Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-06-01

Incident of the War.

Thrilling Incident of the War,
The Yankees, from time to time, throw
shell into the the city and nobody seems
to mind it. But misfortune willed that
yesterday a shell should throw the entire
community into mourning.
Miss Anna Pickens, the daughter of
our former Governor, never consented to
leave the city. Despite the representa-
tlons of Gen. Beauregard, she remained,
Drawing shells and Greek fire, tending the
wounded, and cheering all with her pres
ence- Among the wounded officers under
her mlnlsterlng care was Mr.. Andrew de
Rochelle, defendant of one of the no
blest Huguenot families of this CITY
This young man was full of the livaliest
gratitude for his fair nurse gratitude gave
birth TO a more tender sentiment his
suit was listened to; Governor Pickens
gave his consent, ard the marriage was
fixed for yesterday, the 23d of April.
Lieutenant de Rochelle was on duty at
Fort Sumpter in the morning, and it was
determined that the ceremony should take
place at the residence of General Bonham,
in the evening at : o'clock. At the mo-
ment when the Episcopal clergyman was
asking the bride if she was ready Il shell
fell upon the roof of the building, pene-
tratcd TO the room where the company
were assembled, burst, and wounded nine
persons, and among the rest, Miss Anna
Pickens. We cannot describe the scene
that followed Order was at last reestab-
lished, and the wounded were removed.
all except the bride, who lay motionlcss
upon the carpet. Her betrothed, kneel-
ing and bending over her, was weeping
bitterly and trying to staunch the blood
that welled from terrible wound under
her left breast 4 surgeon came and de-
clared that Miss Pickens had no longer
than two hours 10 live. We will not
paint the general despair.
When the wounded girl recovered her
conscientiouSness she asked to know her
fate, and when they hesitatcd to tell her
- Andrew she said, - beg of you 10
tell me the truth If | must die, | can
die worthy of you" The young soldiers
tears were his answer, and Miss Anna,
summoning all her strength, attempted to
smile. Nothing could be more heartrend-
ing than to see the agony of this brave
girl, struggling in the embrace of death,
and against terrible mortal pang. Gov.
Plckens, whose courage is known, was
almost without conscienciousness, and
Mrs, Pickens looked upon her child with
the dry and haggard eye of one whose
reason totters.
Lieutenant de Rochelle was the first to
speak - Anna," he cried, 9 | will die
soon, too, but would have you to be my
wife There is yet time to unite us"
The young girl did not reply; she was
too weak. \ slight flush rose for an in
stant to her pale cheek ; it could be seen
that joy and pain were struggling III her
spirit for the mastery Lying upon sofa,
her bridal dress all stained with blood,
her hair disheveled, she had never been
more beautiful Helpless as she was,
Lieutenant de Rochelle took her hand and
requested the Rev. Mr.. Dickinson to pro-
cced with the ceremony When it was
time for the dying girl TO say g Yes"
her lips parted several times, but she could
not artculate At last the word was
spoken, and slight foam rested upon her
lips. The dying agony was near. The
minister sobbcd as he proceeded with the
ceremony. An hour afterward all was
over. and the bridal chamber was the
chamber of death. Lieutenant dc Rochelle
has sworn to perish i'll battle against the
Yankees, and we are sure that he will
keep his oath. He has now double
motive to hate them and his own ex-
istence.
Our entire community share the grief
that afflcts the family OF Governor Pick
ems The obsequies of Miss Anna will
occur tomorrow at eleven o'clock. Gov.
Pickens and Lieutenant de Rochelle will
be chief mournerS Our cN-Governor
desires that there shall be no military dis
play. The funeral cortegc viii be COM
posed of all our ladies, all our magistrates,
all our generals, and, the wounded soldiers,
many of whom owe their lives TO the de-
votion of the deceased. Never has wo-
man been followed to the grave with SO
many regrets-never has one left sadder
remembrances in the hearts of Charlesto-
mans. Charleston Mercury, April u.