The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-12-09


will result in final victory 10 the union
cause. The government viii bc saved;
but / shall not live TO see il. / do not
hesitate TO go. 1t is in the line Of duty,
and a brave man ought never to fear
death. ! shall probably die in battle,
but, whether in battle or elsewhere, my
death is sure TO come before the war Is
over. Good-by."
He went away. Feeling n deep in
terest in the young man, and believing
he was entitled TO a better position
than that of private, interested my
self with the authorities. and in a short
time II was arranged that he was to bc
appointed n lieutenant in one of the
companies of the One Hundred and
Fourth regiment, then forming, with
headquarters at Camp Massillon. His
credentials were duly made ont and
forwarded 10 the colonel Of the Seventh
regiment, then in the field, with in
structions 10 send Wright 10 join the
new regiment in Ohio. The papers
reached the regiment the day before
the battle of Cedar Mountain. Wright
was sent for informed by the com
manding officer that his commission
had been received, and he could go inn
mediately TO Ohio.
Dan replied: Il am glad 10 receive
this appointment, and / viii try TO fill
the place acceptably, but l hope, sir,
you viii permit me TO remain here
few days. We are probably on the eve
of an engagement, and / shall be bet
ter satisfied TO stay with the boys till
the fight is over. 1t wouldn't be manly
to go away now"
The request was granted. The next
day occurred one of the bloody battles
of the war. In the heat of the CON
test the Seventh regiment was hotly
engaged and suffered from a tremen-
dous fire of the enemy.
Dan Wright was wounded by shot
in the face. Capt. Reed said TO him:
You are badly hurt; better go TO the
rear"
Dan answered: at is not so bad, cap
tain. / can still use my musket."
Hardly had the words been uttered,
when another ball came and buried It
self in his brain. He fell dead on the
field.
The battle still waged with terrible
fury, and when the day was over the
ground occupied by the union army in
the morning, with its bloody burden of
union dead, was occupied by the con-
federate forces. Dan Wright's life was
over. His prophecy was fulfilled.
day or two later the daily papers
announced the fact that in the battle
of Cedar Mountain the union loss was
fifteen hundred killed, wounded and
missing. a little later the list of dead
was given, and in the list was the name
of Dan Wright. It was only one life
gone ont, and TO the great world at
large little notice was taken of il. But
uD in the good old town Of Freedom,
where Dams people lived, the news was
received with sad interest. Men and
women talked in low and tender words
about the lad who had grown up in
their midst, AID who now slept his
last sleep on the field of battle. OF
course, his body was not recovered,
and they could never give il the rites
of burial, and they could have no
funeral in the ordinary acceptation of
the term. But they determined TO have
funeral services, and so on one Sunday
afternoon the church bell was rung,
and people from far and near gathered
al the church.
was not a preacher, but they asked
me TO speak for them, and consented
The gray-haired and venerable pastor
| was there. and made a prayer full of
| j /
Dan Wright's character and life, his
services as a soldier, his bloody and
| heroic death, and the cause Of the
union in and for which he died, fur
nished a grand theme. 1t was text
| enough for good many sermons.
This was only one life among the
many, and the blood that trickled from
his diving wounds went to make up the
in ipC 1Trlfa
bore red contributions from a million
| homes.
Here. in the ordinary course of things,
| my little story should draw TO close.
| But while have my pen in hand,
wish TO record further incident con
nected with Dan Wright. Fifteen years
after the close Of the war a letter was
received one day by the family of Dan
! Wright. ! don't remember 10 whom II
was directed. 1t was postmarked
| Charleston, :. c. When opened IL was
found TO be written by person OF
whom they had never heard. 1t stated
| in substance that the writer was, IN
| 1862. a soldier in the confederate army
| under Jackson; that he was al the bat
tie of Cedar Mountain, and when the
contest was over he and some Of hls
4 comrades were detailed 10 bury Tho
dead; that among the union soldiers
who had fallen on the field was young
man of dark complexion and somewhat
striking appearance, and when they
came to move him they found on hi'
| person a pocket Testament, diary anC
two or three letters. The soldier tool
these and had ever since retained
| possession of them, and after ;
| perusal of the contents of tn,
diary he had determined il possibl,
TO send them TO the friends of the de
ceased. From the papers found h'
had learned that the name of the der>
soldier was Wright, and that he be
longed To an Ohio regiment. He haC
written to various points, but so IA
without avail. The family were salts
fed from the letter that the Bible ant
| papers belonged 20 Daniel and an
swered the letter at once. In a few
days a package came by express from
Charleston. 1t contained the Testa
mcnt, the diary and the letters. Th
diary was daily memorandum or rec
ord of events, and the last lines wer'
/ written on the morning of the battle
The leaves and the writing were wei
| preserved, but the cover Of the littl
book was stained with blood. -Alphon
so Hart in Washington Post.
Women I'm the Water.
Women, as a rule, float very poorly
though there are few brilliant eXceI
tions. They lack confidence, and q
II. l..