Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-07-05

HIu pushing lOTWdIu tuFOuBu blo
crowd, and at last we out came into
safer and quieter portion OF the town.
But the boy was gone.
How it happened none Of us could
tell, but it must have been that my
youngest sister. who had been spe-
cially in charge of him when we left
the house, had released his hand at
some time or other whilst we were
making our way through the crowd
and the confusion, and the surging
mass had swept him away from us.
The shock of it all nearly killed me,
and many weeks elapsed before |
could muster strength enough to get
out of doors. In all this time not one
word of Harry was heard, and we
gave up the hope Of over seeing him
again. Finally grew strong enough
to return to duty, and in the excite
ment of war scenes and incidents lit
tie Harry Sinton was forgotten.
We were on the lines at Petersburg
towards the close of the war, and on
one occasion had charge of part of
a skirmish line We held our position
in young pine thicket, but as we were
about to be hanked and subjected to
an enflading fire, l asked my men to
fall back on the main line of works.
AS we were in the act of executing
this movement, Mimic ball pierced
my leg and fell helpless on the field.
l suffered a great deal of pain as l lay
there, but oh the pain OF the wound
was as nothing in comparison with
my suffering for water. How l longed
for it, even were it but single drop
AT last managed to crawl towards
deep ravine, some hundreds of yards
distant from the spot where l had fal-
len, hoping to find there what l want
ed. l reached it only to be disap
pointed, for not drop was there.
Another wounded had cpawled to the
same spot, led there by the same hope,
and we exchanged regrets over our
failure
"Oh, if my boy only knew l was
here! we would not have TO suffer an
other minute for water" said my com
rade in distress.
The words were scarcely spoken
when young boy stood before us,
canteen in hand.
Father, are you hurt much7" said
he, anxiously.
'I'm afraid so, my son. How did
you f1nd me OutF
The men told me you were wound
ed and down this way somewhere,
md SO came hunting you as quick
Is l could"
God bless you, lad But give the
captain there some water, quick; he is
nearly dead for it, as we'll as myself.
Isn't that Harry Sinton2" said l, in
establishment, as the boy turned to-
ward me to assuage my thirst Al.
though my appearance had changed
greatly for the better, and I was nc
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 gratitied me exceedingly.
1t seemed. from the explanations
that followed, that his father was il
the crowd on the streets during the
night of the fire in Charleston, and
that almost Immediately after he be
came separated from US, Harry wa.
borne by the crowd right into Mr.
SintOn's arms
II had to be away the very mex
day, and so / wrote to you, sir, in
forming you that l had found Harry
and thanking you for your kindness
TO him, but l never received any re
: ply" said Mr.. Sinton, as he concluded
his narrative of the boys recovery.
II need hardly tell you, sir that
would have answered it had received
it. But we need not wonder much q
its non-receipt, for we soldiers know
, to our sorrow that the mails go badl!
astray these days"
A e. 1a@
by the ambulance corps and borne t.
the rear for surgical treatment Harr,
went with us, and at his earnest re
quest we were placed near each other
SO that he might be able to wait upor
both OF us without difficulty.
learned that be had been with hi
father continuously since the night o
the great fire in Charleston, and tina
, in many battle the brave little fel
low had gone, canteen in hand
among the wounded and dying, T.
administer relief to them in their an
! guish- He was well known along tn
lines, and the men called him 9TH
1 little canteen boy" and this was final
ly abbreviated to Little Canteen."
My wound proved to be more pain
full than serious, and in day or tw
: l could hobble about very well On
. crutches. But poor Sinton gradual
sank, and one glowing evening
;, stood by him as he passed through tn
= death agony.
u When he knew that the end wa
! coming, he called me to his side an
begged me to take the boy, and S
o Harry once again became my charg,
:, treated him as a son, and he neve
. disobeyed me except in one thing, an
!, that was in regard to exposing hin
y self to danger. He would not renal
:, in the rear for any considerable
o when fighting was going on Eve
. the terrible day of the Crater" di
not dismay him. And after tht
. glorious charge of Mahone's, VIII
b should see but Harry with his car
=, teens slung around him taking watt
} to the wounded
s In those last days at Petersburg di
10 cipline became greatly relaxed Tt
II pickets of the two armies grew excee'