Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-06-03

His voice was so sweet and soft and
gentle that wo would rather have him
sing than not
1t was evident to everyone by the
eager look OF the unknown patient
that he greatly enjoyed the young
sters free vocal concerts. which
showed the boy to command quite an
extensive repertoire of love and
patriotic songs his favorite apparent
ly being the martial tune OF
We are coming, Father Abraham,
Three hundred thousand strong.
Whenever he would sing this our
silent comrade would gently beat the
measure with his uninjured hand upon
the counterpane and his eyes would
oh! how they would speak, But he
was visibly becoming weaker from
day to day.
On the occasion of President Lin
coins visit to Richmond Immediately
after its surrender he came to see us
also. i think it was on April 8. He
shook hands with us all and addressed
to US few friendly words exhorting
us 10 bear our sufferings patiently;
that now the beginning of the end had
come; that the good cause for which
we had bled was triumphant
When he touched our unknown's
hand and said a few kindly words to
him especially Che must have realized
his pitiable condition and intense
pain) two great crystal drops started
from the sufferers eyes and fell slowly
down his poor mutilated face.
Shall describe to you the terrible
anguish the deep sorrow. the wailings
and lamentations that were felt and
uttered In the great canvas camp OF
City Point on the morning OF the 18th
OF April. 1862 AS if a great catas.
trophe had come upon each root each
tent; as ii death blow had been dealt
to each particular heart thus did we
feel we boys in blue. Old veterans
would grasp each others hand In
mournful silence and with the other
wipe the copious tears that would not
be repressed.
There were no songs in our tent
on that day! Silent goings and COM
| ings only Of those who could walk or
hobble on crutches in search OF the
latest news. But fearful was the
anguish. the agony depicted upon the
features of our silent sufferer "He
is sinking fast" said the surgeon
| privately to our nurse.
Thus came the night | do not
think that many slept. The loss OF
the Nation was felt keenly by each OF
its defenders. Yet silence deep and
unbroken pervaded the whole tent
which was dimly lighted by a night.
lamp.
Towards midnight somebody came
to the door and requested the nurse
to go If he could be spared for few
moments, to tent nearby, where a
patient had been suddenly taken with
violent spasms. Before the nurse
went out he stepped to tho bed of the
unknown and bent over him. lie
found him breathing feebly, appar.
entity asleep.
About half an hour later we were
all startled by an occurance as strange.
as incomprehensible. as it was unex
pected. The sound of voice hat
startled us All our eyes were turned
in the same direction. We're we al
the victims OF magic spellP Could
| | men be at the same moment under
the same influence Of optical and
aureal delusionP No! 1t was fact
"a most astounding fact Upon the
bed sat bolt upright the bearded sui
fereT and from the lacerated cavity O
his mouth. wide open now. came fortl
in weak. yet distinct and musical
voice the we'll known words and mol
ody:
l am coming. Father Abra-
Hero it broke forth with sudder
snap as it were. OF the last string
There was a gurgling sound, u drop
ping OF the lower jaw and our un
known with the speaking eyes fel
back upon his pillow-dead
He had joined the 800 900 gone be
fore. National Tribune