Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-02-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
"I Am Alone in the World"

The following touching Incidents extracted
from the eloquent appeal for the Richmond
Male Orphan Asylum" delivered on its god
anniVersary,!by Major Styles
One of the batteries of our old battalion
was composed chiefly of Irishmen from a
southern city-gallsnt fellows, but wild and
reckless. The Captaincy becoming vacant, a
backwoods Georgia preacher named G. was
sent to command them The men, at first half
amused, half insulted, soon learned to idoliZe
as well as fear their preacher captain, WHO
proved to be all in ALL such man as one sell
dom sees, combination of Praise 6 cd Bare
bones and Sir Philip Sidney, with dash of
lleadly Wears, about him. lie had all the
stern grit of the Puritan, with much of the
chivalry of the cavalier, and the zeal of the
Apostle. 7 here was at this time but one
other Christian in his battery gunner named
Allen Moore, also backvoodS Georgian, and
noble, enthusiastic man and soldier. The
only other living member of Moore's family
was with him, boy of not more than II or
Is years, and the devotion of the elder brother
to the younger was as tender as a mothers.
The little fellow was strange. sad, prema-
turely old child, who seldom talked and never
smiled. He used to wear a red zouave fez
that i'll beftted that peculiar, sallow, pallid
complexion of the Piney woods Georgian but
he was perfect hero in a fight. Twas at
Cold Harbor in '64. We had been sill day
shelling working party of the enemy, and
about sunset, adjutant of the battalion, l
was visiting the batteries, to arrange the guns
for night firing As l approached C.'s posi-
ton, the sharpsLootng, had almost ceased.
and down the line / could see the figures Of
the cannoneers standing out boldly against tho
sky. Moore at the trail. adjusting his piece
for the nights work. Z His gunnery had been
superb during the evening, and his blood was
up. | descended into little valley and lost
sight of the group, but heard C.'s stern voice;
"Set down, Moore, your gun is well enough
the sharpshOoting isn't over yet. Get down"
| rose the hill. "One moment, Captain, my
trails a hairs breadth too much to the right"
and the gunner bent eagerly over the hand
spike. a sharp report-that unmistakable
crash of the bullet against the skull, and all
was over Twas the last rifle shot on the
line that night The rushing together of the
detachment obstructed my view but | came
mp, the sergeant stepped aside and said, "Look
there, adjutant." Moore had fallen over on
the trail, the blood gushing from his wound
all over his face. His little brother was at his
side instantly. No wildness. no tumult of
grief. He knelt on the earth, and lifting
from his forehead with the cuff of his own
tattered shirt sleeve, and kissed the pale face
again and again, but very quietly. Moore
was evidently dead, and none of US cared to
disturb the child Presently he arose-quiet
still, fearless still,-gazed down on his dead
brother then around at US, and breathing the
saddest sigh | ever heard, said just these
words: "Well, l am alone in the world" The
preacher captain Instantly sprang forward, and
placing his hand on the poor boys shoulder,
said solemnly but cheerlully, "No. my child,
you are not alone, for the Bible says, "when
my father and mother forsakc me, then the
Lord will take me up and Allen was both
father and mother to you; besides, I'm going
TO take you up too; You shall sleep under my
blanket tonight" There was not dry eye
in the group; and when months afterwards.
the whole battalion gathered On a quiet Sab
bath evening, on the banks of the Appomat-
tox, to witness baptism, ard G. at the waters
edge, tenderly handed this child to the ofiici-
ating minister, and receiving him again when
the ceremony was over, threw blanket about
the little shivering form, carried him into the
bushes, changed his clothing, and then re ap-
peared, carrying the bundle of. wet clothes,
aud he and the clild walked away hand in
hand to camp,-then there we're more tears.
manly. noble, purifying tears; and ! heard
the sergeant say, Faith , the captain has full
filled his pledge to that boy" My friends,
hear the plea of the orphan ~ am alone in
the world" How will you answer it! What
will you do with it? Will you pass my noble
Georgian's pledge to "take him uP?" will
you keep it as he kept it?'