The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-07
KEEP ON, DON'T MIND Me-
CHARLIE JAcKsoN's LAST BATTLE.
How He Died in the Hospital-The Little
Millionaire-A One-Legged Goose As
"Chad' Told It-Bright Thoughts
-Knotty Problems.

After the battle at Pittsburg Landing,
says f. G.. de F., an ex-Confederate, in the
New York Press, L had occasion to visit a
wounded comrade in one of the hospitals
at Memphis. Occupying the same ward
with HIM was a lad fifteen years of age
named Charlie Jackson. His case was
hopeless and the little fellow knew it. DIR.
Keller, the surgeon in charge, related his
story, and it so aptly illustrates the char
acter of the private soldier, whether fight
ing under the stars and bars or the stars
and stripes, that it is worthy of repetition.
Several months prior to the battle mis-
father had raised a company, in which
Charlie was permitted to drill, and event
ually he became so expect in the manual
that at times he was permitted TO act as
drill-master. After awhile marching or
ders were received, when the father, con-
sidering the age of the boy, and probably
his own paternal feelings, told him that
he must remain at home. To this Charlie
strongly demurred, and gave his parent to
understand that if he could not go with
him he would join another company.
Yielding to his obstinacy. a sort OF silent
consent was given, and the lad left home
for the front with the rest of the boys.
The regiment to which thew belonged
was ordered to huntsville, several miles
from Corinth. Here it remained until the
Friday or Saturday preceding the battle,
when orders were received to repair at
once to the field and take possession.
Charlie was asleep at the time of the de-
%parture, and the father, unwilling that one
so young should undergo the fatigue of a
long march of twenty miles and the dam
gers of the coming fight, gave orders that
the boy should not be aroused. When,
several hours afterward, Charlie awoke
and took in the situation Of affairs be in
stantly determined to follow. SEEING his
gun he started alone on the trail of his alb
sent regiment. Hour after hour he
trudged along, and just as they halted,
preparatory TO going into battle, he sue
ceeded in joining his company. Hisfather
chided him, but how could he do other
wise than admire the indomitable spirit of
his boy? The fight began and Charlie
was soon in its midst. A bullet struck
him and made an ugly wound that would
have sent most men to the rear, but the
lad pressed on with unchecked enthusi-
asm, firing, cheering, and charging with
the remainder of his regiment until at a
late hour of the day he fell with another
bullet in his leg. Giving q cheer he called
to his father to $50 on. Don't mind me.
Keep on. I'll lie here till you come back"
This, OF course, the feelings OF tue parent
would not permit him to do, and taking
his son in his arms he CARED him to the
nearest field hospital. A day or two after
the battle the little soldier was sent to
Memphis, feeble, yet full of hope and
courage.
When DIR. Keller, the surgeon-in-chief,
examined the wound he saw that the poor
boy was beyond recovery, and that an am
putation of the limb would only increase
his sufferings without prolonging life.
Charlie noticed the sober countenance OF
the physician as he turned away to break
the mournful news to the weeping father
and mother, for nothing could be done
but administer opiates that would allay
the pain. When, a few minutes afterward,
the surgeon returned to the bedside of the
sufferer, the young hero abruptly met him
with the remark:
doctor, will you answer me a straight
forward question and tell me the truth?"
The physician paused a moment, then
said: Eyes. Charlie, | will; but you must
prepare Cor bad news"
Can | live?"
"No; nothing can save you but a mira
Gle. You have a mortal wound.
"Well, | thought so myself" was the
response. 81 feel as if | was going to die.
Do father and mother know this?"
Yes" answered the surgeon. 81 have
| just told them"
"Please ask them to come in here"
When the parents had lone so and
taken their places by the bedside Charlie
reached out, and, grasping their hands,
said:
dear father and mother, DR.. Keller
says that | can't live. I'm not afraid to
die, but | want to ask your forgiveness for
all the wrong | have done. / have tried
to be a good boy in every way but one,
and that was when | disobeyed YOU both
and joined the army. / couldn't help
that, for | felt as if / ought to be right
where you were, father, and to fight as
long as | was able. I'm only sorry that |
can't fight through the war. If I've said
or done anything wrong, won't you for
give me?"
The afflicted parents could only weep
their assent.
NOW, father" continued the boy, zone
thing more; don't stay here, but 90 back
to the boys in camp and tell them how
you left me. Mother will take good care
of me, and you are more wanted in the
company than in the hospital. And,
father, tell the boys how | died-iust as a
soldier ought to. and that l shall watch
them and pray for them in camp and in
battle"
a few days afterward Charlie breathed
his last, and the soldier told me that, in
ured as he was to spectacles of suffering
and woe, when he stood by the side OF
that dying boy his heart overflowed in
tears, and he knelt down and sobbed like
a child.
THE ONE-LEGGED GOOSE.