Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-04-29
81 am Aiene In Ene World.


The following touching appeal Is 9
tracted from the eloquent appeal 'of ths7
Richmond Male Orphan Asylum, delivered
on its 22d anniversary, by Major Styles:
One OF the batteries Of our old battalion
was composed chiefly OF lrishmen from Il
Southern city-gallant fellows nnt fech
less md wild. The captaincy becoming
vacant. a backwoods Georgia preacher
named G. was sent to command lhem. Ii!e
men, at first half amused, half lnsHiied'
soon learned to idolizs a we'll a. lear Their |
preacher captain, who proved to Dt ali ID
all such q man as one seldom sees, com
bination of Praise God Barebones aHd pr
Phillip Sydney, and with ii dash "l H"ad
ley Wears about him. lie ha4 ai. me
stern grit of the Puritan, with much oI the
chiyaIrv OF the Cavalier and the Zaal of
the Apostle. There was 1T that tim bHt
one other American i'll his battery, gun
ner named Allen Moore, also a DacE "ood
GeOrpian, and noble, enthusiastic man
and soldier. Tue only other living mem
ber Of Moore's family was with him, Il b"t
of not more than twelve Or thirteen years
and tho devotion Of the elder brother t"
the yonDger was as tender as that Oh u
mothers. The little fellow was strange,
sad. premature old child, who seldom
talked and never smiled. He used to
vea, red zouave fez that i'll beiitted that
peculiar, sallow. paid complexion OF the
| Pine, woods Geo! gian but he was per
| feet hero n a fight. 1t was at Coid Hatp 2f
! in '64. We had been all day shelI1ng a
working party Of the enemy. and about
sunset. as Adiatant OF the battalion, / Eas
visiting the batteries to arrange the guns
! for night firing As / approachcd Us.
position the sharp-shuOtlpG had almost
ceased, and down tie line couid SEE
figures OF the cannoneers standing en-
boldly against the sky. Moore at the trali'
adjusting his piece for the nights work.
His eunDery had been superb during the
evening, and his blood w8S up. de-
scepded into little valley and lost sight
of the group, but heard C.'s stern voice
sSet down Moore, your gun Is Wen
enough the sharp ooting isn't over yet
Get down" / rose the hill. zone NO
ment, Captain, my trail is halr breadVn
too much to the right" and the gunner
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 de-
tachment obstructed my view but as l
came up the Sergeant stepped aslde ana
said, Look there, Adjntant.' Moore
had fallen over the trail, the blood gnsh-
, ing from his wound all over hls face.
His little brother was at his side IN
He knelt on the earth, and lifting
Moore's head on bis knee wiped the blood
from his forward with the cuff OF his own
, tattered shirt sleeve, and kissed the paie
face again and again, but very quietly.
Moore was evidently dead, and none OF US
cared TO disturb the child. Presently he
arose-Qujet still, fearless 5tIl eco
down on his dead brother, then around or
US, and breathing the saddest sigh | ever
. heard said lust these words: "Weli, am
alone in the world" The preacher cap
tain instantly sprung forward and placing
{ his hand on the poor boys shoulder salc
, solemnly but cheerfnlly: "No, my child
YOU are not alone; for the Bible says
: when nv father and mother fOrsake me-
then the Lord viii take me up and AileL
- vas both father and mother TO you; pc
; sides I am going to take you up too; yot
shall sleep under my blankets tonight.
y there was not dry eye in the group; ans
+ when months afterwards the whole pattal
+ ion gathered on quiet Sabbath evening
. on the banks of the Appomattox to Wltnes
y a baptism, and G.. at the waters edge ten
E derl7 handed this child to the officiating
: minister, and receiving him again "he'
" the ceremony was over, threw bianke
about the shivering little form, carl1e'
e him into the bushes, changed his ciothes
) and then reappeared, carrying the bnndl
. of wet clothes, and he and the chill
II walked away hand in hand to camp-thel
,f there were more tears, manly, purifying
,r tears; and I heard the Sergeant say
n "Faith. the Captain has fulfilled his piedg
"a to that boy" Ny friend, hear the plea O
= the orphaus: 81 am alone in the world
m How will you answer 1t? Nhat Will Yon Il
If with it? Win you pass my noble Georgian
d pledge ito take him up = Will YOU kee
,r it as he kept it