The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-11-12
A Sad Incident of the Late War.

scene, charleston 11fnRr "A prIi 20
( 1864. The Yankees from time TO time
threw a shell into the city nobody
seemed TO mind it. Miss Anna Pickens
the daughter of one of our former Gov
ernors, never conseated to leave the city.
Despite the representation Of Gen. Bean
regard she renamed, Drawing shells and
Creek-6re, tending the wounded and
cheering all with her presence. Among
the wounded officers under her care was
Mr.. Andrew de Rochelle, descendant
of one of the noblest Hnguenots of the
,ity. This young man was full of the
liveliest gratitude for his nurse; graft
tuGe gave birth to a more tender senti-
ment; his suit was listened to; Gov.
Pickens gave his consent, and the mar
riage was fixed for the 23d of April.
Lieut.. de Rochelle was on duty at Fort
Sumter in the morning, and it was de-
termined 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 a she'll fell upon
the roof of the building, penetrated to
the room where the company was assem-
bled, burst, and wounded nine persons,
among them Miss Anna Pickens. The
aceRe that followed cannot be described.
Order being at last rc-established, the
wounded were removed, with the ex-
ception of the bride, who lay motionless
on the carpet. Her betrothed, leaning,
and bending over her, was weeping bit
terly and trying to stanch the blood that
flowed from a terrible wound under her
left breast. A surgeon came and de-
clared that Miss PIckens could not live
but two hours. We will not paint the
general despair. When the wounded
girl recovered her consciousness she ask
ed to know her fate, when they hesitated
to tell her. "Andrew," she said, II beg
you to tell me the truth; If must die !
can die worthy of You" The Young
soldiers tears were his answer, and Miss
Anna, eummoning all her strength, at
tempted to smile. Nothing could be
more heartrending than to see the agony
of this brave girl struggling in the EN-
brace of death and against amortal pain.
Gov. Pickens, whose courage is known,
was almost without consciousness, and
Mrs. Pickens looked upon her child
with the dry, haggard eye Of one whose
reason totters.
Lieut. de Rochelle was the first to
speak. "Anna," he cried, II will 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 a 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.
DIR. Dickinson TO proceed with the cere-
hohy - w hSA IL "Sr9 'iHie ioi 'ii0 uyi"S
girl TO say yes her lips parted several
times, but she could not articulate. At
last the word was spoken, and 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 rs. CO. Cor. At
lanta Constitution.