The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-03-19

pose. Again anu again "as e"P'@e
to turn back but [ was soon ten miles
frorh home. | knew the general route
our little army expected TO take, and at
daybrcak | was thirty miles from homa,
and had followed them without heslta-
tion.
about sunrise | came upon group
of women and children, standing and
sitting by the roadside, each one OF !
them showing the same anxiety OF mind
l felt. Stopping few minutes, l in
quircd if the battle had been fought.
They knew nothing, but were assem-
bled on the road to catch intelligence.
They thought Caswcll had taken the
right Of the Wilmington road and gone
towards tho Northwest (CaTe Fear
Again I was skimming over the ground
through a country thinly settled and
very poor and swampy but neither my
spirits nor my beautiful uag's failed in
the least. We followed the well-marked
trail of the troops. The sun must have
been we'll up. say eight or nine o'clock,
when heard a sound like thunder,
which I knew mnst be cannon. l
stopped still. Presently the cannon
thundered again; the battle was then
fighting. What n fooln thought l.;
INV husband could not he dead last
night, and the battle only fighting now
So we vert faster than ever, and soon
found by the noise Of the guns that |
got near the fight. Again | stopped !;
| could hear muske's, | could hear rifles,
| could hear shouting. | spoke to my
mare and dashed Oh in the direction OF
the firing and shouts, now louder than
ever. The blin] path l had been fol-
lowing brought me into the Whining
ton road. leading to Moore's Creek
Bridge, a few hundred yards below the
bridge. A few yards from the road.
under a cluster of trees. were lying,
perhaps. twenty men. They were the
wounded. l knew the very spot; the
very trees; and the position OF the
men knew, as if I had seer it thou
sand times. had seen it in my dream
all night. | saw all at once; but in an
instant, my whole soul was centred in
one spot; for there, wrapped in the
bloody guard cloak, was my husbands
body! How passed the few yards from
nv saddle to this place never knew. |
remember uncovering his head, and see
ing face clothed with gore from
dreadful wound across the temple. l
pu, may hand on his bloody face; twas
warm. an I an unknown voice begged
far moter. A small camp-kettlo was
near and stream of water clo'e by. |
brought it. poured some into his mouth,
washed his face. and behold it was
Frank Cogdel lie soon revived, and
could speak. I was washing The wound
in his head. Said he: W is not Mat;
It is that hole m my leg that is killing
me A puddle of blood was standing
ON the ground about bis feet. l took
his knife, cut away his trowsers aud
stocking, and found that the blood came
from shot-hole through and through
the Aeshy part of his leg. | looked
about, and could see nothing that look
ed as if it would do for dressing wounds
but some heart-leavcs. | gathered
handful, and bound them tight to the
holes, and the bleeding stopped, | then
went to the others, and, doctor !
dressed the wounds of many a brave
fellow who did good fighting long after
that day.
II had not inquired for my husband /;
but while was busy, Caswell came mp.
lie appeared very much surprised to
see me. and, was, with his hat in his
hand. about to pay some compliment !;
but | interrupted him by asking him,
Where is my husband" Where he
ought to be, ma MIN pursuit of the
enemy But pray SAID he, how came
you here ? oh, l thought l replied,
you would need nurses as we'll as SOL
diers. See. have dressed the wo ,1ds
of Macy of these good fellows ; and here
is one (goin, TO Frank aud lifting him
up with my arm under his head so that
he could drink some more water, J would
have died b fore anv of you could have
helped him. Il believe you, said
Frank. Just then, | looked up, aud
my husband. as bloody as butcher,
and as muddy as ditcher, stood before
me. 'Why, Mary exclaimed he. what
are you doing? Hugging Frank Cog
dell the greatest repr"batr in the army2
II don't care | cried, Frank is brave
fellow, a good soldier and true friend
to Congress. True, every word OF 1t,
said Caswell You are right, madam,
with The lowest possible bow. | could
not tell my husband what brought me
there. | was so happy, aud 50 were all
IL was a giorious Dictory. | came just
at tic height of the ENJOYMENT. knew
my husband vas surprised, bat could
see he was rot dispicased with me. 1t
was night again before our excitement
subsided. Many prisoners were brought
in, and among them. some very obnox-
ious but the worst of the tories were
not taken prisoners They were Tor the
most part, left IN the wood and swamps
wherever they were overtakcn. l beg
ycd FIR some OF tho poor prisoners, and
Gaswell readily told me none should be
hurt but such as had been guilty OF
murder or houscburning. In the mid
die OF the night | again mounted my