The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-01-09
MY DRUMHER.BOY.

since the sound of the last gun of the
war of the Rebellion died away in 81
Ience. The enmities e]ngendered by the
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 DO young men and wom-
en-, and know little of war but its holi-
day pomp and glory; so I have brought
this little sketch from memory's port
folio that they may catch a passing
glimpse of its stern reality, and part
~, too, that they may see how suffer
ing heroism sometimes finds its home
in young, brave hearts.
Early in the year 1863 the Uuion for
ces, in one of the regiments of which [
was an officer, lay encamped near VIII
mington, North C@rolina. 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, [ had come in
from our camp, which was located a
few miles out of the city, to visit the
hospital. All old brick warehouse was
utilized for this purpose. 1t was along,
lew, 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.
IT was q forlorn and desolate sick-room,
indeed, and / d1d not wonder that the
poor fellows were discouraged and al
most ~dospairing.
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 battered old blan-
ket covered him. His hair was long and
neglected, his cheeks sunken and fever
ish, and his body emaciated almost be-
yond belief.
/ can give no idea of the pitiable,
skeleton-lik 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
Iifeless, 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, aThey amt good for much, are
they, lieutenant? See herei" and to
my unspeakable dismay. with his fingers
he broke off a piece of the dead flesh,
a one would snap off the end Of chalk
pencil.
While I 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 q short time
had him in clean clothing and under q
decent blanket. He WAS SO patient,
grateful and enthusiastic over his new
possessions, that my admiration and af
fection for the little fellow rapidly IN
creased.
20 lieutenant, amt they Just SPLEEN
did," he burst ont as he first saw the
new blue blouse with its bright brass
buttons, and felt of the soft blanket.
1Ain't I glad to lie clean againl /
wish + could see myself now. You're
right good to me, sir, and / thank you
very much
He must have been a beautiful boy
before p~rivation and disease had emaci-
ated him. He had thick, curly, brown
hair, large, speaking eyes, delicate nos
trils. and q 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, . tar clear complexion, and he
still retained a frank and wonderfully
winning smile, and out Of his eyes
looked 4 dountless spirit, which evil as
sociations had failed to corrupt or cap.
tivity TO subdue.
He was, il . word, q 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 z
widow He wae a hey bar
been captured some months before
srhiie with an ammunition train, and