Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-11-18
A Sad Incident of the Late
War.

Scene, Charleston. Time, April
90, 1864. The Yankees from time
to time threw a shell into the city
and nobody seemed to mind it. Miss
Anna Piekens, the daughter OF one of
our former Governors, never consent
ed to leave the city. Despite the
representation of Gen. Beauregard
she remained, Drawing shells and
Greek fire, tending the wounded and
cheering all with her presence.
Among the wounded officers under
her care was Mr.. Andrew de Ro-
chelle. descendant of one of the
noblest Huguenots of the city. This
young man was full of the liveliest
gratitude for his nurse; gratitude
gave birth to more tender senti-
ment; his suit was listened to;
Gov. Pickens gave his consent, and
the marriage was fixed for the 23d of
April. Lieut.. de Rochelle was on
duty at Fort Sumter in the morn
ing, 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 a shell fell
upon the roof of the building, pene-
trated to the room where the company
was assembled, burst and wounded
nine persons, among them Miss
Anna Piekens. The scene that fol-
lowed cannot be described. Order
being at last established, the
wounded were removed, with the ex-
ception of the bride, who lay mo-
tiOnless on the carpet. Her be-
trothed, leaning and bending over
her, was weeping bitterly and trying
to staunch the blood that flowed
from 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 con-
sciOusness she asked to know her
fate, when they hesitated to tell her.
Andrew" she said, 81 beg you to
tell me the truth; if l must die 1
can die worthy of you" The young
soldiers tears were his answer, and
Miss Anna, summoning all her
strength, attempted to smile. Moth
ing could be more heartrending than
to see the agony of this brave girl
struggling in the embrace of death
and against mortal pain. Governor
Pickens, whose courage is known,
was almost without consciousness,
and Mrs. Pickens looked upon her
child with the dry haggard eye Ofone
whose reason tOtters. ~
Lieut. de Rochelle was the first to
speak. .Anna," he cried, 81 will die
soon, too, but l would have you now
die my wife. THERE'S yet time to
unite us.
The yonng girl did not reply. She
was too weak. A slight flush rose for
an instant to her pale cheek; itcould
be seen that joy and pain were strug-
Cling 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 ceremony. When
it was time for the dying 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 Sob
bed as he proceeded with the cere-
mony. An hour afterward all was
over, and the bridal chamber was the
chamber of Decentralization s..
@. J Cor. atlanta Constitution.