The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-18

buried ia the ear Of corn
Dick drew a long breath, almost sob.
You'll never catch me grumbling over
anything again, he said, dashlng his hand
across has suspiciOusly-w eyes.
Uncle Ned gave him kindly glance the
story, as heexpected, was proving better than
q sermon.
Slowly the long hours Of that dreadful
day passed, Uncle Ned resumed. grew
weaker and fainter from long suffering We
waited and hoped, but no help came TO u.s.
We had neither food nor drink; except the
corn. and all within our reach was soon con-
sumed. The darkness Of another night ca me.
The stiffness was more solemn and death
like than the night before The firing
which we had heard occasionally during the
dav had entirely ceased. There Was no
sound 10 indicate that either army were near
us Had they marched away and left as to
die there al0nee 1t seemed so 10 Us, ana
despair filed our hearts.
The cries and gr0ans Of those about me
gradually ceased; they had grown zoo weak
for speech. OF death bad relieved their suffer
ipgs. OnIv an occasional faint moan broke
the awful silence.
Bv the third morning I must have been
unconscious, for I did not know when re-
lief came until cold water touched my
parched lips.
Oh DID ANYTHING EVER TASTE so GOOD!
I seized the cup and drained the last drop,
then held Is out for more.
When / looked around I found II was
our own men Of the 18Th who had come TO
our relief To me they seemed like angels
from 2 better world. L0vel3nd and / were
carried away together, he so Ear gone as 10
be unconscious They told Us atteFWard
they found 40 Of the 10Th dead near the
stone wall. and 15 more N other parts Of the
field. while they carried nearly 200 wounded
to the hospitals 0ut IF $40 men cl the
10th who went into that battle, only 800 an
swered r0.l-call next morning, though
number OF missing. came in later; bat the
total loss was 49, This from one regiment
only. y bat must The grand total have
been?
at was the bloodiest day America ever
saw. Every building lor miles q hospital;
yards, r0a3sides and fields were stTewa with
straw, and the wounded laid there without
shelter
Wewere taken to a barn on Otto's farm
and cur wounds dressed. There / found my
old friend Fitch, acting IS nurse. h0# over
ioyed I was 10 see MIN once more.
After buTyiug the dead at South Mount
ment lust as we were going into battle, and
soon after fell unconscious on the battlefield.
The heavy work Of burging the dead and
his forced march 10 oyert4ke Us had left him
too much exhausted TO withstand the 1ieTce
heat Of the day. lie was taken TO the rear
and aftCrward 70 tins barn, where, as soon as
he could stand, he volunteered to asslsi N
the care Of the wounded. His deftness and
skill made him a most efficient nurse, while
his warm sympathy and hopeful nature en-
deared him strongly TO the men. We all
Eej0iced when soon after lie was appointed
head nurse.
by weund proved not very serious aside
from the broken bone. I remember the
CHEEKY smile Of asst Surg. Mayer rs he
said,
YOU'LL BE AS GOOD As NEw, 1IY BOY, IL A
PEW WEEKS
"I wonder now how the Surgeons c0uld
find either time OF strength 20 say encOurag-
ing words 10 the men. for for three days and
nights they had bent over the wounded,
amputating limbs and dressing wounds,
never stopping for rest or sleep until unable
70 stand from utter exhaustion. But Surg.
Mayer always had a kind word for the men,
and was as tender rs q " oman IN handling rs
Loveland's wound was far more serious
than mine Anputation was al first thought
necessary, but there seemed o chance 10 save
che leg 50 they waited, hoping the wound
would heal We remained at OtiO's barn
Bb0Ht two weeks, when we We're taken 10
the Dutch Reformed Church al SharpsbGrg
It was a large brick building with high, old
fashioned pulpit, and our beds were made
by laying boards across the tops Of the pews
Ny wound healed rapidly, and in few
weeks / was able 10 get about on crutches,
bat L0yeland was not 50 fortunate. The
Surgeons al last decided that amputati0n
was necessary 70 save his life. Is was 1t
first proposed TO take OF the leg just above
the knee, but the arteries siOughed of as
fast as taken up. and a second ampUtatiOn
followed with no better success. Then q
third trial was made, close 10 tie body. I
heard the Surgeon say to Fitch, Keep close
watch Of him for-awhiie; those arteries may
slough Of. and IN that case he's dead man;
there's 10 taking them up again
Several days passed; lie recovered rem
the shock 0l the operation and was begin-
ming 70 gam Gneiy, and We lhOu ght ali dam
ger over Bg this time ] was nearly selI,
only the broken ankle forbade marching, 50
was givca a twC-mouths' luTiOugh,
AID Was 10 START FUR HOME OK THE
MORROW.
You'll soon be going home, too said
70 LoVeiand SIS ] zat by his bed that night
Yea lie said. looking down sadly al has
crippled limb shall be Of no use iu lhe
army or anywhere eIse;' then added more
cbeerluily, but thank Sod. f0r nay wife aad
boys cake thai my life is spared. ] shall
zee tiiea a-ain; and ] Thought during tho-e
terrible days Oh Ehe battlefield had looked
my last or them foreveE- 3es, I'm glad q
be alive; after al ii's u0, 30 bad a. if ID
were my arm. shall l4ave uly bands to work
with anyway. Eonh see my wIfe. wouI
you. Eeds and lel. hcI ] shall soon be wIil
her
promised and sat some tme beside bin
listening 81 stories ~ his bone aud dear uaes
go shall bsWith them iu a les weeks b,
Ezd hopefully, AZ he balc IAs good aight znt
settled daWa t1 sleep.
"As lor myself. thoughts % home and friend
was 30 soon % see kept me awake Tor SOM
time. Fitch came around on bis tour Of ia
spection aaQ stopped beside me.
80 " bat not asleep yet my boyg be said ii
low tone.
Ive been thinking SO much abous goin
home ! cogidu't sleep ! answered.
"'IhcH you had better stop thinking b
said pleasantly and tgrning 20 Loveiaud' bed
which was next mine, bcnt over and looked q
him auEl5asly. J noticed then that Love aud
face was wlite and dcatu-like. The next ua
EF..gf