St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-05-03
w. G. KENTZEL, Editor.
and fell. A faithful corporai came to

MS assistance, and with his aid he
reached the fort: and those two were
the last OF the retreating party that en-
tered it; Drake made it point Of honor
that it should be so. Mr.. Drake wa.
rendered unfit for duty for long time
by his wound: he had not, indeed, re
| covered from it in the summer of 1876
when he was my guest. at Fort Wash
lngton tCincinnati), (where l was in
command) on his way, on furlOugh, tc
visit his native State, Connecticut. His
friends, however. enjoyed his presence,
but short time; having. as 1 under
stood, taken the yellow fever in pass
ing through Philadelphia, he died in a
few days after he reached his home.
II have another instance to relate:
IAN officer of the army had so often
and SO unnecessarily wounded the feel.
ings of another Of the same corps. the
duties of which made their association
indispensable, that he considered him.
self bound to demand satisfaction in the
usual way. They met, and the injured
man fell, receiving a mortal wound. as
it was anticipated he would. from the
superior skill of his antagonist in the
use OF the weapon which they used.
Being possessed of q high grade of tai
ents and sn amiable character, he had
the sympa thy of all the officers. With
others, l visited him after he had been
removed to his quarters. lie expressed
had fought, and was present at the in
terview. / wish I could describe. as it
merits this interesting scene. The cir
cuinstances- a attending it were so deeply
impressed upon my mind that they can
never be cffaced as long as memory
holds its seat.
''ln the tent were some half dozen Off
GERS, the friends of the dying man (for
he had, from his amiable qualities, many
and warm ones). exhibiting unequivccal
evidences of their sorrow. Conspicuous
above the rest, and near the head OF the
rude couch. was the manly form Of the
of the corps to which both
the duelists belonged tthe beau ideal of
valor, and the Chevalier
Bayard Of the army, endeavOrins to
stifle, as best he could, the feelings
which agitated his bosom. At little
distance, and in full view Of the victim
Of his passions, sat insensible --;
but ] must restain the indignation which
| still feel. lie was my brother officer;
We shared together the perils Of diff
cult war: and in battle know that he
did his duty; and, whatever might have
been his conduct to others, I never had
any reason to complain Of
him. But there he sat, apparently, at
least unaffected by the mischief he had
done, by burying in an untimely grave
! man who had never injured him, whose
arm might be needed in the pending
decisive battle with the hitherto
enemies of his country. and
whose intellect might at some future
lime have been usefully employed in its
'The severe bodily pain which the
lying officer had for some time suffered
aad ceased, and that calm and ease sue
,eeded which is the uneqMvocal har-
,inger of approaching death. and which
gracious Providence has provided for
he mortally wounded soldier. to enable
lim to offePe last prayer for his distant
amily, if he has one, or for the pardon
II his I n-sins. Turning his intelligent
,ye upon his late antagonist, he mildly
aid: '.He had desired to see him for
he purpose Of assuring him of his sim
ere forgiveness-that he wished him
happiness in this world-and that. as
he means of securing it. he recon-
nended to him, with the sincerity of .
lying man, to endeavor to restrain the
1iolence Of his passions, the indulgence
# which hsd deprived one of life who
lad never injured him in thought or
Iced. IN. Y. Ledger.