The Forrest City times., 1888-03-03
Nv Happiest Hour.

A Christian soldier thus tells his ep perience in the happiest hour of hii life:
 It was when lost my arm ct the battle on Seven Pines. on the benin. sula. We made charge about the middle of the afternoon. The firing was heavy; l fell. severely wounded. was shot through the groin. and re- ceived flesh wound beside this in the | arm
 On coming to myself the firing was reeedng, and there were none near me but the dead and wounded, as helpless as myself I began to be very thirsty, and of my wound. especiaig la rough my body, was intense.
 About twenty yards from me l could hear the cool rippling sound of little brook running among some thick bushes. As 1 tried to drag myself to- ward 1t, for the lower part of my body was helpless, l found my arm was | broken.
 Slowly and with great pain l reached | it, only to find the water running in channel some two feet below the level of the field. and utterly out of my reach. It had been a hot day, and was parched with thirst and feyer.i 1 Water was there in my sight, almost
 my reach, and 1 was dying for the want of it. l dragged myself farther. over, lost my balance and fell into the stream. By Gods good providence I was able to save myself lttie. so that my face did not go under. l tainted with the pain, and lay unconscious I know not how long.
 When l came to myself found my | broken arm under me, the lower part of my body in the stream. which was twenty inches deep, aud my head rest | ing on the bank. The cool water had stopped the flow of blood. Above me. on the field were the sound and voices of the strecher bearers. collecting the wounded and buryng the dead. | tried 10 shout so they could hear me, but was too weak. l was down in the brook. and the dense. thick bushes completely hid me from any one above.
 Hearing the voices receding tried to lift myself and call with all my might, and in the effort tainted again. When l came to, all were gone, and the field was still. l was left alone to uie' Le was among the in'sslhs would be all my friends would know of me.
 thought of my young wife and little one in my New England home. It was hard, very hard to think of dy' ing so-so lonely, so very lonely.
 There was only one place l could go for comfort. 1 went there, and this sweet passage come into my mind. The dear Lord seemed to say: Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid" l was able to give myself. my wife. my child. to His care. The peace of God came down into my soul, and filled it with joy unutterable
 Hooked up into the clear blue sky. which I could see here and there through the leaves, and saw overhead the white. feecy clouds sailing past and the sun stooplng towards the wesi 1 thought. before the sun sets, l shall be beyond the sky. at home. l shall have one of those many mansions. shall see Jesus and my Father, God
 My peace ran like river. l tried to sing. There, alone in those Virginia woods. buried to the neck in watch and left as l thought to die, l spent the happiest hour in my life; and. as l sank once more into ounconsciousness hoped Co wake with God.
 l was found just alive and cared for by the Confederates as they came on the ground. God gave me great favor with them, and they were kind to ma -EL.