Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-04-13

Coruy who tended him with terrified solici
tude, forased for bis wood, and cooked his
tstions. "When Dfaks was ailiug l"--that
was often. His courage was undaunted,
his hope perhaps higher, but he had grown
pereepnbly weak and languid and there
were dsys--many, alssl--when he lay quiet
ly on the ground, giving sn occasional lazy
touch to bis cathedral, while Corny, az he
\ sughiugly said ruled in his stead.
II was 90 one of these days that there
arose sudden stir and commotion through
out the camp, deep and joyful ham that
went from mouth to mouth and men were
seen running hastily from sll quarters, the
rush setting towards the gate, and drawing
along with the stream, at the risk Of being
tram pied upon by the excited throng, strug-
Cling and crowding on pellmell. While
Drake looked on in surprise, Corny made
his appearance, his eyes sparkling with
pleasure.
News, Musiher Tslcott. dear an ye
wuZ dyin' here's news to put tho strength
! 10 yer legs. Lntthers from home, and they
! say there's n We thousand Of EN- and there s
an officer chap vid a mouth like thrsp,
oountin' 'em as if be was a machine, fer all
the wuruld, and bad cess to him wild the
poor boys crowdin' and heart fsmished for
only look at thin ere crumpled things,
for it's batthered they is aud he, the spal
peen, went let one OF 'em touch EN-, and
no more feein' wild him than if he was a
gun. instead Of the son Of one; and I'm
cock sure read your name, Musther Tai
cott, and there's mine too on the back OF q
letther, and that's from Mary, hurra and
God bless her. and come, Musther Talcott,
fur they'll be dalin' out the letthers or iver
we git there"
Drake rose at once but description of
his sensations, as he hastily made his way
towards the throng that surged about the
the power of words. The overwhelming
surprise and joy of man who in that evil
den had almost forgotten home and the pos
sibility of hearing from it. and his agonz-
ing uncertainty, could be fathomed only by
the poor wretches suffering like him, who
anxiousy pressed on the rebel officer, and
clutched at the letters, and fell back sick
with impatience and suspense at his formal
delay. At last he opened his grim jaws
Tue men listened breathlessly.
All right. Men, there is ten cents post
age due on each letter"
An instant's stunned pause, and then
half dozen voices speaking together !:
why, man, you must have ten cents on
each of these letters before they crossed the
lines ;" and How can ue pay postage 2"
"He kaocs We have no money y What
good will the bits of paper do him at all
at all p But the man kept on like an au-
tomatom. ..
MY orders are to>cellect ten cents on
each letter and am here to obey erders
not to argue"
Meanwhile those in the rear ranks had
| haor1 ,cJ,at,ootl,, - II
on those in front to know the meaning of
the sudden recsil,-fsr the men had in
stinctivsly given back,--and being tsld,
buEzed it to those behind them and there
began in the crowd low, deep hum. grow
ing louder, as muttsring rose to curses
growing tisrcer, for there is nothing half so
savage as despair that has been fooled with
a hope, swelling into wave of Indignation
that swept and swayed the whole throng
with it, and seemed an instant to threaten
and topple over the officer in their midst -
But it came to nought. The prudent nudg-
cd their neighbors, with the csnaon
boys, they can rake US on all Sides" and
the angrier ones fell apart in little groups,
and talked in whispers, and glared menac-
ingly at the guard, but made ne further de-
monstrations. Those who were happy
enough to possess the money received their
letters: the fesber ones crawled away with
tears furrowing their wan cheeks; and the
unmoved official thrust the remaining let.
ters of father, mother, wife and children of
ing eyes and even while the misersb Bile men
flung themselves before him, and with out
stretched hands tried to held him back, the
gate changed after him. stI l.... ..l-
Drake who long ago had spent his little
hoard, had received this terrible blow in
entire silence, and turned to 60 without
comment or answer to Corny' 9 vociferations.
But eyes were dim or head was reslng
for few PAGES on he stumbled and would
have fallen over q soldier lying in his path,
but for Corny, whe was close behind him,
and who at snce assailed the man over
whom Drake had tripped, and who still lay
quietly, without even stir or motion of his
head.
"Ys lazy spalpesn what the divil ara ye
stretched there for, to break dacent folk,
neck over the length OF ye? Stir yerself, OF
Tlp-Then with sudden and total chsnge
of tone, as he locked more closely into the
! quiet face, "Ths saints pity us ! it's Cap'n
1relandl and in the name ofhiven, how came
yer honor here on the--Ochl Lord forgive
mel Talkin' to dead corpsel Och! wurra!
wurral Musther Talcett, it's dead he is,sHre!
1 klb tuts
"You may we'll say killed." said soldier
! whe had joined them. IF ever man com
) mitted murder, then that man did thai
kicked him out Of the hospital to dis"
"What is that2" demanded Drake, who
had seemed in ssrt Of stupor, but reused
, out of il fercely st the.mans last Words
, "Do you know what you ara saying ?"
81 think ought," returned the aoldisr
Il was in the ksspitalst the time; | m onl,
Just out; and saw it myself Thssssistan
/ surgeon stops at his bed, whore he laid enl!
: Just breathing like, and says he, What maj
= is this? I've seen him bsfore;' and says SOM
! one, His name is Ireland; and says tn,
! surgeon. like fash, 'Ireisnd1 Ireland o
/ tbs --th? Do you know Whist that is2 II i
= . colered regiment, and this Abolition
. seouudrsl is the osptsin eft / knew hs'
: seen him. Hersl put him out; let him 4
= u and herd with the rest aud when sorns on
= = said he was dying any way ssid the sursco
= with string of oaths, Put him out, | ,el
! you; bed is too geod for him; sand then
: sir, when the poor young gentleman, VIII
j. was dizzy-hke, and didn't understand, fe
;, down beside the dper from weakness, tha
:. Internal brute kisksd him, and sEore a
:. him, as vermin that numbered tho ground
- and the men brought him away here, sir, it
L -.