Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-03-25

within the building was occupied by
prestrate form. Those exposed to
the weather were covered with what
ever we could find to shelter them.
Pieces OF sacking, blankets, boughs
OF trees, old mating br anything
that would temporarily shelter them.
/ Some were past caring for war or
weather Many were dying, some in
delirium and others calmY yielding up
their souls TO the inevitable, the sud
| den summons II vas fearful phase
OF the war. Who could care for them
all7 Our tears fell with the rain over
these brave men. | say brave men
because every one who possessed his
senses was calm and thankful; so
graceful for the tea and milk, though
only a very few could take the bread.
1t was a harr0 wing sight, and often
even now when the black rain is pour
ing, I seem to see those forms writhing
under their miserable coverings
Would to God that had never seen
it or that | could forget it. II was
with great difficulty | found three
soldiers not sth cted with infectious
diseases to take with me for nursing
Three with sore feet were put in the
carriage, grimy and dirty, and trans
ported TO that small house whose own
err possessed so capaclOus heart. But
in few days one Of them developed
measles and thirteen children took
the infection; but death took away
only one Of the lambs o. this numer-
GUS flock, and sad to relate, it was the
little daughter of our generous, large
hearted host.
HOME DESTROYED,
In October | once more looked on
the ruin OF our desolated home. The
Mill on which l stood was paved with
broken china, torn garments and
ruined furniture. The hired servants
left to preserve the house told me
that the articles were piled on the
floors and broken up with axes.
These servants soon after decamped
with the little that remained, and the
walls of the house were pulled down
to build winter quarters for some of
the Federal soldiers, of what com
mand l know not. A few bodies of
Confederate dead lie on the hill now.
They are the silent occupants of a
spos noted for it's beauty AID which
was once musical with the songs OF
the birds and the laughter of children.
This is a tale that can be repeated
thought the length and bredth of the
Blessed is the memory that treasures
no greater loss than house and be-
longings; sad is the heart that mourns
for a life cut short in manhood'S
prime; fearful is the eye that watches
the MANNED the crippled semblance
of a man.
The end of October, 1861, found us
a nearly united family IN the hos
pitable town of Cheran, S. G.. Thus
the scene was changed from the down
trodden battle-felds of Virginia TO the
hospitals established at Cheran and
Florence. Every soldier therein had
his history. What pen could relate
them ail9 Their forgotten record is
above, and without doubt many a
stainless one.
APATHETIC STORY.
But here | feel compelled to tell one
mere child of IA years, who, accord
| inp to his owa showing, had strayed
| away from uOuiC III tliO laI Ooubu
without permission. He was brought
to the Florence Hospital extremely
i'll. After he was bathed and his
bleeding feet Amounted he was asked
if he wanted anything.
Yes he said, Il want a pair of
shoes. / can't march any more with
out shoes and l won't be in time for
the ight;' and then he commenced
to cry.
We pscifed him as we'll as we c ould
with half promises, for truly we did
not feel that bis wish could be graft
fed. And it was almost GER
tain he would never need them more.
Day after day passed; he continued
to grow worse, at times delirious yet
that one idea never left bim, and the
desire Of having shoes appeared to
make him more restless, more fever
ism. 1t seemed as though he could
not go down into the dark valley
without the shoes. The only chance
of obtaining them was forty miles
away. But we represented the case
to a lady there and she furnished
pair of stout shoes, which came to
hand on what proved to be the boys
last day on errth. When shown to
him radiant smile shone on his
wasted features. He would have
them on, and with his last wish graf
lied he sunk sunk into peaceful
sleep from which he never awakened.