The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1864-06-01
A Thrilling Incident of the war

We find in the Courier des Etats Unis
the following touching narrative of an Incl
dent in the siege of Charleston, taken from
the Mercury of that city;
The Yankees from time to time throw a
shell into the city, and nobody seems to
mind it. But misfortune wiIed that yestel'-
day shell should throw the entire COM
munity into mourning.
Miss Anna Pickens, the daughter of our
former Governor, never consented to leave
the city Despite the representations of
General Beauregard, she remained, Drawing
shells and Greek fire. tending the wounded
and cheering all, within her presence. A
mong the wounded officers under her minis
tering care was Mr.. Andrew de Rochelle, a
descendant Of one Of the noblcst Huguenot
families of this city. This young man was
full Of the liyelest gratitude for his fair
nurse; gratitude gave birth to a more ten
der sentiment his suit was Gstended to !;
Governor Pickcns gave his consent, and the
marriage was fixed for yesterday, the 23d
April.
Lieutenant de Rochelle was on duty at
Fort Sumter in the morning, and it was de-
teInined that the ceremony should taken
place at the residence Of Genera! Bonham in
the evening, at I O'Clock. -At the moment
when the Episcopal clergyman was asking
the bride if she was ready, a shell fell upon
the roof Of the building penetrated 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 re-established, and the wounded were
removed, all except the bride. who lay mo-
tionless upon the carpet. Her bctrothed,
knccling and bending over her, was weeping
bitterly cd trying to staunch the blood that
~welled from terrible wound under her left
breast A surgeon came and declared that
Miss Pickcns had not longer than two hours
te live. We will paint the general dispair
When the wounded girl recovered her con-
sciousness. she asked to know her fate, and
when they heSitated to tell her Andrew, y
She said, Il beg you to tell me the truth
If l. must die, | can die worthy of you, -
The young soldier tears were his answer,
and Miss Anna summoning all her strength,
attempted to smile. Nothing could be more
heart-rending than to see the agony of this
brave girl, struggling III the embrace of
death and against a terrible moral pang.-
Governor Pickens, whose courage is known,
was almost without consciousness, and Mrs.
Pickens looked upon her child with the dry
and haggard eye of one whose reason tot
tcrs.
Lieut.. de Rochelle was the first to speak.
Gamma" he cried, IL will die soon too, but
would have you die my wife. There is yet
time to unite us. y
The young girl did net reply: she was too
weak. A slight flush rose for an instant tt
her pale cheek; it could be seen that joy
and pain were struggling in her spirit for the
mastery Lying upon a sofa, her bridal
dress all stained with blood, her hair deshey-
eled, she had never been more beautiful
Helpless as she was, Lieut., de Rochelle took
her hand and requested the Rev. Mr.. Dick
inson to proceed with the ceremony. When
it was time for the dying girl to say Yes, her
lips parted several times, but she could not
articulatc. At last the word was spoken,
and slight foam rested upon her lips. The
dying agony was near. The minister sob,
bed as he proceeded with the ceremony.
An hour atterward all was over, and the bri
| 1nl chomhar woe tho chomhnr nf 1nath