The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1864-02-25

ooeh uiVesteu OI no clotnlng eXcepl
the coat, and the gray army shirt was
open upon the breast revealing the fact
that his wounds, whatever their nature
were there. No blanket covered mis-
limbs, and the tightly closed, colorless
lips and dimmed eyes, spoke little hope
for the life of Lieut.. Frank Gordon.
Five days he had lain, this way, trem-
bling upon the verge of eternity, and
pronounced by the attending surgeon
past recovery. What little could be
done in the fearful crowding of thou
sands of lacerated men upon the hands
of the attendants, and the deficiency
of hospital aid, had been done, but the
care to smooth the path of death was
not there. Right and left, and in
every direction, he saw strong men
turn aside their heads and die in very
dispair, with lesser wounds than his
own and then, with a sickening ter
ror, he sank back upon his rough and
easeless couch, with prayer that his
spirit might be called while his eyes
remained closed to the misery around
him.
"With letters from Nashville to the
coonro1 in oo,,,o,,nd C;,,o 49, . -
my orderly and he will give you back
the generals answer"
"You must excuse me, Colonel, / am
under orders not to let these letters go
out of my hands unless into those of
Gen. Rosecrans. If you say / cannot
go up to headquarters, then 1 must re-
turn and report the fact"
The old colonel seemed to consider
a moment and eyed the young officer
who stood before him we'll over, before
he answered.
"It is against orders, Lieutenant, to
pass any one, but can't see that these
orders extend to all officers in the SER
vice bearing dispatches, 1 think you
may go up. What did you say the
name was ?"
"Smith Gordon, 10Th Michigan, at
your service"
"Gordon Gordon I've heard that
name before, think. Orderly, haven't
We Gordon with us ?"
'Lieut. Frank Gordon, on staff sir.
Shot in breast, sir. Died this morning
in hospital No. 2, sir" answered the or
derly, with the sentontiousness of
veteran.
"Ah-h-h, yes" responded the Col.
slowly, "I remember. Halo, Lieuten-
ant, what's the matter? You look
pale. You're not frightened at the
idea of a man dying in the hospital,
are you? Here orderly, drop of
whisky for the lieutenant. Maybe
you've never been under fire, young
ster; if it's so you're excusable-it's
a dirty business. Take a swallow of
whisky; it'll do you good. It's none
of your internal commissary stuff. /
send mp to my place for my whisky.
Won't take any, hey9 Well, / don't
know but you are right. Whisky is
bad thing in the long run. Shall l
send my orderly up with you? No.
Very good, if you think you can find
the way. You look rather young for
this kind of business. Good morning."
And the young man took his way
alone in the direction of headquarters,
until he came to a turning of the street
that hid him from the eyes that were
looking curiously out from the colonel's
tent, then be struck off in an entirely
new direction, stopping one or two sol
diers whom he met by the way, to ask
questions of the route. t.-..t
Within an hour afterward he pre-
sented himself before the attending
surgeon of Hospital No. 2.
"Doctor, is Lieut.. Frank Gordon
buried yet?''
"Buried," questioned the doctor.
"He died, l believe this morning.
If his body still remains here doctor, /
should like to see it."
"Buried," the doctor queried again
81 don't think he's dead yet, Lieuten-
ant. We don't bury anybody here un-
til they are dead, sir, though we don't
give them much chance afterwards"
The doctor did not watch the great
gasp given by the young lieutenant
who stood before him, or probably he,
too, like the colonel, would have
thought that the air of hospital did
net agree with the boyish-looking Off
Ger.
"We have to get rid of them very
coop affor tho hroofh 10