The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-09-22
I'm the Morning.
a TRUE INCIDENT OF THE WAR.
BY II. N. ADAIR.
louisville COurisr-JOurnal.I

time was summer night IN 1900 ln'
place, the hotel parlor in small villag'
OF Middle Tennessee. The occasion wa
a chop" given in honor OF the presenc'
of detachment of" Forest Cavalry, thu
daring riders whose names are house
hold words in southern homes, from thu
mountains of Tennessee to the valleyi
of the Mississippi. The young lady re
ferred to was a pretty, graceful girl
with dark, reddish gold hair, and thu
exquisite complexion that so often &c
companied it.
"Who is she ?'' asked the colonel
companion.
"That is Picton's sweetheart, Miss
Garrett"
- ssNot the one that saved his life aftel
Shiloh 2" said Capt. Barclay.
"The same," rejoined Col. Terry
"She is a little creature to do such 8
| thing, but she did. You see, she was il
the neighborhood at the time of the bat:
tie, and somebody told her that Pictor
was killed. She went over the field and
found him, badly wounded through the
lungs, but still alive. She sent boy
that she had brought with her, to hunt
up surgeon, and she stayed by Picton
The boy found DIR. Cowan, and when
they got back Miss Garnett had raised
Picton up, with his head on her breast,
so that he could breathe more easily
DIR. Cowan examined the wound with
out moving him and told her that he
was afraid it was hopeless, for the least
motion, even laying him down again,
might produce q fatal hemorrage. III
he could be kept perfectly quiet until
morning and the bleeding checked dur
ing the night, he might have bare
chance of pulling through 'Well, said
the brave little woman, he shall be kept
quiet, for I will stay just here and not
let him move.' And, by George, she
did /; she never stirred all night, and in
the morning they carried him to the
nearest house and she nursed him until
he was out of danger"
"That's a sweetheart worth having"
said Capt. Barclay, with a glance of ad-
miration at the subject of their conver-
sation.
Half an hour later Col. Terry was at
Miss Garnett's side receiving warm
greeting that told that the two were fast
friends.
"1'ell me of all my friends in the old
battalion" she said, presently.
allow many?" he asked, quizzically !;
"more than onep"
81 meant what l said," she answered,
with merry laugh and quick, bright
blush al have heard from one of them
very recently"
"Does Charley know you are here ?"
asked the colonel.
"No; it is not week since L left
Memphis. Will they join you -"
'They ?" he repeated, inquiringly.
The rest OF the command, l mean,"
she replied, blushing again.
81 IL ht1f fO q mol RI
that you are particularly interested in,
l cannot say. You know that they are
with the old general, and their move
ments can't be counted on with any very
great certainty"
"They are the comets of the SERVICE .
said Miss Garnett. ''Quite as erratic, at
all events"
"May | have the pleasure of this
dancer" said the colonel, as the hand
struck up a Quadrille. 81 know it is
useless to ask you for waltz" The
dance over, he led her to a chair, and,
after a moments gay bandinage, was
about to resign his place in favor of
other claimants for her smiles, when he
saw sudden ghastly pallor overspread
her features.
"Miss Alice, you are I'LL" he exclsim-
ed, anxiOusly. "Let me get you some
water"
1t was scarcely a moment before his
return, but even then he was shocked at
her white, drawn face.
"Call my sisterr' she had said to an
other gentleman with her, while Col.
Terry had gone for the water, and both
REACHED her at the same time.
Lucy, take me home," she whisper
ed family, 81 am dying"
"Oh, no, darling" said her sister, ten
derly, "you will be well in the morn
ing"
As quick as possible the carriage was
called and the sick girl placed in it.
When they were just starting Col.
Terry wished them good night, express
ing his hopes that Miss Alice would
have recovered by morning. She put
out her hand, land eXerting her strength,
said distinctly:
"Yes, shall be we'll Sin the morning.
Tell Charley" her voice faltered, and
lifting her slim white hand, she loosened
the flowers she wore at her breast and
put them into the colOnefs hand
''Give these to him-yes-in the morn
ing" Her voice died away to faint
whisper, and her head fell back on her
sisters shoulder. The lady who had
acted as their chaperon fastened to ap-
ply restoratives and the carriage rolled
swiftly away.
The next morning when Col. Terry
called to inquire after the invalid he
had no need to ask, for from the door
there floated the mournful insignia of
death. Shocked beyond expression,
that hardy soldier turned away, unable
then to even offer his services If they
were needed. He went again after
awhile and saw Mrs. Cameron, the host
ess of the sisters during their visit
From her he learned the brief details OF
Alice's death. Her attack had been
sudden spasm of the heart, and she had
never rallied. She had not spoken but
once and they caught her lovers name,
and repetition of words, Sin the morn
ing"
"Poor Charley, who will tell him ?"
groaned the colonel when the lady's
voice ceased.
"You are his best FRIEND" she answer
ed. 81 think no one else could do 1t so
gently"
81 CAN'T" he replied, shaking his
head. 81 would rather face a battery.
Why, you don't know, you can't think
how his very life seems bound up in
her; and now"
They buried her next day, six of Pic
tons friends carried his dead love to
her grave, and then came sadly back,
each questioning who would bear the
tidings to the gallant sabreaur far away
with the old brigade.
That night the order came to join the
main command, and by daylight the
troops were miles away. As they
reached the vicinity of the appointed
desultory firing warned
them of an approaching conflict. Pres
emily they formed themselves in the
midst of portion of the command,
dravn up in piece of woods overlook
ing a sloplng Geld, which on the oppo-
site side rose to a sharp emlnence, on
the brow of which was posted federal
battery.
Farther to the right the firing became
sharper, and soon the roll of musketry
swept all along the line.
II say, Rsrclay," called Col. Terry,
as that officer passed him, shave you
seen Picton yet? ?" And, as Barclay
shook his head, he added, ''Tell the boys
not to let him know yet. Wait till this
Is over"
"All right; I'll tell them," answered
Barclay, &C he rode away.
@The old general will be wanting that
battery the first thing they know said
one of the men, as q she'll exploded over
their heads. "They'd better keep it