The state herald., 1890-05-30
in AN UNMARKED GRAVE.
AN INCIDENT or f3RRREsr,s
REBEL RAID IN MEMPHIS.
a Young Woman Expires in the Arms
Of a Federal Soldier.

tcricf OF Tennessee and had gone into
h hospital lying between tslmwood
Cemetery and the Pigeon Roost road.
near Memphis.
IN the morning just before daylight
Inc rafting of musketry was heard
further up tho road This was attrib-
utcd to the hundrcd-tay men, who
were IN the habit of firing Off their
guns in vollcys for their own nuiuse.
mcnt, and we continued our morning
nap. How long we slept I know not,
but we We're Suddenly and rudely
awakened by the terrible clap of ten
FOUNDER not far away, and the rattling
OF lnusketry was ominously close,
which alarmed lis greatly, ind we
sprang from our cots and ran to the
tent opening. where we were surprised
IN sec hluecoats running heller SHELTER
through the woods and down the road.
We hailed one fellow who was pass
ing with:
"What's wrony!'
lie did not stop 10 answer, but
shouted back as he ran:
s.FOrrcst's whole blaMked Army is
after u.s.. You'd better skipw
lie had hardly passed when solid
shot struck the ground just in front,
throwing the dirt all over us. Look.
Ing in the direction from whence. the
shot came We saw the battle line Of the
Johnnics just coming over the hill.
We ran MID the tent, and, hastily pick
lug up our clothing, ran down the road
badly demoralized.
Confusion ieigncd supreme. Every
one was panic stricken and had but
one object in view that morning, and
that was Fort Pickering. The only
p!ucky stand made that morning was
by one hundred-day regiment of
Illinois troops, the One Hundred and
foriy-seconds. I think. They Ind
formed into line and received the shock
of FORESTS charge like solid wall,
aud were only forced back by over.
whclming numbers, stubbornls con-
testing the ground rs they fell back.
They continued retrcating and fight
ing until they reached the old female
college. Taking possession of it, they
held IT. although It was riddled with
solid shot. Forrest, seeing the attempt
TO dislodgc them futile, left them and
continued his march through the
city.
About one hundred yards In ad-
vance l saw woman rush out Of u
tent and into the road, running for dear
life, with her long yellow hair floating
behind her like ray Of sunlight. Sho
was both Young and pretty. It made
my heart ache to sec her among the
rude men aud before the deadly Mimic
balls. ] increased my speed and had
almost gained her side when there sud
denly appeared a bright red spot upon
the back of her night robe. Almost
instantly it became large blotch. and
the back of her garment was sd. one
mass of ss.ood, She stsan to staggsr.
..nd I placed my arm around her to
keep ncr from falling. She was over
come with terror, and hardly realized
the calamity that had bcfallen her. She
asked: "Oh, my! am hurt? Oh, dear!
am | woun,lcdl-
'l said: ~ fear YOU a,r."
Again she said: "Oh, please don't
leave! Please don't leave met.
Reader, that was impossible. Had
thousand deaths stared me In the facc
! could not have deserted thi. wounded
and helpless girl.
! took her an nv arms and she
nestled 10 my breast like n weary child,
Her heart WAS iluttcring like wild
bird beating lis wings against the bars
of cage. She WAS CRYING softly, and
mingled with the scbs occasionally 1
heard ihe fragment of n prayer. Every
moment she would open her eyes and
look nj me in II dazcd way, as though
nsi awakening from n terrible dream.
l, too, from loss Of blood caused by
wounds have experienced this sensa-
ton,
The line of battle was fast approach
ing. knew the desperate character
nf FORESTS men, and feared for INV
iifc. ! had crossed the opening and
entered the wood. Not fifty yards
AWAY came the enemy directly toward
int. As looked into tl,ci, fierce, set
.accs chill struck my heart, and |
stood like a criminal awaiting his
doom. neither looked for nor cx-
pccicd mercy, for mercy was seldom
shown by these half-wild ard savage
men.
The morning sunlight glis,encd upon
'lc dcwy leaves. sllmmcring like rays
from myrlads of diamonds, and us Il
penetrated the branches like halo
and shonc upon MS II never looked so
bright, 20 fair, so beautiful, nor the
leaves SO green. nor the air so pure, so
sweet. nor life 50 dear.
believed myself looking upon ma
lure for the last time, and events long
forgotten came to my mind with light
Mug rapidity. Every evil net OF my
lie passed before me IN tli, awful
momrni.
Trump. tramp, tramp. They wcn
oMing o. until we were almost
Sbrcast. could feel the bayoncts
oiercr my flesh. 4 young officer,
sword in hand, was coming directly
toward mc, viii, his naked sword
alnfl. About faces, aud with u wave
II the sword the line opens and passes
ard We are IN their rear and free from
,llngcr from the spitcful MIME ball.
breathe u great sigh Of relief aud
lay my helpless burden upon the
ground. nnd will, my blouse make n
pillow aud place her head upon II.
fainily she whispers: ..Watcr.
Wnicr." place NV cantccn to her
lip.. \ few swallows, gurglc, n
rattle. nnul She falls back into my arms