The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-10

emptying their precious freight. Passing
further on, we come to the long low build
ings of Carver hospital, into which is being
poured another instalment of sufferers.
Many are carried Immediately to beds !;
many men are able to help themselves and
to nelp each other. They crowd into the
wards and on the steps outside, washing
their faces, combing their hair, and shak-
ing from their torn garments the CRIME of
the march and the battlefield. One is
pouring cooling water upon the swollen
arm Of comrade, and another, sitting
upon the ground, is, trying to dress the
wounds Of companion. "Ths doctors
have 80 much to do, "he says. Haggard,
worn, suffering, and yet these boys are not
only cheerful, but positively gay. "Id
rather be wounded than not" says one,
"as long as the boys are pushing on; but
it's mighty hard to be hit, and know that
we are running back" "The army has
had hard week.. am glad that you can
rest," say to one pale and suffering man
lying on his bed. eyes, but the army of
the Potomac is used to hard times.
would rather be with the boys than here.
I'll be with my regiment again in two
weeks, driving the Johnnies."
TALKS WITH THE WOUNDED.
Passing from one of the wards, met
strange face above well known jacket
of the Ellsworth Avengers, the 44th New
York. The man is wounded in the face,
has lost some of his fingers, and one hand
is swoolen to twice its natural size. His
face lights with recognition as he says ::
+" You ares sister," eyes" C
Is all right. left him in line of battle.
After / was wounded a second time,
crawled back to try and find my KNAPP
sack. All l wanted from it was the pic.
ture of my wife and child. I could'nt
bear to lose it, but couldn't find it. Then
I looked for -. There he was in the
front line with his rifle ready. love -.
All the boys love. him; he will give US
bis last morsel and do without himself.
He's lucky boy always; fighting in front,
and never had scratch" Sacred praise !!
treasured already, as if spoken of one
passed within the Eternal gate.
You boys seem devoted to each 9TH
err" Yes" is the answer, "we are like
brothers. --w was killed last Friday,
and -. 1t was hard to leave him be-
hind, and tears roll down: the furrowed
face. "I didn't think that any of us
would ever reach Washington" he con-
tinues. "Tne gnerillas fred on us, and
wounded some Of us over again. Then
they took three hundred of US. Poor fel-
lows! how hungry and weak they were.
/ had only three crackers to eat for three
days. When tried to swim the river,
was SO weak though that should drown;
but / didn't, and I'm all right now"
cit was all march till we went into the
fight. We fought on Thursday, on Friday !;
We were in the rifle-pits on Saturday. We
marched all Saturday night, and On Sum-
day morning at seven made charge with
out having eaten morsel. We lost over
half of our boys. Our colonel was wound
ed. The major was wounded. Capt. -
was killed. My captain was killed. l felt
that he would be when we went in. He
looked so white, l thought that his time
had come to be shot. I'd fire, and then
look at him-I was 80 afraid he would
drop. loved Capt. johnson he was al
ways taking care of his men. He was
struck. He didn't mind that. He was
struck again AMI fell. After l was wound
ed, went to the rear and found him, He
was dying. He gave me his hand, and
said, Good by, Hank He was the first
man buried at fredericksburg
THE 44TH NEW YORK AND ITS OFFICERS.
He is bat one of the many heroic souls
in this regiment that has gone up to God
from the battlefield since wrote you last.
1t counts nine officers among its killed and
wounded, and more than half of its gallant
three hundred have fallen. Is it any
recompense to the remnant left, to know
that Gen. Bartlett told their colonel that
no regiment ever fought more bravely
than the 44th through all that awful eight
days of battle? Or to their wounded
commander to know that his boys say of
him, that ga braver man never led men
into battle?" As Col. Conner spoke of
these men, who have proved their vslor
on so many bloody fields, tears filed his
eyes, but proving once again that it is not
only the weak who are afraid to love or
ashamed to weep. Col. Conner has gone
to his home in New Hampshire. Happy
you, who can minister to the wounds of
the one loved best. The angels in Heaven
must weep for those to whose imploring
arms the battlefield refuses to give up its
dead.
ihls regiment belonged to Grifin's bri-
gade, which met the first onset of the en-
emy, and were so utterly cut to pieces
during the nrst three days battles of the
wilderness. Ibis Sd brigade of the first
division OF the fifth corps, was the one
which. under the heroic Rice, held the left
line Of battle on the second day at Gettvs. !.
burg, against the repeated and murderous
assaults Of the enemy, clearing their front
and advancing their line till Il covaroJ
Round Top Mountain, and made a flanI-
ing movement by the enemy Impossible
r,iao ulz;ll and uelor mh;ah ha AL