The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-01-28

in the hospitals Lieutenant Frank
Gordon, her playmate in childhood,
her unAinching champion and admir-
er in school days, and her afianced
husband in manhood, r,,y.,.l.
In the long, roughly.constructed
shed, used for hospital, with dying
men on every side, with horror and
disorder so that it could not be shut
away from the sight, lay the figure of
q man, young and with well cut feat
ures, but gaunt and haggard. Above
the husk mattrass on which he lay
hung his coat, the straps on the shoul-
ders denoting that the owner ranked
as first lieutenant. He wore all of his
but the coat, and the gray
shirt was open on the breast, showing
that his wounds, whatever their ma
ture, were there. No blanket covered
his limbs, and the tightly closed and
colorless lips and dimmed eyes, spoke
little ofhope for the life of Lieutenant
Frank Gordon. Five days he had
lain in this way, trembling upon the
verge of eternity, and was pronounced
past recovery. s,e.ar.s,, gsI
"With letters from Nashville to the
general in command? GiveIthem to
my orderly, and he will bring you
back the generals answer"
.aEw1se me, Colonel. l am under
orders not to lot these letters go out of
my hands, ualess into those Of General
Rosecrans; If you say Icannot go up
to headquarters, then l must SO return
and report the fact" -
The old colonel secsucd 10 consider
for moment, and eyed the young Off
Ger closely, before he answered. s.
"It's against orders, lieutenant, to
pass any one, bat I can't see that those
orders extend 10 aa officer ia tho SER
vice bearing dispatches. I think you
can 60 up, What did you say your
name was? ?"
"Smith Gordon, 18th Michigan, at
your service"
"Gordon? Gordon Five heard that
name before, think. Orderly, haven t
we Gordon with us?"
"Lieutenant Frank Gordon, on tho
staff, sir. Shot in the breast, sir. Died
this morning in hospital No. 2, sir I"
answered the orderly, with the senten-
tiousness of an old soldier.
"Ah-h-h, yes !" responded the colon
el, 81 remember. Halo, lieutenant,
what's the matter you look pale.--
You're not frightened at the idea of a
man dying in hospital, are you? Here,
orderly drop Of whiskey for the
lieutenant! Maybe you've never been
under fire; ifso, you're excusable--it's
dirty business Takea swallow oi
whiskey; it'll do. you gcod.-Won't
hey2 Well, l don't know but what
you're right.-Shall / send my orderly
up with you? No? Very good, if you
think you can find the way. You look
young for this business, Good NOR,
ning!" il
And the young man took his way
alone in the direction of headquarters
until a turning hid the coloncl's tent
from view, and then struck off in q
new direction.
Within an hour he presented him
elfbefore the attending surgeon of hos
pital No, 2.
doctor, is Lieutenant Gordon bur
led YETI" Ias,.
Buried YETI" questioned the doc.
tor.
"He died, l believe, this morning
If his body is still here, ! should like
to see ii" '1S "y'i-se'''f,@
"Buriedy' the doctor queried again
~ don't think he's dead yet, 1ieuten
ant. We don't bury anybody her
until they're dead, sir, though W.
don't give them much chance after
ward" . .|.l. y -
The doctor did not watch the grea
gasp given by the young lieutenant
or possibly he would have though
that the air of the hospital did no,
agree with tho boyish officer.
ave have to getrid of them very
soon, Lieutenant, after the breath il
out, to make room for newcomers
but we give them the best care we cal
while the life is in. Frank GordOI
isn't dead yet, but I'm sorry to sa.
there's no chance for him. There wa
n rumor this morning that he hat
slipped away from us, but I'm glad t,
say that half an hour ago he was still
living"
In few minutes they stood by tn
side of the dying lieutenant The doc
tor spoke ohm. ~.
"Gordon, here's friend inquirinj
for you. I'll leave you with him, Lieu
tenant"
The doctor turned to leave. Gordol
raised his eyes languidly, and instant
lly started into sitting posture, thel
in a minute more they were in eacl
others arms, the wounded man una
BILE to say more than a single oxcla
nation, the other speaking hastily il
reply to the doctor. lU
ave are brothersl Pardon me, bu
we are brothers p e,.,..s,,,s.. .yi
eyes, but my dear sir, this excite
ment will kill him !" "
"Oh, no, / shall stay here and nurs
him. There, Frank, lie down and b
quiet. You must mind me, you know
if am to be your NURSE" 50