The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-12-04
NAT LEAVITT.
Tribute to Kind-hearted, but Mysterionsly
Unknown COmrade.

Tribute to Kind-hearted, but MysterIonsl,
| Unknown C0nrade.
To THE EDITOR: The awkward Squad u
had just finished its usual afternoon drill
under the able leadership of Dick Darling
| and there was lots of fun in that drill, espec-
| tally as it was entirely volunteer affair. 1t
was in the month of July, 1862, and a very
great flourish of trumpets was being made over
| the organization of the Merchants Brigade,
| of st. Louis" in which, however, there was
not single merchant. We, the Awkward
| Squad of which Hal " was one. were mainly
residents of st. Louis, and therefore kindred
spirits and an integral part of the aforesaid
| Merchants Brigade" which afterwards crys-
tallized into the 33d No.
A number of new recruits came out to-day,
| looking very much alike; but my attention was
called to one who entered by himself There
were some peculiarites about him that aroused
our curiosity. He was dressed much better
than the average recruit, and was evidently
not at all at home in his new surroundings.
Passing into the barracks he glanced around at
the elegant touches that lined the room, three
tiers high, then at the motley crowd that lay
upon, lounged about, or sat in them, and a curl
of disdain could be seen upon his mustached
lip. This soon passed away, and was succeeded
| by look of regret and pain, and then he began
to familariZe himself with his future associa-
lions. His bunk was No. IL, lower tier, and
the mattress of straw had anything but an in
viting look or smell. Sitting on the edge of
his bunk, he took rapid survey of the faces
around him. While he was doing so our eyes
were not idle. In the phraseology of the camp,
eve took his dimensions" He was a man of
fine physique, with a bright, darls-brown eye,
black hair and mustache, and face betokening
rare intelligence.
Hal" said John Van Dreamer our fat re-
cruit, to the black-eyed one, he'll do for our
mess; let's go over and get acquainted"
To speak was the prelude to act, and in a few
moments we were seated beside him. There
was nothing repelling about our reception he
was quietly cordial, but we soon found that
except his name, Nat Leavitt. and that he had
enlisted in st. Louis, we could get no other
information. We cordially invited him to a
seat i'll our mess, and the invitation was as cor
daily accepted.
There was no man in our company, composed
as it was of a heterogeneous crew from diverse
points, some of them with strange histories
over whom there was so much discussion as
over Nat. Who was he? Where did he come
from? Did he give his true name? were the
main points of discussion. In very short time
Nat attracted the attention of the officials at
regimental headquarters and an official envcl-
ope found its way to him, detailing him as
Quartermasters clerk, and soon after orders
were read. promoting Private Nat Leavitt, of
geant. We all rejoiced at his prosperity, and
hoped to see him a Captain at last.
When our regiment was full we were mus
tered in and sent to Southwest Missouri, where
we spent few months in marching and coun-
termarching; then our hearts were gladdened
by orders to go SOUTH Down the river we
went, hating a few weeks at Columbus, KY;
then down to Helena and through Yazoo Pass
to Fort Pemberton, which we could not pass;
then up the White River to Duvall's Bluff,
and back again to Helena Here we learned to
think more and more of Nat, as we saw more
of his nobility of character. His kindness
found many ways OF expression. No hand
softer and cooler than his when laid on the
brow of some poor boy heated by the fires of
fever; no purse so ready as his to open when
few delicacies were needed for that same sick
boy. He was as gentle as any woman, as brave
as any man.
The morning of July 3, 1863, was detailed
on Headquarters guard. That night l shared
Mats couch, and far into the night we talked of
the happy time when this cruel war would be
over. There had been rumors for some time
of a meditated attack on Helena by Gen. Price,
and for many days the boys had been ordered
to the rifle pits long before daylight. About A
p. m. Nat and were aroused by the boom of
the sunrise gun, but no sunrise was in sight.
A sharp voley OF musketry from the hills west
of Battery told us we were about to receive
our DdptlSin OF IRE. we naStliy dressed, ana
standing in the tent door listened to the roll
call and the rattle Of musketry on the picket
line.
The musketry fire grew nearer and fercer,
and now the hoarse roar of artillery from the
batteries on the hills joined their bass to the
treble Of the rifles, and the anthem of war was
being sung. / stood it as long as l could, and
obtaining permission, determined to join the
boys of Co. K at Battery B, on the left. Nat
must stay in charge of his department, safe in
the rear, though preferring rather to share the
danger with the boys in front So we clasped
hands, and he said: Good by old boy, it may
be that some of those singing bullets will find
you, and that we shall not meet again."
All day long the battle ragged, and we cele-
brated our Nations birthday with many a vol
ley directed against our brothers across the
way. But at last, repulsed at every point the
lines of the COnfederates were broken and they
fled, leaving the dead and dying ON the field,
amid the triumphant shouts of the victors
But there were some who could not join in
those shouts or hear them as they rose above
Helena's fort-crowned hills. Among these
was brave, good loving Nat Leayitt. A stray
shot, guided by the hand of fate, had found
that noble soul and set it free. We buried him
under the shadow of the bluff where the sun
in rising would shine upon it first his requiem
the soft, signing breeze his eulogy the tears
that fell from the eyes of the boys who knew
his loving heart and who tenderly laid him to
rest But somewhere, no doubt, loving eyes
watched for him, eager ears listened for the
familiar footsteps; but where, we could not
tell; who, we did not know.-H. J. LA Four,
Rock Port, Mo.