The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-12-07
A Pathetic War Episode.

About the saddeat thing l ever encoun.
tered vas a pathetic little incident on
the battlefield after the siege of Atlanta.
It was night, and I had been ordered to
go out and work on easement near the
enemy's lines. They knew we we're there
for they kept up continuous ping, ping,
ping OF minnie balls, now and then vary.
ing the amusement by sending hot 10.
FOUNDER, scorching the ground and play.
iug havoc with the bushes uupleasantly
close to our ears. As I was running
about suddenly one of our boys rushed
up and said, "There's dying man wants
to see you, Captain. You'd better come
quick, for he's got hole through his
head" I hastened in the direction he
indicated, and soon found the poor fel.
low. He was being propped up by a
corporal, but by the way he acted and
talked knew he was settled for.
They've got me this time, Captain" /"
he said slowly, the blood choking him as
be spoke.
He'd been wounded a couple of times
before, and was a brave man and good
one, too. I said what I could in the line
of sympathy. telling him that it was the
fate of war, and that all his old comrades
would follow him sooner or later. 1t was
only matter of a few days, anyhow.
~ want you 10 do me favor, Cap
tain," he said, the death sweat on his
forehead shining like beads in the ftful
gleem of q candle we had lighted.
"Of course I'll do it, my boy" said.
"There's my knapsack and canteen !"
hs choked pitifully, "take them or send
them to my poor old father and mother
up in Vermont. Tell 'em that their only
son died like a soldier on the field OF
battle. Tell them that I died thinking
of them and-and-and there's another
matter, another -"
Here a stream of blood gushed from
his lips, and his eyes took on look OF
horror that almost frighted me.
"Another matter" he gasped, another
matter. Reach down in my blouse and
get picture that is there" I did as
directed, and ssw in the faint light that
the card bore the face of a young woman.
"It's-it's the girl I was going to marry p
sobbed the dying man. Tell her that
that L died with my lips on hers! Put
the picture on my lips, Captain, that l
may-msy kiss it!''
He kissed the senseless cardboard over
and over again, and though 1 turned my
face reverently away caught glimpse
Of the love.lit eyes that told his devotion.
AS he caressed the likeness for the last
time the ambulance drove up and he vas
tenderly loaded in for the hospital, where
his last moments might be at any rate 8
less painful than on the rough rock
strewn battle ground.
The first chance got l sent that knap
sack and that sweet face to the ones who
loved the soldier. That isn't all of the
story. In October, If / recollect Alright
just before the battle of Altoona, and
after Gen. Hood swung round to Grants
rear, I was riding along very dusty road
with my company. Suddenly 1 saw 6
spectacle before me that nearly knocked
me off my horse. There, in the middle
of the road with his arms wildly waving
toward me, was that same dying soldier
His head VAS bandsged up, and when ht
spoke his voice was much impeded.
GIVE got furlough," he said, trying
to grin good naturedly, but failing be-
cause of the bandages round his face
give got furlough and I'm going home
to marry tha, girl" And be did.