had expired, we put his
body into it, and then we mournfully fol-
lowed his body to the lonely spot, where
it was, undef the circumstance, respect
fully inferred. His wound bled inwardly. |
We greatly miss him, for he was a jol-
Iy boy, and one that we highly esteemed. !