The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-08-19
STAUNTON VIRGINIA. THURSDAY. AUGUST 49, 1869.

Even at this early period Of the war the
difficulty in replenishing an exhausted ward
robe was so great that a new or flashing ar
ticle of clothing was most startling innova-
ton. Boggs wore scarlet waistcoat and
sported cloak. Altogether he was dashy
and Aashy person, exciting the admiration
and envy Of some supplemented soldiers
with .attered uniforms, but the contempt OF
the more discerning.
Some weeks after Boggs' arrival gossip
ing rumors were whispered to the corporal,
omniously intimating that the pretty widow
had smiles for Boggs as well as for himself.
None of these reports affected either the cor
poraps composure or his confidence. He
went on in his usual discharge of duty, see
ing nothing, believing nothing, that was not
real and true like himself.
At last he was told that the day was fixed
for the marriage of his beloved and his rival.
But even yet he was SO blindly and trust
ingly confident that it would seem that he
regarded the report as idle gossip; for he was
to everybody, even toward Boggs, the same
kind, genial and innocent-hearted "Old Cor
poral" that he had always been.
But the hour came in which the pretty
widow spoke those formalized words which
made her Mrs Boggs and placed her forever
beyond the corporal's reach.
The stunning truth at last found way to
the corporal's unsuspecting heart, and those
console, others curious to witness the effects
Of what they looked upon as good joke,
found his post of duty vacant.
In one of the largest wards of the hospi-
tai little apartment had been planked off
for the corporal by his own request. To this
ward he had begged the surgeons to send
their worst cases, ''for," said he, eff some of
them groan even while I sleep it will awake
me through these thin planks, and I will
quickly be at his side"
= To this little room the corporal had quiet
ly and meekly repaired. The surgeon, who
soon afterward visited him, found him laid
meckly and helplessly, but calmly, upon his
bunk.
He found small opportunity to essay his
medical skill, for there was no tangible d.
sease to treat. The corporal was universally
beloved at the post, and daily many friends
came to offer, in their rude yet honest man
ner, consolation and comfort. But as he
made no complaint, mentioned no hidden
grief, reproached no one, and was gentle,
kind, collected and amiable to all who came
near him, they forbore to carry their purpose
into effect. For the instincts Of the human
heart teach even the rude and unpublished to
avoid intrusion upon those great sorrows
which the stricken often seek to monopolize
and brood over in silence and in secret.
The corporal's sojourn in his little chamber
was destined to be short. In less than two
weeks his spirit forsook the clay tenement
where such bitter grief and disappointment
had assaulted it, and returned to its Creator.
During his illness, if such it may be called,
where no disease was apparent no regret or
lamentations; no confession which rerroached
others; no bitter words ever passed his lips.
He waited patiently for the moment Of disso-
luton to approach, and then took final leave
of his friends in the simple, unaffected man
ner of one who expected on the next day to
meet them again.
On the next day long line of attendants
followed his mortal remains to newly formed
depository Of the dad, shaded by some lofty
pines which grew in the vicinity Of the sta
ton. Here were the narrow mounds which
covered those who had died at the hospital
There could not have been many among them,
whose dying hours had not been soothed by
the good corporal's assiduous attentions In
the midst of this silent but noble body guard,
his dust will slumber till awakened by the
call of the last trump.