Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-11-26
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
AMONG THE SLAIN.
a Pathetic Incident of the Struggle Be
tween Grant and Lee.

he could not force a passage through
those gray lines he could flank them.
Before the sun went down we knew
that he would do it 1t was not vet
night when the movement begun, but
my division would be one Of the last to
move, and we must hold our ground
and prevent the confederates from dis
covering what was taking place. 1t
was curious coincidence of war that
Lee was also moving by the flank. both
armies marching in parallel lines from
a battle field which had yielded neither
victory nor defeat to either side.
Post No. was under large tree on
the edge of a thicket To the south
there was a strip of open ground, then
a thicket, then an old field, in which
stood log cabin. 1t was a lonely
place, well away from the camps, the
dead and the dying but / was glad to
be alone. All along the lines there
was a growing of musketry; but this
was but bluff-a bit of acting to COW
er the real design. l had been nearly
an hour on the post without anything
happening to alarm me, when l heard
person moving in the thicket across
the open strip.
Was it a person? Riderless horses had
galloped about that day almost without
number; this might be one which had
found shelter in that thiclzet
Rustic! Rustic! Step! Step!
1t was cautious movement. Who
ever it 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-
traying its presence.
Rustic! Rustlel
Kneeling down so as to see under the
darkness, as it were, l suddenly made
out black object against the dark
background 1t is neither horse nor
mule; it is a human being. A scout
from the enemy's picket post, only a
quarter of mile away A wounded
man hobbling about to find succorl One
of our own scouts returning!
who comes here?'
There is silence for fifteen seconds,
and then a worlan's voice answers:
81 can't ind the place. 1t is so dark
can't find the placer
Aye! it was woman's voice, and it
had sob in it. too A woman there in
the darkness between the hostile lines
with powder-smoke still in the air,
with stray bullets darting through the
thickets with whizz, as of some great
insect stirred to angeri
''Who comes here?"
81 wish it wasn't so dark / am so
tired-so tiredr
And then she came to the open strip
toward me, making no stop, never hest
tating, walking straight up to me, as if
she could see as well by night as in the
sunshine of day
II can't find the place." she sobbed,
as she came to stop within arms
length.
GOOD God, woman! but what arc you
doing here?" l gasped, almost terrified
at her presence.
''Seel See!' she replied holding
bundle out towards me. Zone time I
saw beautiful spot in the woods, and
said to myself that if he died would
bury him there but l can't find it
can't find itr'
What is it woman? What have you
got there?"
''Seel See! Don't be afraid. He's
dead. He can't speak or move. Take
him.!
She put bundle into my arms and I
cried out and let fall my musket 1t
was the body of a baby about a year
and a half old Dead? Yes! Dead
from cruel bullet which had pierced
its little body and left great wound
which looked horrible to me in the dim
light Dead and cold and bathed in its
l. r. L
reached out and touched the shawl or
wrap worn by the mother my fingers
burned at the feel of bIoodl
81 have carried him such long, long
way" she moaned; land have seen so
many dead men and heard so many
gunsl You'll help me, won't you-help
me to find the place and bury poor
baby?"
WAS it your baby? Did you live in
the cabin beyond the thicket?" asked,
still holding the little corpse.
HE was so happy!' she said, as she
patted the little bare head with moth
erly hand 'And l was so happy, too!
He won't never laugh and crow again,
will he? I've got to find that beautiful
place and bury him, haven't l? And
you II llOk1 LAo5 yes L hLAON JOu NllAs
for you don't swear and curse at me-"
She had lost her mind Think of it
an insane mother wondering over
bloody battlefield with her dead child
in her arms She had but one idea-to
bury it in dell which she had once Wis
tied and remarked its beauty dell in
which federal or confederate were
doubtless then burying their own dead.
knew not what to do / could not
leave my post and / did not want her to
go wandering further. / was trying to
,oothe and quiet the woman when she
suddenly cried out:
"Ah! it is not so dark now and can
find the place. I'll go on ahead and
dig the grave and do you follow on with
baby Poor baby He won't know
that he is buried, will he? l can find
the place and YOU
Come back" Come backr' l called
20 her as she fed away in the darkness
L j., i e.