The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-06-20
"WHO COM ES HERE"
New York Sunday World.
] IIalti WHO comes hnrn p'-

change the pickcts, and was dropped
out at post No. I. We had fought Lee
all day long on the strangest battle
field of the whole war-in the Wilder
ness. From right TO left flank, from
front to rear, we were hemmed in bv
forest and thicket. There were swamps
in which lizards and serpents lurked.
thics.ets in which the coy whippOorwill
built IFS nest, dense spots of forest,
which seemed never to have echoed
the ring of the woodman's axe.
We had fought from tree to tree, from
thickct TO thicket, from glade to glade,
pushing back the gray lines, to be baflIed
and compelled to give ground at other
points. Lees lines barred the way.
Never man in his whsle army whose
musket barrel was hot that dav. Never
II man who did not feel that he was
lighting for the life of the cOnfedcracy.
How the forest shook and trembled
as the great guns sent their deadly mis-
silcs crashing through the foliage. How
the thickets blazed up in flames, the
severed limbs crashed down, the sunny
gladcs turned dark us night with the
powder-smoke settling over them!
The dead outnumbered the bushes:
the wounded walled and cried as |
never heard before or after. There
was something so sombre-so grew
some-so unearthly in fighting a foe
unseen in the semi-darknes that the
shouting and cursing usually heard in
the lines gave place to silence and pale
faces.
Darkness had come at last and the
roar of battle had died away to Il low
growl. Grant had failed to drive Lee
We knew that from flank to flank. If
he could not force 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 began, but
my division would be one of the
last to move, and we must hold our
ground and prevent the confederates
from discovering what was taking
place. 1t was Il curious coincidence of
war that Lee was also moving by the
flank, both armies marching in parallel
lines from Il battlefield which had
yielded neither victory nor defeat to
other side.
Post No. was under large tree on
the edge of n thicket. To the south
there was a strip of open ground, then
u thicket, then an old field, in which
stood a log cabin. 1t was lonely
place, well away from the camps, the
dead, and the dying, but 1 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 cover the
real design. | had been nearly an hour
on the post without anything to alarm
me, when | heard person moving in
the thicket across the open strip.
Was it n person? RIderless horses
had galloped about that day almost
without number; this might be one
which had found shelter in that thicket.
Rustic! Rusule! Step! Step!
1t was n 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 with
out betraying its presence.
Rustic! Rustic!
| Kneelng down SO as to see under the
darkness, as it were, suddenly made
out black object against the dark
background. 1t is neither horse nol
mule: it is Il human being. A scout
from the enemy's picket post, only a
quarter of mile awayd A wounded
man hobbling about to find succOrP
One of our own scouts returning?
"Who comes hereP'
There is q silence for fifteen seconds
and then Il woman's voice answers:
81 can't find the place! 1t is so dark
| cant find the place!"
Av, II is 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 anger!
| "Who comes here?"
81 wish il wasn't so dark! l am so
tired-so tired," And then she came
across the open strip toward me, MAX
ing no stop, never hesitating, walking
straight up to me, as if she could see
as well by night as in the sunshine of
day.
81 can't find the place!" she sobbed
as she came to a stop within arms
length.
ssGood God, woman! but what are
you doing hcre?" | gasped, almost
terrified at her presence.
ssSee! see!n she replied, holding Il
bundle out toward me. "One time /
saw beautiful spot in tho woods, and
said to myself that if he died | would
bury him there, but l can't find it
can't find it,"
What is it woman? What have you
got there?"
See, see. Don't be afraid. He's
dead lie can't speak or move. Take
him!"
She put bundle into my arms and
| cried out and let fall my musket. Ii
was the body of Il baby about year
and Il half old. Dead? Yes! Dead
from II cruel bullet which had pierced
its little body and left Il great wound
which looked horrible to me in the
dim light! Dead and cold and bathed
in its own blood-dead for hours! And
when | reached out and touched the
shawl or wrap worn by the mother my
fingers burned at the feel of blood!
~ have carried him such u long
long way" she moaned, 'sand | have
seen so many dead men and heard 81
many guns! You'll help me, won'
you-help me to find the place an,
bury poor baby?
"Was it your babyP Did you live
in the cabin beyond the thicket?n
asked, still holding the little corpse.
ale was so happy!" she said as sh
patted the little bare head with
motherly hand. "An | was so happy
too! He won't never laugh and crov
again, will he? I've got to find tha
beautiful place and bury him, haven
|? And you'll help me-; yes, | know
You will, for you don't swear an'
curse at me.
She had lost her mind. Think of it
an insane mother wandering over ;
bloody battlefield with her dead chill
in her arms! She had but one idea
) to bury it in beautiful dell which sh
had once visited-a dell in which fed
eral or confederate were doubtless the
burying their own dead.
| knew not what To do. | could no
leave my post aud did not want he
to 90 wandering further. was tryin!
10 soorhr aud quiet the woman whel
I she suddenly cried out:
: "Ahi 1t is not so dark now and
+ can find the place. I'll go on ahea'