Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-09
ShelI.Annn-Born and C~hrisGened ON
the Raftlas6eHd.

kerosene on them.
SheII.Anna-Rorn and Chrisiened ON
the Battlefield.
1t was during the celebrated flank
of Sherman from Atlanta to
Jonesbor0. The day before we got to
Flint river we had been having a right
lively little cavalry fight for about six
miles, when the enemy got a good posi-
ton formed a line Of battle, and posted a
battery upon a rise of ground that was
annoying US considerably. General Lo-
gan, in order to sileneetheir guns, brought
up a light battery of twe~nty-pound brass
Napoleons, which soon quoted their
clamor, and the whole line moving for
ward, compelled the rebels to fall back
toward the Flint. The whole country
here was thickly wooded, and in many
places q dense thicket, therefore the only
guide our gunners could get in order to
make their shots effective, was the fash
and smoke of the enemy's guns through
the timber, and of the course OF their
proiectiles. Afterthe Johnnies had fallen
back and we were pushing our column
forward, it was my fortune to be riding
with DR.. Woodward, Medical Inspector
of the 10Th Corps. We passed in front Of
the spot where our battery had been sta
STONED, and just doubled q point of tim
Der, when we came suddenly upon a small
house, and, for that country, very neatly
enclosed with a I" shake" fence, but what
attracted our attention was a yellow cloth
hanging on one of the shrubs in the yard
1 said to the Doctor, /" Halloa, there is an
improvised hospital let US halt. THERE'S
possibly some wounded reb there Upon
which we rode up TO the cabin. Hearing
the tramping of horses, an elderly woman
came TO the door. Recognizing US as
Yankees, she retrested. We called to her
and asked if she had any wounded rebs in
her house. On being answered in the
negative, we asked why she had that yell
low flag out.
-UWhy yer see, stranger, my darter is
sick, and sort % reckoned ypu'9ns
wouldn't poster he-yer if We seed that thai
hag.'
What is the matter with your daugh-
| ter ? " we asked. awe are surgeons, and
perhaps we can do something for her."
avail now, If We are doctors Jest "
come long an look
We dismounted and entered the cabin
the woman went to the bed, which wa;
posted in the centre Of the room, and
turning down the sheet, displayed to oul
astonished vision, lying upon the clay
| colored breast of its clay-colored mother
a small specimen of boiled-lobster looking
humanity, shout a foot and q half long
evidently a stranger to the Country anc
surroundings, whose span Of life could
only be measured by minutes, it having
not yet lived ar hour. "Jist ye look thai
stranger, see what you'ns all did with yel
shellin' and shooting right through thu
house" aud pointing to two shot holes il
the logs oven the head of the bed, re
marked, "right when my gal was the sick
est, then two of you'uns cannon ball
come clar through the house, kiverin thu
bed all over with splinters and pine knots
Itell yer stranger, it was right skeery TO
q SPELL
The house co npletely hidden among tn
thick growth OF timber, happened to b.
in direct range Of our battery, and th'
cabin itself, and the surrounding out
buildings, had been hit no less than 81,
times during the short action, but fortu
lhl6l1 no 0uG WIS AUTI dDOub tuo pAhCO-
In answer to our inquiries, the womal
informed us that the young stranger be
longed to the sex divine. So we aske'
her if she would like 10 have it christened
(which said she.
We explained as well as possible Ia
signification Of the term christen.
"Oh, yeas 1 reckon l would like {
have it baptized if you'ns got any presche
long with yer?'
50 we sent an orderly back to one g
the Indiana regiments which boosted
chaplain, and he was soon on the ground
We explained TO him what was expected
and he, nothing 10th, commenced service;
The General commanding the brigade
getting wind of the matter, now cam
up, and together with some of his stat
were mustered as witnesses, DIR. W. an
the subscriber acting as sponsors.
The grandGme remarked, "What al
yer gwine to gin it for a name? | wan
suthin' right peart.'
We told her she should be satisfied wit
name. The chaplain squared himself
We the sEonsoTs) took Dur station:
Tue old woman held the gourd, the neal
est We could come 10 q baptismal font
and the young female chiyalry wa
christeued "ShsH Anna." The chaplain
made a prayer respectable for breyity an,
appropriateness. The general added al
amen inst sounded like the explosion of
shell. We raised some $40 in grcenback
as q christening gift, and left thcm, tn
old woman remarking, ~ never seed til
beat O. them Yankees
On our return, some four days latter
after the fall of Atlanta, We called to Sc
our protege. Found it more like q boile,
lobster, but otherwise the baby and vel
~low-haired mamma we're, in the parlanc
of the old lady, fright peart."