The Shasta courier., 1867-11-09

1t was indeed our good and valiant little
TREND Kelly, again returned to the hospital
irghttully wounded in the face. A bullet
had entered the right cheek, broken out two
teeth OF each Jaw, passed through the tongue.
shattered the lower jaw on the left side ana
carried away large portion of the check
lie was shot, he wrote, while living behind
his knapsack and firing at the enemy in front.
at the recent battle of Chickamanga but.
being far in advance of our line. he received
this terrible wound from fanking vollev.
wounded officer of this regiment near at
hand, seeing US in conversation, asked Kelly
whom he had found that he knew. He re
piled, by note, that lie had found the very
person he had told the officer so much about
and the officer remarked that Kelley always
told his comrades, when wounded or sick. to
90 to Nashville, and if possible, to hospital
No. %. Kelly wrote that he was very
sorry, when at the depot he found that the
vehicle in which be was carried was ordered
to No. l, and wanted to know how | came
to be on College Hill, and where my sister
was. | explained the transfer, finished the
tour OF inspection, and went to the Matron's S
room to inform my sister that our brave lit
tie friend was for the third time under our
care. as horrible mutilated patient.
The pleasing assurance that our hospital
service was hopefully remembered by the
brave heroes hundreds of miles awav on the
battle field, brought responsive tears from
my sisters eyes, and she declared that such
considerations were ample reward for LONG
days and nights of care, labor and exposure.
We sat by Kelly's couch a half hour,
reading (tor he could not utter an Ineligible
sound), his account of what befel him since
going to the front last. Then feeding him a
dish of farina, we left him to snatch, if pos
sible, few minutes sleep ere morning
dawned.
Under the skillful care of Dr.. MAY, di-
rected by Major Hornor, Kelly rapidly re.
covered, but his voice was forever obstructed;
he was unable to articuate and could only
with difficulty make himself understood.
Strange as it may seem, no sooner did the
inflammation subside and the bones unite
than Kelly again began suffering about the
" fighting 18TH" and declared that the
rebels had scored notch on him that must
be offset by a few more shots on his part, he
methodcally set to work munching bread
crusts to strengthen his jaws for masticating
hard crackers. The rebellion" he said in
his impressive way, must be crushed THE
rank and file of the Confederate army were
kill, but they were ALWAYS kept in front of
the schemiag traitors who instigated the
rebellion. The leaders will be reached in
time, and must be severely punished. Aris.
tocratc privilege passed upon the degrade
ton Of labor and prejudice against an inno-
cent face must both be wiped out. | am
glad to have been of some use in this neces
sary work and have little life vet which
am willing to offer again on the altar of my
country and humanity"
| gave Kelly employment in the store
room assisting to make out inventories of
hospital property, which was a great boon to
his active spirit. But still, chatting under
the rigor of hospital regulations and elec
trifed by the news of the gallant conduct of
his regiment, he, for the third time, strapped
on his knapsack, brought his g emancpator''
to his shoulder, and called on his friends for
another good bye.
As the glow of heroic devotion to the dis.
charge of duty mantled the SCARED counte-
nance of the brave boy, and he strove to
walk erect, despite fallen shoulder and a
stifened leg, tears rolled down many
bronzed face, unused to weeping, and many
voices greeted the veteran with tokens of
real admiration. Waving his cap towards
the national banner afoating from the roof
of the hospital, Kelley again strobe away to
join his regiment.
A few weeks after Major Hornor was pro-
NOTED to Medical Director, and ordered to
Washington, Special Order No. % was
countermanded, and l gladly reported to my
regiment, just starting on the Georgia cam
paign. At the same time that General
Hooker's Infantry was engaging the rebels
at Resaca, Georgia, May 10Th, 1864, Gen.
eral Garrard's Cavalry made a detour and
struck the enemy's left, near Rome, twenty
miles distant. AT the conclusion of the
cavalry skirmsh we made forced night
march through the forest, arriving in the
morning at Resaca, and passed over the
battlefield of the day previous. The sun
shone intensely hot, and the dead and wound
ed were collected under the shade trees or
being removed to the hospital train. As our
column was slowly passing to the front,
through the lines of infantry, | was accosted
by voice which | knew to be Kelley's.-
Riding out. | again clasped the hand of
Moses 7. Kelley, of the g Fighting 18th
Ohio" He was lying under tree awaiting
his time to go again to the hospital. There
was time for only slight examination of his
case and condition. While bearing his
wounded company officer off the field, the
day previous, he received a bullet in the
temple, which passed out at the orbit of the
left eye, carrying that organ completely
away. A large pool of blood near by, show
ed that the wound bled profusely. Saturat
ing my handkerchief with water and binding
it round the sufferers head, | remarked,
'' At last Kelley, you have given your life S
blood for the good cause-get home if you
can. and let us finish the work. God bless
YOU Ny dear friend, good bye"
mot forever" he calmly replied, we
may meet again | am not yet done with
traitors. Good bye. aud God bless you. y
s' Hurrah for the old flag !" incoherently
sounded in my ears as l galloped on to over
take the moving column.
The summer of 1864 sped tumultuously
along
With bugle bray and charger neigh,
And carbine's opening pour;
With saber clash and musket crash,
And cannons deafening roar.
During the winter following, while receiv-
ing some starving and frost bitten fellow
prisoners into the Z" Federal Hospital as
few poor sheds in the corner of Florence
Prison was called, learned that one was
member of the Eighteenth Ohio Infantry:
inquired what had become of Kelley, ana
was told that he went to Chattanooga Tor
treatment. returned in short time, and with