Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-16
BOMBARDMEN'r OF CHARLES
h TON.
A Thrilling Incident.-A Bridal Cham-
ber the Chamber of Death.
IrrOm Tho Charleston Mercury, April al

The Yankees, from time to time, throw a
shell into the city, and nobody seems to
mind it. But misfortune willed that yes
terday shell should throw the entire COM
munity into mourning:
Miss Anna Pickens, the daughter OF our
former Governor, never consented to leave
he city. Despite the representation OF
Gen. Beauregard, she remained, braving
shells and Greek fire, tending the wounded
and cheering all with her presence. Among
the wounded officers under her minstering
care, was Mr.. Andrew de Rochelle, de-
scendant of one of the noblest Huguenot
families of this city. This young man was
full of the liveliest gratitude for his fair
nurse; gratitude gave birth to more ten
der sentiment; his suit was listened to;
Governor Pickens gave his consent, and the
marriage was fixed tor yesterday, the 23d
Lieut.. De Rochelle was on duty at Fort
Sumter in the morning, and 1t was deter
mined that the ceremony should take place
at the residence of Gen. Bonham, in the
evening, at seven 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, among
the rest Miss Anna Pickens. We can not
describe the scene that followed. Order
| was Mt last re-estabished, and the wound
ed were removed, all except the bride, who
| Law motionless upon the carpet. Her be-
trothed, kneeling and bending over her.
was weeping bitterly, and trying to stallnch
the blood that welled from terrible wound
under her left breast. Asurgeon came and
declared that Miss Pickens had not longer
than two hours to live. We will not paint
the general despair.
When the wounded girl recovered her
consciousness she asked to know her fate,
and when they hesitated to tell her" An
drew" said she, :" / beg you to 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 heart-rending than to see the
agony of this brave girl, struggling in the
embrace of death, and against terrible
moral pang. Governor Pickens, whose
courage is Known, was almost without con-
sciousness, 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 II will die soon,
too, bht / would have you die my wife.
There is yet time to unite u.s."
The young girl did not reply; she was
| too weak. A Slight flush rose for an in
slant to her pale cheek; it could be seen
that joy and pain were struggling in her
spirit for the mastery. Lying on 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 proceed with the
ceremony. When it was time for the dying
girl to say Yes, her lips parted severa.
times but she could not articulate. At last
the word was spoken, and slight foam
resting upon her lips. The dying agony
was near. The minister sobbed as he pro-
ceeded with the ceremony. An hour after
ward all was over, and the bridal chamber
was the chamber of death. Lieutenant DE
Rochelle has sworn to perish in battle
against the Yankees, and we are sure that
he will keephis oath. lie has now dou-
BILE motive to hate them and his own eXis-
| tence.
Our entire community share the grief
that afflicts the family of Gov. Pickens.-
| The obsequies of Miss Anna will occur to-
morrow morning at IL o'clock. Gov. Pick
ems and Lieut.. De Rochelle will be chief
mourners. Our Ex-Governor desires that
there shall be no military parade. The fu-
neral cortege will be composed ofall our Ia
dies, all our magistrates, all our Generals,
and the wounded soldiers, many of whom
owe their lives to the devotion of the de-
ceased. Never has woman been followed to
the grave by so many regrets-neverh has one
left sadder remembrances in the hearts OF
Charlestonians.