South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-12-10


"A Charleston correspondents of the
Atlanta "Co,,sfit,dion- writes: Scene.
: Charleston. Time, April 23. ls6i.-
The Yankees from time TO time threw n
she'll into the city ami nobody seemed
to1mind it. Miss Anua Pickens. daush.
ter of one ofthc former Governors. ne
Yer consented 20 leave the CITY. DESPITE
the representation OF General Bea,ire.
gard she remained. Drawing shells and
Greek Dire. tending the lwountleii. and
cheering all with her PFC seace. AMONG.
the wounded oliicers pader her care WIS
Andrew DE- RacAc,le. 4 descendant OF
the noblest llaguenots OF the city. This
: young man WAS ii,lt ol,tho hgeiiess ersit-
ituIle for hi nurse; gratitude rave birtn
I 10 u more tender sentiments: his suit was
Z listened to; Governor ficlScns gave his
consent. and the marriage was fixed for
the 23rd of April. Lieutenant dc Ro.
cheiie WAS on duty ~ Fort Sumter in
the morning. and ii was determined tliat
the ceremony should take place at the
/ residence of General Bonham at eirllt
o'clock. At the moment when the r..
I piscopal Clergyman was asking the bride
If she was really, she'll feli upon the
rcefof The building, ponetrated IT, the
room where the company was assembled,
burst, and wouadai nine persons, among
I them Miss Anna Pickens.
/ The scene that followcd cannot he
/ described. Order being at last re.estab-
lished, the wounded were removed. with
the exception of the bride. who lay mo-
I tionlcss on the carpet. Her betcothed
leaning and bending over her. was weep
! ing bitterly and trying To staunch the
blood that flowed from a terrible wound
] under her LETT breast. a surgeon came
and declared that Miss Pickens could
live but two hours. We will not paint
the general despair. When the wound.
| Ell girl recovered her consciousness she
asked to know her fate, when they hest.
tated to tell her.
Andrew" she said, 81 beg YOU to
tell me the truth; if must die, / can
die worthy of YOU
The young soldiers tears were his an
swcrs. and Miss Anna. SUNNI oning all
her siren h, attempted to smile. Moth.
ling could be more heartrending than
the agony of this brave girl struggling
in the embrace oc death and against q
mortal pain. Governor Pjcllens, whose
courage is known, was almost without
consciousness, AMI Mrs. PiclIens looked
upon her child with the dry, haggard
eye Of one whose reason totters. Lieu.
tenant de Rochelle was the first to speak
Anna" he cried. II will die soon
too, bat would have you.now die, my
wife. There is yet time to unite u.s."
This young girl did not reply. She
was too weak. y slight flush for an in
slant rose to her pale cheek it could
be seen that joy and pain were strug
CLING in her spirit for the mastery.
Lying upon n sofa, with her bridal
dress all stained with blood. her hair
diaheveled, she had never been more
beautiful. Helpless rs she was Lieu
tenant dc Rochelle took her hand and
requesting the Rev. DIR. Dickson TO pro.
coed with the ceremony. When it was
time for the dying girl TO say yes, her
lips parted several times. but she could
not articui5te. At last the word was
spoken and slight foam rested upon
her lips. The dying agony was near
The minister sobbed as hc proceeded
with the ceremony. An hour afterward
all was over. and the bridal chamber was
the chamber of death.