Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-03-07

AS L was engaged In posing advanced
skirmishers along the line on which brave
Arthur Fuller had just fallen but forty rods
further to the eastward, body of one hun
dred rebels rose with yells from behind low
board-fencc across the way, ind poured a
volley into our little squad. We looked
abont in vain for support. II was neces-
sity bitter as death; but we were compelled
to fall back to the cover of an old stable on
the next street. Slowly and in good order,
firing steadily as we retired, we got within II
pistol-shot Of shelter, and, looking back, saw
Briggs's company coming at the double
quick up lane on the right to reinforce us,
when felt a sudden shiver Of pain, as if a
sharp iciclc had run into my thigh; my feet
went from under me; my eyes grew misty /;
and then all was darkness.
When next came to myself, it was late
twilight. was laying alone, in maddening
thirst and agony,--the air about me sitting
with smoke, and still singing with bullets
rwo detachments of the opposing forces
were contending for the space on which
lay and as the balls whstled over me,
momentarily expected the final quietus to my
pain. In an interval between the volleys on
,ur side, saw a man leave the ranks, and
come crawling on his hands and knees to-
war'l me- Little by little he approached til,
place where lay, without attracting the aim
,,f the opposite combatants. 1t was tot.
luptY tn dict inmt,tcI, Lir l,,t
,,osed him some reckless rebel, coming to rol
ne of my watch and side-arms nd, hav
ng heard of the practice, occasionally in
lulged in by our foes, of putting wounded
men beyond the future trouble of claiming
such little trinkeis, feigned death, with eyes
light shut and breath close-held. But ht
Jent over me only an instant; then lifted
he upon his back, with my face over his
shoulder and my arms banging down, and
,egan returning with me, on his hands and
knees, as he had come, When he was aboul
laf-way home to his comrades, the enemy
,vidently caught sight of him for shO
lowed, unpleasantly close to my ears. M,
carrier lay down for moment, slid
me off his back, wound one arm around my
waist, and, covering me with his own body.
crept on his knees and the remaining hant.
until he had dragged me within his OWL
lines. Just as he got in, the pain of my
wounded leg reached such pitch, through
the irritation of movement, that heard onl,
the burst of cheers with which his friends
received him, and the rattle of the volley
which his return left them free to fire, then
once more became dead to all the world.
When again awoke, found myself lying
on bed of army-blankets, with pillow oi
the same material rolled up under my head,
and two men stood near me, talking in a
reprcssed voice, under the shadow of high
stone-wall.
"I'm afraid he can't possibly last through
the night" said one of them; :" he has LOST
so much blood that there's nothing left tc
rally. He may revive again for moment,
but hardly"
Well, DOCTOR answered the other, in q
voice of deep sadness, "don't let me keep
you any longer; Ill stay and watch with
him till the stretcher comes.''
1t was my old school-mate who spoke.
tried to call on him; but, in my intense
weakness, my tongue failed me.
He brought lantern from the shadow Of
the wall, and, tucking the blankets terd ri,
about my feet, threw the light upon his lap,
and took out of his pocket little bundl
lied up in his handkerchief. When he un.
did the knots, recognized in their enclosure
the precious little remembrunces which
mad carried next my breast and taken int,
every fight with me since the war began.
One by one he held them in the light of tn,
lantern, and soliloquized over them bitterly.
"She gave me home; she stood up toi
me when hadn't Il defender in the world
'he did mothers best for me when miu
couldn't help me. That's her dear face, witt
the eyes looking just as if she expected Ben
and there lies all that will ever get home +,
her. And brought him here-L, l! {
God why couldn't they have shot me, too
Why didn't | fall dead on him while l wa.
dragging him out of fire? How can l senu
him back to her, so ?
Here are the letters, rs,-'Capt Ben Thirl
wall; he'd have been general if he'd lived.
How proud his moiher'd have been. How
proud she'd have been too; And here,
her picture. Oh, sweet, sweet! how Iv,
loved those eyes-ever so long ago-evei
since was little boy !-and Id no right
they were his-they always looked dearly al
him, and was vain, presumptuous, pas
sionate fool They were to have been mar
ried the first time he got furlough. Lovel,
face! all my life far off and darling us hea
ven, how can l ever look into you any more
Let me be forgiven; let me kiss you once
as If we were children again in the old farm
house; no one can see it-even you cam
know; it will do you no wrong; once-th,
only, the last time my beloved, widowed
sister"
He pressed his lips to the photograph; hi
sorrowful eyes grew wet; and, hearing ,
measured noise of feet, he thrust the articles
back into his pocket, drew his cuff across hi
face, and stood up with stern "Who goe
there ?"
"Men with the stretcher, captain" an
swered corporal, saluting
My school-mate raised me tendery in hi
arms and laid me on the stretcher. l mad
one desperate effort, patted his cheek ant
whispered, "Dear old boyl" then swoonet
once more with his cry of delight ringing ii
my ears, and never woke again till the sui
Was shining brightly into my hospital ten
on the northern side of the Rappahannock.
The means of wounded men, sinking t,
their final rest, mingled around me with tn
outcries of those who were fighting thei
battles over again in the frenzy of delirium
Inflammation had set in, and l was suffering
great pain and fever; but my reason wa
left me, and my first thought vas of tn
friend who had borne my bleeding body an,
his own broken heart out of last night hell
ish hail-storm.
"Briggs!" l cried, family.
.a..1 Ill.