Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-11-16
The BRIDE OF DEATH'-The Charlest n
correspondent Of the Atlanta Constitution.

The BRIDE OF DEATH'-The Charlest, d
correspondent Of the Atlanta Constitutions
writes
Scene, Charleston. Time April %, 1864 The
Yankees from time to time threw q she'll into
the city and nobody seemed to mind it. Miss
Anna Plckens the daughter of ono of our former
Governors never consented to leave the city,
Despite the representation cf General Beaure-
gard she remained, Drawing shells and Greek
hre' tending the wounded, and cheering all with
her presence Among the wounded officers
under her care was q Mr.. Andrew de Rochelle
8; descendant of one of the noblest Huguenots of
the city. This young man was full of the live
Hest gratitude for his nurse gratitude gave birth
| to moro tender sentiment; his suit was listened
TO; Governor Pickens gave his consent, and the
marriage was fixed for the 23d of April. Lieu
t. nsnt 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
General Bonham at eight o'clock At tho mo-
melt when the Episcopal clergyman was asking
Tue orlde II she was ready shell fell upon the
roof OF the building, penetrated to the room
where the company was assembled, burst, and
@ounded nine persons, among them Miss Anna
| Plckehs. The scene that followed cannot be
| described, Order being st last re.established
the wounded were removed, with the exception
OF the bride, who lay molionless on the carpet
| der oetrothed, leaning and bending over her
was weeping bitterly, and trying to staunch the
blood that lowed from terrible wound under
ner lett breast. A surgeon came and declared
that Miss Pickens could live but two hours.
we will not paint tho general despair. When
the wounded girl recovered her consciousness
she asked to know her fate, when they hesitsted
to tell her. "Andrew,' she said, II beg YOU to
! tell me truth if l must die, can die worthy of
you" The young soldiers tears were his an
aver, and Miss Anna, summoning all her
strength, attempted TO smile. Nothing could
be more heartrendng than to see the agony of
this brave CIR! struggling in the embrace of
death and against q mortal pain. Governor
fickens, whose courage is known, was almost
without consciousness, and Mrs Pckens looked
upon Der child with the dry, haggard eye of one
was the first to speak. Anna" he cried, II
will die soon, toe but [ would have you now
die my wife. There is yet time to unite u.s."
The young girl did not reply. She was too
weak. slight flush for an instant rose to her
pale cheek it could be seen that Joy and pain
were struggling in her spirit for the mastery
Lying upon 3 sofa, with her bridal dress all
stained with blood, her hair dishevolled, she
had never been more beautiful. Helpless as she
was, Lieutenant de Rochelle took her hand and
requested tho Rev. DIR. Dickinson to proceed
with the ceremony. When it was time for the
dying girl to say yes, her lips parted several
times, but she could not artculate. At last the
word WAS spoken, and slight foam rested upon
her lips. The dying agony was near The
minister soboed as he proceeded with the cere-
mony. An hour afterwards all WAS over, and
Tie oridal chamber was the chamber Of death.
lit is always a pity to spoil good story,
especially when it is pathetic, but the above
appeared III New York paper during the war,
and was Dalled on the spot at once as a regular
canard Nevertheless it reads we'll