The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1875-02-06
A 1eaaot from the Way SIDE Of Life.
AN INCIDENT FROM THE BATTLE or
11ANSFIIsLD.


AN INCIDENT FROM THE BATTLE or
MANSTI1tLD.
1t was after tho battle, when the
wounded had bccn gathered into
the hospitals Of Mansfield, and in
every street, and in every house
were scenes Of sorrow. Here one
shrcikel with pain and there m.
other begged to quench insatia:e
thirst. Here life was gently cbb;nr
ont; the Christians hope had sti;lcd
its troubled waves, its Rtful strife.
and lighted up IN never fading col
ors, q land where rain, arr. sorrow
and war would never come; there
another wanders in the dc'er;um Of
4 feycred brain, and now tells Of tho
fearful charge, and deadly strife {;
now OF the drcary solitude Of his
long night watch, and now Of the
warm greetings and sunny smiles
OF home. At every pallet were
those who had come, to seek for
those they might never find. Here
was he care worn nurse, who still
hoped on, and there; the grief which
had sunk beneath the tide OF des.
pair. Bat amid al, this sorrow and
a.fl'ctlon there was one who stood
out, like the prominent figure OF y
picture. Care had planted it's sol
e'nn lessons upon his cheek Ard
moro than sixty years sss,l drawn
their burrows on his brow. Dun.
hath was his name; poor itcncrant
preacher, but rich in that treasure
which is only measured by n faith.
crs love. lie had just returned to
his home in the interior OF Texas
from Virginia, where, to he with his
two eldest sous he had fought in
the same BATTLES, and charged with
them IN the same deadly charge.
The invasion Of Banks made it
evident that a great battle was to
be fought in t',n Trans Mississippi
Department, and again the old man
left his hnne, to share with his two
Younger SONS tho DANCE, ofti,estrife
without u gun, he stood in line
OF battle beside his your gest sou;
the Joseph OF his old age. The o.
Ner was given, ard that devoted
line moved Oh to the fearful Charge,
first il, slow ARA measured. tread,
a:,;. then at the noubls quick, and
the field behind was
strewn With the dead, th3t old man
pressed on in The fearful race az II
the manlel Of bis love could shial;t
that darling boy. .'nt tie A:o Of
yoat1 ortA;si2peH the loo CT age,
ans. he cid ,la.a ..,s slowly LIT BE-
,ii,I,', but through the smoke d p;ss
H. Hui o.'cr ..!r dr",! %.d the ~
tag he still pressed on to savo ti,at
darling 10y. When ,,.e charge
was over aud the 'front.' was rcac'.e"
,l.at boy was gone. 70 his eager
Inquiries, ono s;,i., hc saw IilD climb
iie fence at be 'Hac.l orchard, an
other that he saw hin ut the front.
Over bills and. nolIows, AID
through, woods a"d fields; where
ever the battle had ragged, 'lat Old
man sought, but sought il vain
aud when quiet night I,a'l l.nsheo
:nto %;.i!:.ess the noisy day, he
wandered among tLc dead. and the
wours,e'.; stopping here a"d there;
now listening, now callin. to catch
amid their sroaus bis Williams
voice. lie nte" not, that neaf tn"
peach orchard, where the dead lay
thic!,est g beneath a spreading oak,
lila noble boy slept his last sleep.
raHt there he received his fatal
wound, and when the golden ar
rows 81 the setting sun we're resting
in TIE !eafy Loug':s above him, his
noble spirit s~'l. 10 rest. Han
dre.., around him slept, who for
their hc',ies and their country
died, nj are blessed in rot living
to know their conntry's fall. But
morning came, ana with it the vain
search, through hospitals, and