The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-01-17

Eklo, 9th District.-In Frank Lestie's nus
trated Newspaper of Dec. 9th 1862, find the fol
lowing sketch, and as the hero is well known here
in the 9th district submit it for Republication
in your valuable paper at your discretion
"In one of the hospitals of Alexandria is Joe
Parsons, of Baltimore. Joe enlisted in the LIST
Maryland regiment and was plainly rough,
originally. As we passed along the hall we first
saw him, crouched near open window, Justify
singing T'm bold soldier boy; and observing
the broad bandage over his eyes, said, what
your name, my good fellowY
"Joe, SIR he answered, Joe Parsons
"'And what is the matter with your
"'Blind, sir-blind as bat
s" in battle p 3
"'Yes-at Antieam. Both eyes shot outdt one
clip
"Poor Joe was in the front, at Antietam Creek
and Mimic ball had passed directly through his
eyes, across his face destroying his sight for ever
He was but 20 years old; but he was as happy as
a lark !
"It is dreadful said.
"I'm very thankful I'm alive, sir. 1t might
ha' been worse, yer see, he continued. ana then
he told US his story.
"T was hit he said, 'and it knocked mo down.
lay there all night and next day the fight was
renewed. I could stand the pain, yer see, but the
balls were flynn all round, and I wanted to get
away. I couldn't see nothin', though. So L
waited and listened and at last l heard Teller
groanin' beyond me. Hello! says 1. Hello,
Yourself says he. 'Who be yer? says Ia
rebel?' You're Yankee, says he. so I am,
says I whats the matter with your My legs
smashed says he Cant yer walk p NO Can
yer see?' yes WELL says I, you're id
rebel, but will you do me little favorY 4 will,
says he, 'ef I KEN Then 1 says, well, ole but
ternut, 1 can't see nothin'. My eyes is knocked
out; but ken walk. Come over yere. Let's git
800 nj nj
off the field, on my back Bully for you! says
he. And so we managed to git together. We
shook hands on it. 1 took wink outen his can
teen, and he got on to my shoulders. did the
waIkin' for both, and he did the navigatin'. An
of he didn't make me carry him straight into a
rebel Coloneps tent, mile away, I'm liar =
Hows'ever, the Colonel came up, and says he
'Whar dyer come from? who be yer| told him.
He said was done fer, and couldn't do no more
shoot'n an he sent me over to our lines So,
after three days, came down here with the wound
ed boys, where we're don' pretty well, all things
considered
But you will never see the light again, my poor
fellow suggested, alphabetically.
THAT'S so,' he answered. gliby; but can't
help it, you notice. did my dooty-got shot,
pop in the eye-an' that's my misfort'n, not my
fault-as the ole man said of his blind boss. But
I'm bold soldier boy
he continued cheerily renewing his song; and we
left him in his singular merriment. Poor, sight
less, unlucky, but stout hearted Joe Parsonse
am informed by Capt Wilhelm that the sketch
contains two errors viz, Mr.. Parsons belonged to
the I'd Maryland regiment and wounded in
the second Bull Run battle After being dis
charged from the army he received pension, got
married, and lived near Middetown for some
years, often visiting the village unattended. 1
am told that he has bound grain during harvest,
earning full days wages. He must have been
a remarkable man. His sense of touch could dis
tinguish five dollar greenback from dollar bill.
On returning from the West, not long ago, he
easily recognized his many acquaintance by their
voices. At present he is residing in Peoria, Hi
nois. Occasionally he loses small pieces of bone
from the wound, which deprived him of his sense
of smelling His spirits never tagged, and in a
crowd he invariably holds his own in reportee.
Mrs Charlotte Palmer, widow of the late John
Palmer, died en- the 18th inst, at the residence
of her son-in-law, Mr.. VIM. N. Mays, near Eklo,
9th district. She has been confined to her bed
for over a year with cancer. She was buried at
Union Meeting House on the Nth inst
Mr. Alexander Walker has bought of Mr.. Wm
White, near Hoffmansville, 9th district, portion
of the Goodwin farm, about 40 acres, for $500.
The officers of Summit Grange were installed
by Past Masters Futz and Mccullough, on the
10th instant.
Several persons in the upper end have been
blowing.
The Literary Society at Ruhls school house
meets weekly and is a booming institution.
Mr.. Charles Zeigler, near Rockdale paper mill,
has purchased the Springvie farm from the heirs
of the late John A. Balm, in Carroll county, near
the head of the Big Gunpowder. 0.