The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-09-24
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
"soncs OF THE CAMP"
A Soldiers Letter.

Dear madam. Tn n soldier, and my speech fs
rough and plain;
TIN not much used to writing, and l hate to
But promised that I'd do 1.-THE thought IT
might be So
II it came from one who loved him perhaps
'twould ease the blow;
But this time you must surely guess the truth
fam would hide,
and you'll pardon a rough soldiers words if
i tell you how he died.
Twas the night before the battle, and in our
crowded tent
More than one brave boy was sobbin2, and
many knee was bent:
For W. knew not when the morrow with Its
bloody work was done
How many who were seated there should see
the setting sun.
Twas not SO much for self they cared as Tor
the loved at home,
For it's always worse to think of than to hear
the cannon boom.
Twas when we left the crowded tent, your
soldier boy and |.
And we both brcathed freer standing under
meath the clear. blue sky.
] was more than ten years older, but he
seecaed to take to me.
And ofrcner than the younger cnes ne sought
my company.
He seemed to want TO talk of home and those
he held most dear:
And though I'd none to talk of, yet always
loved to hear.
30 then he told me that night of the time he
came away,
And how YOU sorely grieved for him, but
would not let HIM stay;
And how his own fcnd hope had been that
when this war was through
Ne fright go back with honor to his friends Mt
home and you:
n. lamed his sisters one by one, and then a
deep flush came
When he told me of another, but he did not
speak her name.
And then he said: Dear comrade, It may be
that shall fall,
And will you write to them at home how 1
loved and spoke of all"
So promised, but did not think the time
would come soon
The fight was just thrGe days ago-he died to-
day at noon.
1t seems so hard that one SO loved as he was
should be gone,
While Others still be living here who had no
friends at home.
shot and shell:
He was fighting close beside me- and saw him
when he fell.
So then took him in my arms and laid him
Twas going against orders. but think they'll
let it pass
Twas a minnie hall that struck HINT en-
tered AT the side.
And they did not think it fatal till the morning
when he died.
So when ne found that he must go, he called
me to his bed,
And said: you'll not forget to write when
you hear that am dead:
And you'll tell them how l loved them, and
bid them all good bye.
Say tried to do the bestI could, and did not
fear to die;
And underneath my pillow there's a curl of
polien hair
There's name upon the paper-send it tc my
mother care.
"I,ast night wanted so to live. I seemed so
Last week past my birthday-Iwas nineteen
then. you know:
When thought of all I'd planned to do, it
seemed so hard to die
But then prayed to God for grace, and my
cares are all gone by.
And here his voice grew weaker. and he partly
raised his head
And whispered: Goodbye, mother" and SO
your boy was deal.
1 Wrapped his cloak around him, and we bore
him out tonight.
And laid him 10y a clump of trees where the
moon was shining bright;
And we carved HIM out a heai-board as skill
If you should wish to fini it, can tel you
where it stood
I send you back hi. hymn bool, and the cap
he used TO wear
And lock I cut the night before of his bright,
curling hair.
I send you back his Bible. The night before
We turned its leaves together, and read it
by his de.
I've kept the belt he always wore-he told me
SO to do.
1t has a hoia upon the side-'tis where the
ball went through.
So, now I've done his bidding, there is moth
ing more to tell.
But i shall ALWAYS mourn with you the boy We
MACK" in Chicago Inter-Ocedn.