The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-03-18
'sara o'lRs,ised III .hs ii. CLOUD Journ.i.] ]
"ONIEaAfPRlVAfE sKiLIED:,'

hs.4F. AKA F----
; 5aA&Wpvos had 1 brush" )" The Captain said,
! nsl -.seps R,ss'Alood sssdspilisd,*. =" "
We camo Of victors with the los ,,,',;;J'.
Of only q private killed"
:. ."Ah," said The ordsrlie, "it.waihotN"
Then he .broathed a, heavy breath, -,
II "poor fellow I-Ahs was badly shot, ID
q zn<* eaye'rstsa e asat@r'f ~ ~ =. -
And now was hushed tho martial din,
The ssucy f9s had fed; -, ;l-..-
They brought the private's body IN;
,r Invent to see the tlsad;' ~ -, /
For could not think tho Rebsl foo,
Tho under curse and ban,
So, boastful Of their chivalry,
Could kill wounded ran.
"A muslet ball bad pierced his thigh;
A frightful, crushing wound; ...
And then with savage bayonets,
They had pinned him to the ground,
One stub was through the abdomen,
=, Aaother, through the head,
The last~as thro' the pulseless breast-
Done after he .cas dead!
- ...3:rv,.J q;4Ic11t e..
His hair was, matted with his gore,
:, His hands 1ere clenched VI h might,
A. tho he still his musket bore !!
So firmly in thebsht; ~-~ :. -, -
Ho had grasped the foeman's bayonet,
The marderous thrusts to feni;'
They raised the coat cspe from his face
=: Ay:God !-is.0as NY friend! ~.
! 5.f
Think what & shudder chilled my hearth
Twas but the day BEFORE, ~ :,
We laughed together merrily,
As We talked of days of yore.
:. "Hew hafpy ~ shall b." he said, --
''When the war il DER and when,,
With Victry's song, and vict'ry's tread,
We all march home aeain!"
All, little he dreamed-that colder brave
So near his journeys goal. ...
That God had sent . messenger
{; To claim his Christian soull .,''
But he fell like ahero. lighting;
And hearts with grief are filed;
And honor Is his; tho the Captain says
"0nly a p,1uute killed." .,f ,.~---
.. knew him well-he was my friend;
Heloved our Land and Laws; =,
And he fell blessedmartyr
To the Country's holy cause.
And know cottage in the West
!! Where hearts with xoe are filed,
As the lightning flashes back to them
"0nly p'irats killedr' 49,.
Comrades. bury him under the oak, J..
Wrspped in his army-blue;
He is done with the battles din and smoke, ->
With drill and the proud review: '"--
~ And the time will come ere long, most like,
!: When our blood Win thus be spilled, = :
And then Of each will the Captain Say !,
''0nly private killed."
-. .!tc.5itlf: Fif'..: =!
But We fight our Country's battles;
=. Our hopes are not torlorn,
And our death shall BE- = blessing
=: To millions yet unborn
goour children, and their children!
Then, as each, grave j. filled,
What cure weif the Captain say
"Only a private killedi"
. What tho tottering mother
: Sheds tears Of anguish hot,
Der her darling son, the soldier,
= That cannct be forgotf :
What tho = sisters bosom. -:
With pang Of woe y thrilled, .,...
As she reads the careless telegram,
sony a pripate :aausdr': I.r. "
What tho a promised loved-ons
Kisses his picture dear, =.
And bedews the shadewy, featureee
With = n,aiden's holy fsar!' "''' -
What tho the poor hearts fountain
With the gall Of woe is filled.
Speak the cruel: consolation
!"Only d pyirpte A5Nel.":f. Es;,!;
!: What tho his orphaned children
Cling to the mothers knes,
And look up TO her fearful face
OF silent agony;
And ask Of her the reason
: Why her eyes with tears are fillsd!-
: Will she kiss their checks and tell them-
j.! !'"'4is only prsrate k'l1edr'. - -.
: But the glorious oldTiag bsckonsi
We have pledged her heart aud hand!
Andwe II brave oven Death to rescue
Our dear old Father-land!
re-. We ask not praise, nor honor;
Then as each grave is filled,
What cal we if the Captain say
"Only a privats killed." 80
~ CAMP STONE, MD. Oct. 2lst, 1se