The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-26

Uncle Ben. what brings you here this
morning. He reminded me that few
days before had told him to pluck away
some weeds which were growing up about
the tomb of my dear little Lucy. no.
ticed, too, that he had swept and smoothed
the surrounding ground. The morning WAS
so delightful, the air so serene, that !-felt
tempted to pass out through the cemetery
to the fields, intending to return by the
same way, and told uncle Ben not to lock
the gate, rs I should do go.
81 was led to continue my walk beyond
what was my usual custom but presently
a peculiar sensation, as if impelled by
some underlined influence, came upon me,
and began to feel very nervous. has
tened to the path leading to the large gate,
through which | now decided to return to
the house-the shortest way, in fact. An
overpowering sense of sadness oppressed
me, and once or twice ] was compelled. to
stop. At length l approached the aspen
tree which stands by the side of the pri-
vate road, Just without the gate, when,
Judge Of my horror at seeing, lying be-
Meath it, my poor boy Henry At his side
were a cloak, a cap, and n sash. I saw blood
oozing from his neck. His features bore an
expression indicative Of intense pain,
though calm and tranquil. instinctively
moved towards him, when he waved his
hand as if to say adieu. A faint smile
seemed to struggle through the agony UNI
der which he appeared to be laboring.
I" In the room which you and Rose now
occupy l found myself lying on q couch.
The curtains were drawn, and surrounding
objects at first dim and indistinct. Pre-
sentlv / distinguished the forms of the
children, Virginia, Minnie, and Rose
Rose then little fairy in her fifth year.
She had grasped my hand. At the farther
part of the room were several of the SER
wants, weeping. My first exclamation, as
Virginia afterwards told me, was, MY
darling children, poor Henry is dead You
will never see your brother again. Be-
tween the interval of my vision, for !
know not what else to call it, and return
to consciousness, Virginia and Minnie had
gathered from the servants, that near the
aspen tree, as I was about to turn in at
the gate, / had suddenly stopped, cried out
the name of my son, and then became in
sensible. With the assistance of Others
Immediately summoned, they had borne me
to the house in state of utter prostration.
To this day have not deemed it prudent or
advisable to communicate to my children
what saw on that dreadful morning and
had it not been that my first expression, on
a return to consciousness, was of Henry's
death, not word should have escaped me
on the subject. Within my own breast it
would have been concealed until confirmed
or proved to be unreal. But, so far as they
could connect anything with it, they urged
me to disabuse my mind of the impression,
and that when the post arrived we should
hear he was alive and well. They pretended
that L had dreamt it, and that, like the sha-
dow of dream; all would pass happily
away. I allowed them so to think, fully
| convinced, however, that their poor brother
was no longer in this world.
GA fortnight or more had passed, when,
! to the surprise Of every one, uncle lsham
made his appearance. To me the news
of his arrival seemed to be death-blow.
| Preceded by the children, went to the
piazza to see him. Virginia outran the
others, and / heard her say, Where's
your master Harry p Massa Henry
gone dead, missy he replied; and the
poor slave burst into tears. After few
| moments he continued, 'They sent me
home to Alta Vista, and told me to take
| this letter to my missis.' He then pro-
duced from cloth, in which he had care
fully wrapped it, q letter, together with a
small sealed packet. The letter proved to
be from one of Henry's brother officers. l
have it here now, and will read it to you.
1t was dated at Fort Madison, on the Rio
Grande, 18th of May, 1884:
"Dear Madam,-1t has fallen to my lot
to communicate to you most sad news. Your
son Henry, our late companion and friend,
is no more. He fell in duel on the morn
ing Of the 18th instant, about o'clock,
having been shot through the neck. | was
with him when he expired, and heard the
word " Mother" pass from his lips. His
death was almost instantaneous. AS | am
sure it will be a satisfaction to yourself and
which led to this melancholy event, | here
give them: At the mess. table, on the pre-
ceding evening, everything had gone on up
to certain period in the utmost harmony
and hilarity, when Captain S most un-
happily turned the conversation to the sub
ject of slavery. Being violent abolition
ist, he became unguarded in his remarks,
and said many things derogatory to all
slave-owners, whom he denounced in a
BODY. The other officers present did what
they could to interpose and check his Ian
puage, which only became more offensive
and insulting, as also to allay the indigna-
nation evidently rising on the part Of your
son.
:" We rose from the table in confusion,
and sought our quarters, greatly grieved at
what had taken place, and not free from
strong suspicious that Lieutenant Pollard
would seek apology or redress. The same
night received message from him, and
by the hands Of the surgeon he sent note
to CAPTAIN s. demanding retraction
of the words he had uttered, and in the
presence of all before whom they were
spoken. This not being granted, meeting
was fixed for the next morning at 6 o'clock.
| accompanied your son to the ground. The
ball of his antagonist pierced his neck, and
he fell. We placed him at the foot OF a
neighboring tree, where his servant lsham
had already deposited his cloak, sash, and
cap. The doctor Immediately opened his
collar to search the wound, hut it was
apparent that he was beyond al NOR
tai aid, and in moment or tTo he
breathed his last. ! cannot close with
out adding that no one could stand better IN
the service than your scn did. He was a
brave young soldier, ard high-minded be-
yond his years. His uniform modesty Of
demeanor and unaffected goodness wen the
hearts of all. Every man in this dotnch-
ment mourns his loss, and no one feels his
death more keenly than he by Thcse hnnd
he fell. We send Isham with this letter,
and he will deliver at the samc time = email