Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-07-19

we would not have To suffer another min
ute for water, said my comrade in dis
tres>
The words we're scarcely spoken when a
young boy stood before ms. canteen in
hand
Father are you hurt much 20 said he,
anxiousIy.
Pm afraid so, my son. How did you
find me out ?"
The men told me YOU were wounded
and down this way somewhere, and SO
came hunting You as quick as l could"
God bless you, lad. But give the cap
tain there some water, quick; he is nearly
dead for it, rs well as myself
Isn't that Harry Sinton p said |. in
astonishment as the boy turned to me to
assuage my thirst. Although my appear
anee had changed greatly for the better,
and was no longer the pale, emaciated
creature that had taken charge of him on
the train, the boy recognized me at once,
! and manifested his delight in a way that
gratified me exceedingly.
1t seemed, from the explanations that
followed, that his father was in the crowd
ON the streets during the night of the fire
in Charlestown, aud that almost immedi-
ately after he became separated from Us,
Harry was borne by the crowd right into
Mr. Sinton's arms
Il had To be away the very next day,
and so l wrote to you, sir, informing you
tbat I Ial tnrtpI tbarEiur
you for your kindness to him, but | never
received any reply" said Mr.. Sinton as he
concluded his narrative of the boys reeOv-
cry.
Il need hardly tell you that l would
have answered it had | received it. But
we need not wonder much ut its nOn-re-
ceipt, for we soldiers know to our sorrow
that mails go badly astray these days"
\ few moments later we were found by
the ambulance corps and born to the rear
for surgical treatment. Harry went with
us and at his earnest request we were
placed near each other, so that he might
be able to wait upon both of us without
difficulty.
lCdIucu ludl IC lltu bttil VIII HIS ldlu-
er continuously since the night of the
great fire in Charleston and that in many
a battle, the little fellow had gone, can
| teen in hand, among the wounded and
dying, to administer relief to them in
their anguish. He was well known along
the lines, and the men called him 'the
little canteen boy" which was finally 6b-
breviated to Little Canteen.
| Ny wound proved to be more painful
than serious and in day or two l could
hobble about very well on crutches. But
poor Sinton gradually sank and one glow
| ing evening | stood by him as he passed
through the death agony.
When he knew that the end was coming,
he called me to his side and begged me to
take the boy, and so Harry once again be-
came my charge. | treated him as a son,
and he never disobeyed me except in one
thing, and that was in regard to exposing
himself to danger. He would not remain
in the rear for any consideration when
| fighting was going on. Even the terrible
day of the Crater did not dsmay him.
And after that glorious charge of Mahone'S
who should / see but Harry with his can
teens slung around him taking water to
the wounded.
In those last days at Petersburg disci-
| pline became greatly relaxed. The pick
cts of the two armies grew exceedingly
| friendly with each other. and exchanges of
tobacco for Northern newspapers were of
daily occurrence. Harry obtained a good
stock of the weed, and went heartily into
the business of peddlng papers. lie used
TO walk on top of the breaStworks whilst
everything was quiet and sing out, Here's
your New York Hcrald" "Heres your
Tribune" etc. | did not object to him do
ing so, merely cautoning him to get down
| inside the intrenchments whenever any fir
ing commenced.
Well, one day whilst he was thus en-
gagged, ard was on the part of the lines
where | was stationed, the pickets sudden
ly commenced firing ! called hastily to
the boy to jump down. He was about to
do so. when rifle ball pierced his fair
white forehead, and the gallant child fell
gasping into the trenches. l give yell
more like that oi a wild beast than mans,
and rushed to his side. He gave me one
loving look from his glazing eyes, put out
his arms as if to embrace me, and the next
moment was dead.
Many of the war scenes in which | par
ticiDated have lOpp since faded from nv
recollection, but never until my dying day
will forget my brave little boy and his
untimely death. and deep down in my
heart there is place sacred to the mem
DRY of poor Little Cantcen."-C. NJ. Doug
lass in Atlanta 1mericdn.