The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-11-11
A SAD INCIDENT OF THE LATE
WAR,


Scene, Charleston. Time, April %,
1864. The Yankees from time to time
threw a shell into the city and nobody
seemed to mind it. Miss AnnI Pickens,
the daughter OF enc our former Gov
errors, never consented TO leave the
city. Despite the representation of Gen.
Beauregard she remained, Drawing shells
and GreeI fire, tending the wounded
and cheering all with her presence.
Among the wounded officers under her
care was Mr. Andrew de Rochelle, a
descendant of one of the noblest Hugue
nots of the city This young man was
full of the Eyehest gratitude for his
nurse gratitude gave birth to a more
tender sentiment his suit was listened
to Gov. Pickens gave his consent,
and the marriage was fixed for the Odd
of April. Lieut.. de Rochelle was on
duty at Fort Sumter in the morning,
and it was determined that the ceremony
should take place at the residence of
Gen. Bonham at eight O'Clock. At the
moment when the Episcopal Clergyman
was asking the bride If she was ready
shell fell upon the roof of the building,
penetrated to the room where the COM
pany was assembled, burst, and wound
ed nine persons, among them Miss Anna
Pickens. The scene that followed can
not be described. Order being at last
re established, the wounded were re-
moved, with the exception of the bride,
who lay montionless on the carpet. Her
betrothed, leaning and bending Dver her,
was weeping bitterly and trying to stanch
tile blood that flowed from q terrible
wound under her left breast. A sur
eeon came and declared that Miss Pick
ems could not live but two hours. We
viii not paint the general despair. When
the wounded girl recovered her cons
ciousness she asked to know her fate,
when they hesitated to tell her. can
drew" she said, ''I beg you to tell me
the truth ; if 1 must die L can die worthy
OF you" The young soldiers tears
were his answer, and Miss Anna, sum-
moning all her strength, attempted to
smile Nothing could be more heart
rending than to see the agony of this
brave girl struggling in the embrace of
death and against mortal pain. Gov.
Pickens, whose courage is known, was
almost without consciousness, and Mrs.
Piclens looked upon her child with the
dry, haggard of one whose reason
totters.
Lieut.. de Rochelle was the first to
speak ''Anna," he cried, s'I will die
soon, too, but [ would have you now die
my wife There is yet time to unite us"
The young girl did not reply. She
was too weak. A slight flush rose for an
instant to her pale cheek it could be
seen that JOY and pain were struggling
in her spirit for the mastery. Lying
upon sofa, with her bridal dress all
stained with blood, her hair disheveled,
she had never been more beautiful.
Helpless as she was, Lieut.. de Rochelle
took her hand and requested the Rev.
Dr. Dickinson to proceed with the cere-
mony. When it was time for the dying
girl to say yes herhps parted several times,
but she could not articulate. At last
the word was spoken, and a slight foam
rested upon her lips. The dying agony
was near The minister sobbed as he
proceeded with the ceremony. An hour
afterward all was over, and the bridal
chamber was the chamber of death
Charleston IS. CO Cor. atlanta Co1ssti-
fJttiOy