The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-08-17

kgTNKA passage TO Pitts
VDlgEVM burg Landing
Ws&Ss.f8a from Cairo, ILL.,,
G3yvsMsj reached Savan-
- 13NMi g. nah, eight miles
IN ! eEyWS below IL, about
W. wMlyJ o'clock. There We
sMs6IYy - N)heard the news of
kth' tiENYl :. the terrible battle
ik,AAlz- (bIM0ES& that had been
-. %ENSa ST'gN fought the day
- HTJs -S- before.
lsyss,--S- u3sc5SilssS - We were soon
- <s'tssesao <t.as', out of our berths
- TsSa>and on the out
look. The boat, with u full head of
steam, made all possible speed to reach
Pittsburg Landing. Two gunboats
lay out in the stream, sending shot and
shell over the heads of the Union Army
In the Confederate ranks. AS the boat
steamed up to the Landing, where al
ready great fleet of steamers was ly"
ing, the shells went screaming over
our heads with deafening fury. All
was in seeming confusion at the
Landing The roadways, dug out o
the steep bank, were insufficient for
such an emergency. In the hard fight
on the day before II vast amount of am
munition had been used, and the
officers all well knew that with tine
dawn of the coming day the battle
would be renewed with desperate fury.
Every tcamster was, therefore, doing
his utmost to get ammunition and pro-
visions to the front. They would
bring their mules to the steep, rondless
bank, that stood at an angle of forty
five degrees, and while the driver held
the lines with strong, steady hand,
and set his boot heels so as to keep
standing position as he ploughed his
way to the bottom, his mules put their
little front feet down, settled them
selves on their launches, on which tho
wagon rested, and skected to the bot
tom with the driver. II was a wild
sight. Each teamster had an assistant
who held torch made of pine. Hun
dreds of torches lighted up the black
night. There was clamor that can
not be described in the loading up and
n steady stream of loaded wagons go
ing up the hill by the regular road
ways.
As soon as the first rays of the morn
ing light made objects distinct, the fir
ing began.
Both armies had rested, face to face,
on their arms, and hnsty breakfast
had been snstched of what they could
get before daylight, for all well knew
that bloody day was before them.
Our hospital boat was lying along
side of other steamers.
We could hear the heavy guns, the
screaming of the Shells the thunders of
The battle going on near by. AS the
light increased we shivered to see the
wounded lying on bags Of grain and
out on the guards, and the dead who
had been carried from the boats, lying,
manglcd and bloody, along the shore
of the river. At first we could only
cover our faces with our hands in /
shivcr and chill of agony, in the at
tempt to hide the horrid sights of war
from our eyes.
But as we stood there feeble hand
was lifted, and feeble voice called
out:
"Say, lady! Can't you bring me a
drink of watcrl"
Immediately hundred hands were
lifted. We could scarcely see them in
the faint light OF the early morning,
but we could hear tho voices.
"Bring me some water"
Bring me something to eat"
called out cheerily:
"Yes, yes, we'll help you all we
can"
1t was great relief to have some.
thing to do. We went with gladness
to our work. was the pioneer and
went right on to the boat lying near
est.
The surgeon in charge of our boat
had gone off to the field. There was
no one in authority left on tho boat,
and we took possession.
had several boxes of canned oys-
ters and three or four barrels Of crack.
ers, but we soon exhausted these; then
we began on the beef in the storcroom.
Barrels of soup were made and distri.
buted. The other two ladies made the
soup and / distributed II from boat To
boat and from one to another. oh,
the sights vnd scenes l witnessed that
day!
AS was carrying a bucket of soup
across gang-plank, mn officer met me.
He came bounding forward, with his
sword clanking by his side.
"Madam!" he said; "what are you
doing9"
Twas startled nearly out of my wits,
but managed to say:
~ am carrying soup to the wound
cd"
"Why, you ought not to do that.
Sec here, soldier, you carry soup for
this woman"
The soldier sprang forward and took
the bucket ofsoup from my hand, and
the officer went on. never knew who
he was If this falls under his ewes 7