The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-10-01
WAR TINE HEROES.
AMONG THE A

A Pathetic Incident of the Struggle Ie.
tween Grant and Leo,
Darkness had come at last and the
roar OF battle had died away to Tow
growL Grant had failed 20 drive Lee.
We knew that from f.sak to flank. II
he could not force n passage through
those gray lines he could flank them,
before the sun went down we knew
that he would do II, II was not We,
night when the movement begun, bu,
my division would be one of the last te
rAove, and we must hold our ground
and prevent the ~confcdarates from dis.
covering what was taking place. II
was n curious coincidence of war that
Lee was also moving by tho flank, both
armies mprching in parallel lines from
a battle field which had yielded neither
victory nor defeat to either side.
Post No. Z was under n large tree on
the edge of q thicket. To the south
there was a strip of open ground, then
n thicket, then an old field, in which
stood n log cabin. it was a lonely
place, well away from the camps, the
dead and tie dying, but l was glad "a
be alone. All along the lines there
was a growing of muskctrv, but this
was but a bluff-a bit 81 ucting to GOV.
or the real design. / had been nearly
an hour on the post without anything
happening 20 alarm me, when l heard
a persor. moving in the thicket across
the open strip.
Vas 1T a person? Riderless horses had
galloped about that day almost without
number; this might he one which had
found shelter in that thicket.
Rustic! Rustic! Step! Stepl
1t was n cautious movement. Who
ever was hoped to reach me without
discovery, but there were dead leaves
underfoot and the thicket was dense. A
hare could not have moved without be-
troying its presence.
Hustle! Rustic!
: Kneeling down so as TO see under the
darkness, as IL were, l suddenly made
out n black object against the dark
background. 1t IS mother horse nor
mule; it is a human being. A scout
from the cnemy'S picket post, only a
quarter OF u mile away! A wounded
man hobhiing about to find succor! One
OF our W scouts returning,
Who comes here?"
There is silence for fifteen seconds,
and then a woman's voice
IL cam find the place! 1t is so dark
can't find the place."
Ave, 1t was n womop's vo;co and Il
had a sob in it, too. A woman there in
the darkness between the hostile lines
with powder.smoke still in tho mir
with stray bullets darling through the
thiclSets with n whizz, as of some great
insect stirred to anger.
'Who comes here?"
VI wish it wasn't so dark, I am so
tired-so tired"
And then she came to the oncn str;n
toward me, making no stop never hest.
tating, walking straight up to me, as If
she could see as we'll bv n rht rs in the
sunsh ne OF day.
81 can't find the place" she so5bed.
as she came TO a t within arm 8
length.
Good God, woman, but what are Won
doing here?" | gasped almost terri fed
at her presence.
"See! S,c," she renl;ed bo,d;no =,
bundle IL ttowards me. zone time |
saw a beautiful spot in the woods. and
said TO myself that if he died I would
bury him there, but | can't find i'll
can't find it,
What is it woman? What have Won
got there?"
''See! Sec! Don't be afraid. He's
dead. He can't speak or move. Take
him"
She put a bundle into nv arms and
cried out and let fall my musket- I,
was the body of n baby about n yea
and n half old. Dead? Yes, Dead
from a cruel bullet which had pierced
its little body and left a great wound
which looked horrible to me in the din
light! Dead and cold and bathed in its
own blood-dead for hours! And wher
! reached out and touched the shawl OF
wrap worn by the mother my finger.
burned at the feel of blood,
II have carried him such a long, long
way" she moaned; and have seen SC
many dead men and heard so many
guns! You'll help me, won't you-helr
me to find the place and bury pool
baby?"
WAS it your baby? Did you live ir
the cabin beyond the thicketp" I asked
still holding the little corpse.
'He was so happy" she said. as she
patted the little bare head with n moth,
erly hand. "And was So honnv too
He won't never laugh and crow again
will hep I've rot to find that beantif,,
place and bury him. haven't 10 AND
r,,,,u Lo ~,