The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-03-22
A. SURGEONS sToRY.

was attached was an officer OF great
capacity and remarkable promise. Yet
he was, withal, a cold, stern man. He
was somewhere near fifty, and had
come to New York from Italy, where he
hau been in service with Garibaldi. He
was an American by birth, but he had
been away from his native land SO long
that be had become almost denational-
ized.
In the same regiment was private, a
young man OF about twenty-five. He
was handsome, energetic young
fellow, and one OF the best soldiers in
the regiment. He was OF English birth F,
he sand, and seemed TO have no. friends
nor relations in this country, for hehever
received any letters or presents as did
the other men. He had frequently at
tracted the attention of his company,
and Of some Of the regimental officers
but TO the asOnishment OF all, the colonel
steadily eXerted himself to prevent any
reward being given to the young man.
Hill, for that was the name he went by,
never complained, however, though he
knew very well what was going on. He
was strict in the discharge OF his duty,
and gave no cause for complaint.
During the winter OF 1S6l-62 tue army
lay before Centreyille, doing very little
but scouting, picketing and preparing
for the spring campaign. Though there
was nothing exciting in all this, it was
very trying to the men, for the season
was unusually severe, and the hospitals
were well filed.
One morning Hill came to my quar-
ters. ..E ..a
"Well, Hill," said /, as he entered,
"what can do Tor you this morningp
81 wish to go on the sick list, If you
. inI i'm int fnr
l started, and looked at him searching
ly. Though l had seen the young
soldier often, had never been in his
presence before. He was slight, finely
formed fellow, with the most efeminate
face l ever saw. Had he been woman,
l should have called him beauty; and
as it was, l could not deny him the dis
tinction OF being pretty. HIS voice was
soft and clear, and, though it did ot
seem to be that Of man, was hardly
that Of a woman. Igazed at him search
ingly, but he bore my scrutiny well.
"You are not sick, hOpe? l re-
marked, at length.
81 am broken down, DOCTOR" he an :
swered. II have been on guard for five
successive nights"
"rhe deuce you haver I exclaimed.
in astonishment. '1The regiment isn't
so short of men as that, is itp'
"No, sir" he replied, quIeUly. 81 was
kept on by the ColonePs orders. lie
says the. guard duty is very important
just now, and he wants the best men in
the regiment to be put on it,"
HAS he kept any one else ON so long?,
/ questioned.
mo, sir, l would not have come to YOU
to-day, but that l know am incapable
of standing another night. l should fall
on post from sheer exhaustion. Then Il
suppose would be shot for sleeping in
the presence of the enemy"
"By JoveW l muttered, "thars what
Colonel Anson is up to-"
1spoke louder than l intended. He
heard me, and replied in tone in which
there was some bitterness, in spite of his
efforts to repress it.
81 am afraid SO, sir. do not see why
Col. Anson should dislike me so much.
have never merited his displeasure.
Heaven Knows" he added, and saw his
features tremble as with sharp pain. 81
would die to serve him."
every good" l said. "You can re-
main at your quarters for two days, and
consider yourself on the sick list tor that
time"
Thanking me, he went away.
The fellow perplexed me. was con-
fdent that there was some mystery ex-
listing between him and the Colonel, and
known only to these two. While l was
me. He received me with cold polite
ness.
'.What is the matter with HiIl?" he
asked.
"He is broken down by the unusual
fatigue to which he has been subjected.
Five successive turns OF guard duty
would kill much stronger man than he
is," '.
"Who has kept him ON so long2" asked
the Colonel, biting his lip.
"He was kept on by your orders, / be-
lieye, sir" | replied, looking him lull in
the face; "and must say, Colonel, that
[ am surprise at your putting him to
such a test, unless you wish to kill |
him."
Colonel Anson started, and looked at
me very searchingly.
"Has Hill dared TO reflect upon the
conduct OF his commanding oGicer?o he
asked, coldly, but without meeting my
aye.
..sHe said no more than every one in
The regiment has" / replied, s'tbat he
regretted having gained your dislike, as
le was sure he had done nothing to
merit it,"
"Was that all he said, doctorw
"He added," replied, after hesitating
moment, "that he would gladly die 10
serve you"
expression of intense pain swept |
,ve- CoIonel Anson's lace; but he was
silent. Alter a brieI pause, he said,
luietly, Il will not detaiu you longer, ,,
ioctor.' am sorry to near Of HIPS |
sickness"
was more perplexed when left the |
'oom than was when entered it. \
AT last we were ordered to advance,
and ere long my regiment was called |
lpon to participate in the desperate bat |
lie of Fair Oaks. That engagement soon |
furnished me work enough for my regi- |
ment suffered terribly. AS hardened as
| had become, grew faint and sick over
the dreadful work that gave me neither
rest nor hope Of rest. The little field
hospita, which / had established on the !
edge OF the swamp seemed to ME per-
feet slaughter-house, and longed more
eagerly than had ever done for q cessa-
tion of the fighting. 1t came at last, a
little after 10 O'clock on Sunday MORN
ing. -'
/ had cleared out my hospital, and had |
sent my Eastman across the ChIekahom-
my. My assistants were absent for |
some purpose, and was the only per-