Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-07-12
aGo. and NAV God watch over


SO Dick brought me along to
cheer him up and put a good face
on things for the girl, and | can
tell you it was task that |
wouldn't like to undertake again.
She allowed there we're plenty OF
others TO do the fighting, and that
there wasn't a bit of use OF his
risking his precious life. What
could one single recruit do any
how ? And especially one so unfit
for hardships she asked IN a
voice that would have melted the
heart of a veteran. His staying
or going could not make particle
of difference to the country, while
it was all the world to her.
| don't think l ever saw any
woman take on as she did and
have often thought that she might
have had some vague presentiment
of the sequel, that was only known
then to the Infinite. But, at last,
Dick tore himself away to cast his
life a willing sacrifice upon the
altar of his country.
We reached the army in Virginia
a few days after "Fighting Joe"
Hooker was placed in command,
and a good many of the regiments
were in a terribly diserganized
condition. Hooker's presence had
begun to restore confidence, but
the frightful disasters of December
all along the line had cast gloom
over the Union army which it was
not easy to dispel.
To check desertlon President
Lincoln gave up reviewing the de-
cisiODs of courts. martial, and the
first shots we heard fred we're for
the execution of several poor devils
who we're to serve as examples to
the rest OF US if we tried TO play
truant.
After Charlottesville we began
to feel like old soldiers, because we
both came off without a scratch.
AS 1t happened, our regiment was
not In action again until the sec
ond day at Gettysburg. But how
we wondered what was the mean
ing of our hurried fight to the
northward during the latter part
of June !
We soon found out what it all
m eant--Lee had started to invade
the North and we were after him.
Nobody needs telling about the
first three days of July, and least
of all that lovely woman on The
Hill, in whose dear heart a wound
was made that only death can
heal.
A good many of us got letters
from home while We were waiting
at the Potomac. Among the lucky
ones was Dick Harper, who seemed
to get a letter or two whenever a
mail came into camp, and wrote
one whenever he got chance, no
matter how trying the circum'
stances.
On the 1st we were marching all
day, and got into position late at
night. We heard on all sides
gloomy tidlngs. Some said there
was a very fair chance OF the whole
army being wiped out next day. |
was tired, but poor Dick was cheer
ful and confdsnt, and by the light
of a cook fire in a gully at the rear
he wrote this letter to Miss H.,
which unknown to me, he slipped
into the pocket OF my blouse,
probably while l was asleep:
any darling, you probably know
the news of this day better than |
can tell it. We are face to face
with Lees army, and at daybreak
tomorrow will begin battle on
which hangs the destiny of the
country. l believe we shall win,
but the cost will be heavy. can
not tell you how my heart yearns
for you this solem night, while all
around me weary men are lying
fast asleep on their guns, to be
awakened at dawn by the bugle
call only to be lrid low by the shot
Of the enemy My soul seems to
draw near to you, and | feel your
sweet breath on my snnburnt
cheek, and know that we shall
soon meet, If not at home, why
then in paradise"
OF course gave her the origi-
nal when / came home with q
broken leg, but I've always Kept
this copy as kind of angelo mes
sage that seemed to have some
thing divine about it.
Well, during that day, the sec
ond, our regiment suffered fear
} fully, and about noon l missed
Dick, whom lew minutes oeIOre
had seen fighting like a tiger
The day passed and | neither saw
nor heard anything Of him. The
dead and wounded we're too many
to be numbered, much less TO be
identified. The line was driven
back and almost broken, but we
rallied, and the night came on
) helping us to hold our ground.
My only thought was for poor
| Dick. Neither officer nor private
had seen him either dead or alive,
and / became convinced that he
had been shot dead and fallen into