The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-08-10

1
action again until the second day at |
Gettysburg. But how we wondered |
what was the meaning of our hurried |
fight to the northward diiring the
latter part of June!
| We soon found out what 1t all |
meant-Lee had started to invade
the North and we were after him.
Nobody needs telling about the three
| first days of July, and least of all
that lovely woman on The Hill, in
whose dear heart wound was made
that only death can heidi
| 4 good many of us gotletters 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 mailc came
into camp, and wrote one whenever
he got q chance, no matter how try
ing the circumstances.
On the LIST we were marching all day
and got into position late at night.
| We heard on all sides gloomy tidings:
Some said there was d very fair
chance of the whole army being wiped
out next day. was tired, but poor
Dick was cheerful and confident, and
by the light of O cook fire in q 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 was asleep:
"My darling, you probably know
the news of this day better than
can tell it. We are face 10 face with
Lees army, and at day-break TO-
morrow will begin d b attic ON which
hangs the destiny ofthe country: |
believe we shall win, but the cost
will be heavy. l cannot tell you
how my heart yearns for you this
solemn night, while all around me
weary men are lying fast asleep on
their guns, to be awakened at dawn
by the buglc call only to be laid low
by the shot of the enemyl My soul
seems to draw near to you, and |
feel your sweet breath on my
sunburnt cheek, and knew that we
shall soon meet, If not at home, why
then in paradise"
Just open the window, please, it's
getting close here. That's better.
| Ofcourse / gave her the original
when | came home with broken
leg, but have always kept this copy
as kind of angels message that
seemed to have something divine
about it.
Well during that day, the second.
our regiment suffered fearfully, and
about noon | missed Dick, whom
few minutes before I had seen
fighting like tiger. The day passed
and neither saw nor heard
anything of him. The dead and
wounded we're too many to be num-
bered, 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 himeither dead or alive, and l
became convinced that he had been
shot dead and fallen into one of the
numerous gullies which furrowed the
ground where We stood during part
of the fight. The thick smoke had
concealed his fall, which had. perhaps,
been seen only by some of those who
went down with him.
On the third, | was shot through
the leg, and soon afterwards was
sent home.
In the reports Dick was classed
among the missing" as his body
was not found, and when got home
Miss II. was lying at tho point of
death from the cruel blow occasioned
by his loss. Hundreds of the bodies
of men slain in war cannot be recog-
nized, and I always believed, Until
the mystery was cleared up, that
Dick was to be classed with these.
Miss II. was taken abroad by her
parents for change of air and scene
and did not get the letter | had for
her until the following summer
From that moment she began to
look better. The fact that his last
thoughts we're of her and of Heaven
seemed to bring ray of sunshine in
to her heart, and though she contin-
ued to wear black, and has never
broken that custom, she took more
active interest in the world and it's
duties, visited among the poor and
unhappy, ministering to their needs,
and spent a good part OF her time
among the wounded soldiers in the
various hospitals.
At the gates OF Paradise she will
meet not only poor Dick, but also u
choir of angels who will invoke an
endless blessing on her!
The war was over and many of it's
wounds healed, and lover in every
respect suitable began in such eau
tious ways as he might, to lay siege
to her heart. Her friends believed
: and hoped that she would surrender;
but they were mistaken, and when
the lovers distant investment had
been maintained for four years
in a manner that any young man
might be proud of, she admitted to
me that her conduct appeared selfish
| even 10 u6r6ell, dlu WduUcu ll6 w
advise her, as | was her darling's
nearest friend. But on questioning
her found that her constant recur-
renee to Dicks last letter kept her
heart locked against any other suit
or, and advised her to destroy it.
This she repealed as il it had been an
insult, but noticed few weeks later
that the lover was getting a more
attentive hearing, and believed that
everything was working along right,
when an incident occurred which up
set all my calculations, and made
Miss II. what you see her to-day.
AS she was returning home from
one of her missions of mercy, she was
met by the gallant fellow who fairly
worshipped her, and they walked
along together. On arriving at her
| gate-it was about the middle of the
afternoon-they saw ragged and
dangerous-looking tramp seated on
one of the rustic benches in the gar
den. Miss HIS first impulse was to
| go to the stranger, inquire OF his cir
crrustaucas and Uive him 9llch aid