Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-02-28

near us and Joined In our conversation. All
ofus, without any thoughtofwh we were
standing were leaning against box con-
tanning q c0flin--the box resting upon a
truck ready to be thrown on the next train |
that came along. The soldier chanced to
look down upon the box, and saw the name
of "Mrs. -, from Washington" Instinct
lively he drew back, and said: "Dled in
Washington Of the small pox, no doubt"
and the next moment twenty feet or more
were placed between him and the bor corpse.
followed him with sort of instructive,
self-preservative feeling; the other gentle
man kept his place, and smiled carelessly at
our fears. Turning to the orderly sergeant,
/ said: "Is there much small poX in Wash
ington?" "Ab0ut half the people have it."
said he. How he would do in fight l
can't tell; nor did ask him whether he had
ever been In one, but on the subject Of the
small pox he was nervous. "Any other
places round here where they have the
small pox?" asked. "About seven thou
sand cases over in Baltimore" he said.
A few hours later was in Washington,
and the same evening In Baltimore, but
heard scarcely any allusion to the small
pox. Before / left Ohio had heard that
the disease was raging in both these cities,
but on reaching them scarcely thought OF
II, and my friends with whom spoke made
no allusion to it. Thus It Is with dis
eases and troubles too,at a distance we hear
the most of them. We get nearer to them
and the pressure OF other cares, labors and
pursuits of life, turn our thoughts away,
and the troubles which friends at distance
think most about are often the ones that
/ gives us the least concern.
How strangely familiar with death and
sorrow have the scenes of the last three
L. Nun uao n aarO I nh
to be spending Sunday in a small town in
the western part of Ohio. twas soon after
| q battle in Kentucky, near Lexington, where
a fresh Ohio regiment that had been mus
| tered in only about two weeks, were severe
| ly routed. A few were killed, some captur-
ed. and large portion came home ut rapid
| rate. A company or two of the boys had
gone from the immediate vicinity of the
| town, and several came in during the day,
and with their old acquaintances gathered
around them, were narrating the incidents
of the battle, telling who was wounded and
who killed. OF course, there were some
ludicrous scenes related. and observed that
almost invariably, any incident whatever,
that was In the least degree startling was
greeted with a roar of laughter from nearly
all present. "What has become, of Tom
Jones' asked a certain youngman "He was
Killed. was the answer. 'Tom Jones
killed." said several voices, and the laugh
went round.
was speaking one day with boy
fifteen years of age, who had been out
as drummer was then at home on a
visit to his mother, but expected soon to
return to his regiment. " / scarcely ever"
said he, "saw dead person until went
into the war. was afraid to touch dead
body--it seemed awful-but now l can
walk right over them and think nothing of
it."
The natural sensibilities thus blunted
never recover from the shock.
This letter is long enough. Twill close
and add another.
Truly yours,
NUMBER NINE.