Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1868-05-29
A TRUE STORY OF THE WAR,
BY REV. EaDEnr II, OSBORNE, OF TENN

Kind reader, sitting in the hushed and holy
quiet Of home, with tho shadows of sickness
Sloomlng my cabin--a watcher by the couch
OF pain, l had opened the sealed fount of
memory, to track the dark days of civil war
when the death angel sent it's tidngs of sor-
row ~into thousands and tens of thousands Of
homes, oncc vocal with the song of hope,
crowned with the blessings of afucncc and
prosperity My simple story is unadorncd by
the garlands Of imagination, or sportic fancv's
garnlturo OF words Tho misrcre of battle
ragged i'll fiery flames, and sulphurous clouds
drltt"! darlly over the wild hell, where armed
thousands ragcl through the smoke and blood
OF the deadly conflict Victory wreathcd the
torn and bloody banners of the South; yicto.
purchased at the cost Of hundreds of the
noblcst and best, and bravcst sons of tho
South; victory, which sont the ghost of bitter
wailing into hundreds of homes all over tho
land. The sickly moon, and the lonely stars
looked dimly down upon The bloody wreck Of
battle The sad cry for water" was walled
out from many wounded hero, who would
not ask the foenlan to stay the upliftcd blade
of death. The, blood -shroudcd forms Of the
dead wero buried where they fell, amid the
lonely debris IF battle, with no epitaph but
tears no funeral dirge but the sob Of nation
in mourning their dccds their only monu-
mental witness their names nations hori-
tage Of. glory.
Namo after name was stricken from tho
rolls OF the living warriors Of the South, and
Jewelcd tho page Of history, the records of
Immortality forever Tho name of James
Walker was registered with the dead. He
had heard the buglc blast of war sounding
over tho waves Of the Mexican gulf the call
to arms had swept tho Ao;s"nry prairics of Tex
as--the Italy Of America, the Eden Of the
SUNNY land His heart was on fire tho
white heat of battle burnt on his brow. even
as tho thought Of parting from his ouccnly
bride blanchcd his check Love for his Young
and beautiful wife, and love for his native
land were struggling for the mastery in his
heart. Bricf, but fierce was the conflict lie
would 60 to Virginia-ho would trust his
vito vito to that Providence whose slecpless Eye
'is over all the works of Divine goodness. lie
would give her into tho paternal caro- of that
God whom he loved and worshppcd.
1t was moonlight over the prairies Moon.
light in Texas" cloudlcss, clear and purely
beautiful" James Walker and his young
wife were talking of tho first great baptism Of
blood on tho soil Of Virginia." Kate, dar
ling, must co." The words seemed wrench
cd out of his heart.
You, James leave mo all alone, and so
soon2 Oh! God help me to bear this sor.
row, and I will bless thoo Oh! war, war,
this is thy curse !"
Yes, my darling wife, I must go. Duty
'caa!s ME. Texas is my native State. While
know but little of tho politics of this terri
BILE war, | know | am Texan--my father
fought at San Jaointo, and his namo is on tho
warrior roll Of the Mexican war. 1t is like
taking my life to leave you My kindred arc
dead. YOU arc tho only being upon earth I
love. But must 90 my country calls, and
Imust go. Try and think of tho meeting,
81 the return"
,2l . Lot me draw the veil over the parting be-.
tween James Walker and his heroic wifo.-
There arc hours that press tho blood from out
tSho heart, too sacred for tho eye of man to
iookupon. Moments of anguish that turn tho
heart to ashes, and leave no lingering trace Of
earthly JOY, save the cold dim outlines of n
fading hopc. Thousands and tens of thous.
ands of Southern wives and mothors oiforod
their all upon tho altar of duty, with more
sa than Spartan courage, with christian resigna-
tion and uadying fortitudc, which will shrine
# thcir virtues IN the grateful hearts of a ruined
people,
5.j Sad was tho parting, bitter were the tears
ibuthopc came to Sid the setting sun of peace
81 & and arch tho dread future with the glad re-
turn, tho happy melting
81 Months Of weary waiting, watching, hoping
praying, every day ydatkoning oyor the almost
Il 1capairing heartoi Kate Walker Bar of