Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-10-30

There is no more shocking sight
than Il battlefield Immediately after
: the cont;ict. Although it was lato when
) Moritz reached Hundheim, the light
Of the moon was sufficient to show him
tho field torn by the horses hoofs, bro
ken arms, fallen horses, lost caps and
knapsacks, and unburled dead. The
wounded had been taken to the hos
|;ital, and the Prussians lad already
J buried their dead. A pioneer corps
had dug u large trench, and men from
! the vicinity, apparently day labor,rs,
were engaged i'll placing the dead
therein. They cnptieu the pockets OF
the fallen. Th. living took what they
!. could find, for which the dead had NO
further use.
Moritz inquired Of these men about
this and that one, but they answered
CURLY, they knew nothing but that
there had been bloody contest, and
the troops had gone on; that there had
been a hospital hastily constructed,
that some Of the wounded had been
carried on to the next city.
Moritz heard the pioneer say, I" Let
us look behind every bush, Buchanan,
that none of our people be left. The
Prussians have removed all thei,
wounded"
Involuntarily Moritz followed these
men. Now his eye would fall on the
dead, on whose yonng faces the moon.
light strcamed. Nloritz folded his
hands and breathed prayer. Behind
him moved the dark figures of the
pioneers he thought Of the Lemures.
Here is dead Prussian I" cried
one of the pioneers.
cit is a surgeon :" cried another.
. At this moment Patient, WHO was
close by Moritz, leaped out with Iond
howl; Moritz whistled to the dog, but
he would not obey, and would not stir
from the spot.
The young man turned around and
stood transtixed. With quivering lips
and wild eyes he gazed upon the dead
whom the pioneers were about to lay
in the trench. The moonlight spoke
with fearful distinctness "This dead
surgeon is Heinrich, the beloved of
your slster!'' Patient continued to
howl ard snuff around the body. Nor
ltz now began to collect his thoughts,
and with deep emotion said to the
men: "Permit me to take charge of
this dead he is my friend"
The pioneers stretched the dead
Heinrich upon his side, on the grass
One made the remark: ''This man has
no visible wound; perhaps he is only
stunned by ball"
Morris knelt down by Heinrich and
looked IN his pale face, which looked
so calm. He prayed as though he
would assail Heaven to work a miracle.
He bathed the lifeless temples with
cologne water, and held some volatile
essence to his mouth. Was it an illu-
sion2 Did he see aughta The dog
started to the side of his former mas
ter and looked in his face, then laid
his head on his cheek, and began to
jump about with joy. Heinrich opened
his eyes, and in a weak voice said,
"Where am II"
Rest, now, dearest FRIEND" cried
Moritz, ioyfully, ",s it possible for
you to go with me 2"
eyes"
"Come, then, lean on me soon you
will learn ALL"
"Tell me, first, dear Moritz, if any
wounded are yet here. or if there is a
hospital near 2" asked Heinrich.
1.-THE wounded are we'll cared for,
they having brought all to our city.
There are those who, tomorrow, will
miss the doctor more than those in the
hospital at Hundheim. Marie is in
agony about YOU"
'Then, let us go, Moritz," decided
Heinrich. L believe 1t will be no me-
glect OF duty if accompany YOU"
Patient, after 4 little pause, again
broke into ecstacies, leaping and bark
ing, then trotteh on in silence before
his old and new masters, his ,hite coat
cleaning through the night.
Heinrich then related, that after he
had dressed several of the wounded,
and the federal troops had retreated,
he heard a deep groan in the bushes at
his left. The part of the wounded
assigned to me were only slightly in
jured, and as soon as dressed would
follow on to tho hospital. SO 7
fastened to the bushes and foun on
the ground q cOu"tryman, whose face
was covered with blood and dirt. and
in whom, Us I wiped away tho blood, I
found one one of the dearest friends of
my youth. He felt that his last hour
had COME. Yet he was fully conscious,
and knew me. It was a comfort to
him that I, his best friend, could per-
form for HIM this last service of love.
With weak voice he gave me mes
| sage for his parents and bride, and
with one sigh was dead.
After pause Heinrich continued
Already wcaried with the great exer-
ton after the day of the battle, the
death of my friend so shocked me that
I fell in a dead faint, AMI might easily
have been taken for dead. But for
You, dear Moritz, would perhaps have
been thrown into the trench and COW
cred with earth, and have been suf'o-
cated;" and he heartily pressed the
hand of the brother of his Marie.
Moritz replied, 81 came at the right
moment, but neither l nor Marie saved
you, for was on the point Of leaving
the battle field, as Patients determined
barking around you induced us to re-
turn. Before us there goes your only
preserver, Patient"
"It is true" said Heinrich, Marie's
faith, which out of love for me received
the dog which I secretly left in the
garden OF your parents, will, through
him, receive it's reward. am weary
and hungry; l have yet piece Of the
bread Marie gave me. Come, Patient,
you shall have the first mouthful.
Come, my old, true, first patient!''