The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-05-24
tCorre pondeuce Of the Madison wisconsin, State
....pf..t .itI Journal ...tl..
Shell-Anna-BOrn and Christened
on the Battlefield.


1t was during the celebrated flank move
ment of Sherman from Atlanta to Jones'
boro. The day before we got to Flint River
we had been having Alright lively little cav
airy fight for about six miles when the en-
emy got good position, formed line of
battle, and posted "a battery upon rise of
ground that was annOyingus considerably.
General Logan, In order to silence their
guns, brought up light battery of twen-
ty-four-pound brass Napoleons, which soon
quieted their clamor, and the whole line
moving forward compelled the rebels to
fall back toward the Flint, The whole
country here was thiclily wooded, and in
many places dense thicket, therefore, the
only guide our gunners could get in order
to make their shots effective was the flash
and smoke of the enemy's guns through the
timber, and of the course of their projec-
tiles. After the Johnnies had fallen back,
and we were pushing our column forward,
it was my fortune that day to be riding
with DR.. Woodward. Medical Inspector Of
the 10Th corps. We passed in front of the
spot where our battery had been stationed,
and just doubled a point of timber, when
we came suddenly upon a small house. and
for that country very neatly inclosed with
a stake" fence; but what attracted our at
tention was a yellow cloth hanging on one
of the shrubs In the yard. said to the
doctor, 'Halloa, there Is an improvised
hospital, let us halt. There Is possibly
some wounded reb there" Upoli which
we rode up to the cabin. Hearing the
tramping of horses, an elderly woman made
her appearance at the door. Recognizing
us as Yankees, she retreated. We called to
her and asked If she had any wounded rebs
in the house. On being answered In the
negative, we asked why she had that yell
low flag out. f.7sf rrr iifd yrIe
Why yer see, stranger my darter is
sick and sorter reckoned you'ns wouldn't
pester he'yer II We seed that thar flag"
''What is the mater with your daughter ?"
we asked. I'VE are surgeons, and perhaps
we can do something for herr
wal, now. If ye are doctors Jest ye come
long in an look." - 3I9i.ln .'i "'i
We dismounted and entered the cabin.
The woman went to the bed, which was
posted in the center of the room. and turn
ing down the sheet displayed to our as
tonished vision, lying dpon the clay-col-
ored breast of its clay-colored mother, a
small specimen of boiled lobster7looking
humanity, about n foot and half long,
evidently a stranger TO the country and
surroundings, whose span of life could
only be measured by minutes, it having
not vet lived an hour. f.f.
"Jist yc look thar, stranger; see what
you'ns all did with your shcllin' and
shootin' right through the house." and
pointing to two shot holes in the logs over
the head of the bed remarked ''Rigbt
when my gal was the sickest then two of
you all's cannon balls come clar through
the house, kiverin' the bed all over with
splinters and pine knots. tell yer, stran-
ger, it was right skeery for spell.I
The house, completely hidden among the
thick growth of timber, happened to be Ia
direct range of our battery. and the cabin
itself, and the surrounding out-buildings,
had been hit no less than six times during
the short action. but fortunately no one was
hurt about the place. i..i l.-I
In answer To our inquiries, the woman in
formed us that the young stranger belonged
TO the sex divine" So we asked her II
she would like to have 1t christened.
(which ~ said she. lh Irtt ..f.a
We explained KS well as possible the sig
niflcation of the term christen.
''0h, yaas; reckoniI would like to have
II baptized, If youns got any preacher long
with yerI" ...'y.r a'.i taaaI
So went an orderly back to one of the In
diana regiments which boasted a chaplain,
and he was soon on the ground. We ex-
planned TO him what was expected, and he,
nothing 10th. commenced service. The
General commanding the brigade, getting
wind of the matter, came up, and, together
with some of his staff, were mustered as
witnesses, Dr. w. and the subscriber act
ing as sponsors, The child was ehristened
Shell-Anna. .I ...i. f.. .r.,,,-..,