St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-04-25
Written for the Ca1edonian.1
An INSTANCE OF SELF-DENIAL

So many of the incidents which
took place in the late war are of a
like character that it seems almost
too much of an old story even to
mention those still unrecorded.
However, in nearly every case the
difference between that and any 9th
er is sufficiently great to render it in
teresting enough to read. And re-
CARELESS of similarity it thrills our
very souls to learn of heroic deeds
done BY brave hearts. In the bloody
battles of that terrible civil strife, the
real fortune of war in its deepest
sense was tried. Large numbers of
men were shot down and others
borne away as captives by either
side
In one of the great northern pris-
ons, in the fall of GA, there lay dying
of consumption a confederate pri-
vate He was boy not more than
10 years old. His father had lost
his life early in the campaign of 81.
L
mothers wishes. to serve in his fa tn
er's stead, a cause he believed to be
right. The mother imprinted fare
well kiss on his lips, and called down
a blessing from heaven upon her son,
as he marched away at a right
shoulder musket to join his regiment.
At the opening of the last winter
of the war one of those great ex-
changes of captIves was made by the
prison in which the consumptive was
confined Since only certain num-
Der could go all were permitted to
draw lots, and the fortunate ones
chosen. 1t does seem a little strange
that the dying youth should have
drawn a pass when SO many others
in perfect health, capable of bravely
defending their flag again were stand
ing around with disappointed looks
on their faces, and blanks in their
pockets. But such was the case.
The young man realized it all. He
looked at the little slip that would
have unbarred the prison-gates and
spent many hours thinking of free
dom Then he dragged his weary
frame across the room, gazing out
for some minutes between the iron
rods of the grated window. Sud
denly he turned and walked to the
opposite corner of the room where
some of his comrades were chatting
away as cheerfully as they could
He touched one of the party on the
shoulder and retreated q few PAGES.
The man followed him to the middle
OF the room where both came to
halt
Jack" said the young soldier, 1--WE
enlisted together, we fought togeth-
er, we were captured together, and
we have been sick together. Your
strength has practically returned.
Mine will never come back. In fact,
future is bright. Exchange your
blank with me for my pass. Take it
and be free. Do only this for me in
return, take few lines which l shall
write to my mother. Then find our
regiment and tell the boys that /
shall ever be with them in spirit,
though my body shall soon lie buried
in hostile soil"
1t was now but few minutes be-
fore the time when the fortunate
prisoners would form in line down
stairs. In this brief time the young
soldier penned line to his mother.
Jacks eyes were wet as he grasped
the feeble hand of his friend for last
shake. One long look and then he
bounded away. A pair of stream
ing eyes, through the same grated
window, watched the confederate
band as it moved down the road
with measured tread Another pair
of streaming eyes filled with graft
tude, glanced up from the left of sec
ond four. Then the line passed out
of sight and the young soldier re-
turned to his bed. The last sound
he ever heard was that of the fife and
drum. dying away in the distance as
it beat the time for the departure of
his friends S. b. DUNRAVEN.