River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-12-25
MI DRUMMER boy.


bitter struggle are buried with the ma
tion's dead. The blue and gray who
fell lie peacefully side by side, and we,
the blue and gray who live, have clasped
hands together, and spoken loyal words
of courtesy and friendship.
But the children of that dark hour
have grown to be young men and wom-
en-, and know little of war but its holt
day pomp and glory; so have brought
this little sketch from memory's port
folio that they may catch a passing
glimpse of its stern reality, and part
II, too, that they may see how suffer
ing heroism sometimes finds its home
in Young, brave hearts.
Early in the yaar 1863 the Uuion for
ces, in one of the regiments of which I
was an officer, lay encamped near VIII
mington. North Carolina. There had
been an exchange of prisoners, and the
sick from Andersonville had been car
ried by boat down the Cape Fear River
to Wilmington.
Partly from sympathy, and partly,
perhaps, from curiosity L had come in
from our camp, which was located a
few miles out of the city, to visit the
hospital Am old brick warehouse was
utilized for this purpose. 1t was a long,
low, narrow building and the sick men
lay on the floor, with their heads to the
wall, in two rows up and down the
room AS / entered from the street
and passed slowly along between them,
the wan, haggard faces OF the sick men
seemed CHASTITY in the uncertain light.
II was forlorn and desoIate sick-room,
indeed, and I d1d not wonder that the
poor fellows we're discouraged and al
most despairing.
As moved on was startled at see
ing what seemed to be the face of a
mere child among the sick men-a lad
of not over thirteen years-propped up
against the wall A tattered old blan-
ket covered him. His hair was long and
AGRtetttAkt HIS tIltChS olluhtu anu AGNCI
ish, and his body emaciated almost be-
yond belief.
/ can give no idea of the pitiable,
skeleton like thinness of the little fell
low. On his arms was hardly any
flesh. His knees pointed the worn
blanket sharply as it covered them, and
his diseased feet had become utterly
lifeless, with the toes and the ball of
the foot entirely gone from one of them.
/ was in horror at the sight; but as
the poor little sufferer noticed my
startled look, he said. in a bright CHEEKY
voice, They amt good for much, are
thew, lieutenant? See here" and to
my unspeakable dismay with his fingers
he broke off piece of the dead flesh,
as one would snap off the end of a chalk
pencil.
While l shuddered at the sight. my
heart was taken captive by the cheer
full, undaunted spirit of the boy. OBJ
tanning permission, / bathed him,
combed his hair, and in short time
had him in clean clothing and under a
decent blanket He was so patient,
grateful and enthusiastic over his new
possessions, that my admiration and af-
lection for the little fellow rapidly in
creased.
90 lieutenant, amt they just splen-
dido" he burst out as he first saw the
new blue blouse with its bright brass
buttons. and felt of the soft blanket.
Amt | glad to be clean again! 1
wish I could see myself now. You're
right good to me, sir, and [ thank you
very much.
lie must have been 4 beautiful boy
before privation and disease had enact
ated him He had thick. curly, brown
hair, large, speaking eyes. delicate nos
trlls, and chin in which there nestled
the shadow of what must have been a
charming dimple. Exposure and sick
ness had clouded, but not entirely
spoiled, a fair clear complexion, and he
still retained frank and wonderfully
winning smile, and out of his eyes
looked n dountless spirit, which evil as
sociatiOns had failed to corrupt or cap
tivity to subdue.
He was, in n word, boy whom every
woman would have been drawn to and
have loved, whom any man might have
been proud to call his son.
His name, he told me, was Arthur
Perry. his home in Ohio, his mother a
widow. He was drummer-boy, had
been captured some months before
while with an ammunition train, and
had endured all the prlvations of prison
life ever since Sickness had broken
his constitution, and reduced him to a
shadow He was weak and feverish.
His one great desire was to get home to
MS mother. whom he seemed to idollZe.
Taking my hand. he said, -
1T was pretty hard. sometimes, when
there WASH t anything to eat and was
sick. and it was wet and cold. Some
times was so lonesome and homesick
couldn't help CRYING. and it seemed as
if l never should get home. But It's all
over now I'm going home to mother.
I wish YOU knew her, lieutenant. She's
the dearest. lOvelist mother in the
world. and oh. | do love her sol Do
YOU suppose she'll know me?"
why, of course she'll know YOU,
and she'll DC very proud of you, too" l
replied.
s'Do YOU really think she will? You
don't think these will make any differ
ence, do vou?" he asked, chokingly, Os
he pointed to his crippled feet.
M. no. no, my dear boy. She will
only love YOU thousand times the
more"
I'm glad YOU think so, lieutenant"
and lie ent on to picture his coming
home-how his mother would fold him
In her arms and KISS him again and
again, aud how his little brother and Sis
ter would listen to his stories with wide
open ewes, and how he would run out to
see his old school-fellows-here, as the
Thought Of his poor, useless feet flashed
through his mind, his voice faltered, a
tear stole ont from under the long lash
es. as he laid his head on my shoulder.
But it was only for a moment. The
brave little soul was up again.
"You see / amt used to it yet, he
said, with pathetic smile. as he brushed
away the tears. As he talked of his
far-awav home his eyes grew so bright
and lie seemed SO fresh and strong that
l began to think perhaps he would live
TO reach home But he soon wearied
aud fell into restless sleep, his head
still on my shoulder, his hands clasped
about my arm, as if he feared that some
way in his sleep he might be taken
away.
AS l passed out, | asked surgeon if
il would not be we'll TO send for his
mother. He said it would be useless,
as the bow could not possibly live the