The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-08-25
A Vtcthn.
By HARRIET b. STOWE.

of sixteen. named Walter Raymond. en-
listed among our volunteers He was un-
der the prescribed age, but his eager zeal
led him to follow the footsteps of an elder
brother who had already enlisted and
the father of the boy. though these two
were all the SONS he had, instead Of avail
ing himself of his legal right to withdraw
him, indorsed the act in the following let
ter addressed to his captain:
ANDovER, Mass, August l5. 1862.
Captain Hunt My eldest son has en-
listed in your company. send you his
younger brother. He is, and always has
been, in perfect health, of more than the
ordinary power of endurance honest, truth
full and courageous doubt not You will
find him on trial all You can ask. except
his age, and that am sorry to say is only
sixteen yet if our country needs his ser
vice, take him. Your ob't servant,
SAMUEL RAYMOND.
The boy went forth to real service, and
to successive battles at Kingston. at White
hall. and at Goldsborough and in all
did his duty bravely and faithfully. He
met the temptations and dangers OF a SOL
dier'S life with the true hearted firmness
of a Christian child. neither afraid nor
ashamed to remember his baptismal vows,
his Sunday school teachings and his moth
er's wishes.
He had passed his promise to his moth
er against drinking and smoking. and held
it with a simple, childlike steadiness.-
When in the midst OF malarlouS swamps,
physicians and officers advised the use of
tobacco, the boy writes to his mother !:
"A great many have begun TO smoke. but
| shall not do it without your permission.
though l think it does a great deal of
good"
In his leisure hours he was found in his
tent reading and before battle he prepar-
ell his soul with the beautiful psalms and
collects for the day. As appointed hy hi>
church, and writes with simplicity TO his
friends
IL PRAYED God that He would watch
over ne. and if i fell. receive nv soul in
heaven and also PRAYED that l hi sht
not forget the cause was iighting for, and
turn my back in fear
After nine months service he returned
with soldiers experience. though with Il
frame weakened bv sickness in 4 malari-
ouS rcgion But no sooner did health and
strength return than he again enlisted i'll
the Massachusetts cavalry service. and
passed many months of constant activity
and adventure. being in some severe SkIr-
miShcs and battles with that portion OF
>hcridan's troops who approached near
est to Richmond, gettinS within mile
} and Il half of the city At ihc close OF
this raid. 50 hard had been the service.
that only thirty horses were left out of
<cvonty-tour in his company. and Walter
and two others were the sole survivors
among eight who occupied the same tcnt.
! On the 10th of August Walter WAS ta-
ken prisoner in Il >kirmiSh and from the
! time this news reached his parents, until
the 18th of the following March. they
could ascertain nothing of his fate \
general exchange of prisoners having then
been effected. they learned that he died
on Christmas day. in Salisbury prison. OF
hardship and privation.
I What those harl>hip> were is. ala> :.
I l. l. Il,
thenticatcd accounts published by our gov
ernmcnt of the treatment experienced by
our soldiers in the rebel prisons.
Robbed of clothing, of money. of the
soldiers best friend. his sheltering blanket
herded in >hivering nakcdness on the bare
ground. deprived of every implement by
which men of energy and spirit had soon
bettered their lot. forbidden 10 cut in an
jacent forests branches for shelter. or fuel
to cook their coarse food. fed on pint OF
corn and cob meal per day, with some
slight addition of molas>eS or rancid meat.
denied all mental resources. all letters
from home, all writing to friends. these
men were cut off from the land OF the liv-
inc while yet they lived; they We're made
to dwell in darkness rs those that have
been long dead.
By such slow, lingering tortureS. sucl
weary. wasting anguish and sickness o
body and soul, it wa> the Internal policy
of the rebel government either to wring
from them an abjuration OF their country,
or, bv slow and steady draining away o
the vital forces. TO render them forever
unfit to serve in her armies.
Walters constitution bore four month.
of this usage. when death came TO his re
lease. A fellow sufferer who was will
him in his last hours, brought the account
to his parents.
, Through all his terrible privations. ever
| the lingering pains OF slow starvation
l Walter, preserved his steady simplicity
:, his faith in God, and urswerving tidelit,
to the cause for which he WAS suffering
When the rebels had kept the prisoner
/ fasting for days, and then brought in deli
: cacies to tempt their appetite, hopin
v thereby to induce them 10 desert their fiae
he only answered. Il would rather he cal
e ried ont on that dead-cart.
n When told that he must steal from hi
fellow sufferers. rs many did, in order t
:, relieve the pangs of hunger, he answered
:, ''No, was not brought up 10 that. -
:. And so, when his weakened system woul
l. no longer receive the cob meal which w:
> his principal allowance, he set his fac
calmly towards death.
10 He nrew GRADUALLY weaker and weake