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


firing, and the ncws came that the
Confederates were driven back.
OH how much that meant to us all.
for through all that morning the boats
had their full head of steam on, so
that If the army was driven to the river
as many as possible could escape by
that means.
Now aud then would see n surgeon
dressing some of the worst wounds.
In every case they would pause long
enough TO say:
Thank you, lady, that is just what
they want, ! see you carry water, too.
Dronch the wounds with that" |
soon found myself DIRE ssing the wounds.
My clothing was wet and muddy to my
knees, but did not see it. | had not
eaten mouthful of food since the
night before, but | did not know IL.
/ was entirely unconscious of wcarincss
and human needs.
IL was about 10 o'clock at night
when some one asked:
Did you have support" This little
question called me to the conscious.
ness of my condition.
"No," I answered. 81 have not had
mouthful to eat since yesterday even.
ing"
A surgeon operating near by looked
at me earnestly, and then said with n
voice of authority:
MADAM, stop work Immediately.
We will have you on our hands next"
was cutting fragment of blue
blouse away from the arm of II wound
cd young soldier. continued my
work till the bits of the blouse were
gotten out as far as could see, then
laid on wet compress.
"Ohl thank you" he said, Will
grateful tears in his eyes.
/ went back to the cabin of the hos.
pital boat and had my supper After
changing NV clothing | sat down on a
divan, feeling almost too weak and
exhausted to STIR. A chaplain came on
tho boat inquiring for me. When he
met me he seized my hand and began
to below. When | saw him knew
that he was crazy. The officers of the
boat ran back to see what was the
matter, and somehow the surgeon in
charge managed to get him into o
state room and lock him in and place
guards at the door, and the next day
he was sent up with other patients to
st. Louis on that boat.
Early She next morning was trans.
ferred with the little baggage / had &c
another boat set aside for hospital
workers. My fine dress which | had
worn for the first time was wet AMI
muddy and pitched in into the river
DR.. Turner was placed in charge OF
the boat, and DIR. Grinstead was his
attendant.
The Confederates had retreated
toward Corinth, Miss, but there was
still firing to be heard in the distance
Early in the day went up the steep
bank and out on the battlefield. The
wounded had been gathered up rs far
as | could see, but many of the dead
were lying where they fell.
Not far from the landing there were
some tents. In one of these tents a son
of Sam Houston, of Texas, lay on the
ground with others, the gray and the
blue lying together. Young Houston
was severely wounded in the thigh.
saw him many times afterwards, the
last time prisoner at Camp Douglass
near Chicago.
went toward house on the right
but before | reached it | saw men
coming, carrying a wounded man.
They had made seat by clasping
their hands, and his arms were thrown
about their nccks. went forward to
meet them.
"Oh, set me down by that tree. / can
60 no further" he cried
They carried him as tenderly as they
could, aud placed him between the
great roots ofa very large tree. His
breast was bare and the blood was
slowly oozing out of wound in hi;
lungs.
II am dying" he said. "Can't some
body prayl" Both men were weeping,
# he was not brother he was a
friend. / answered promptly:
~ can pray" knelt there on the
damp ground, and taking one of his
hands in my own, / asked in simple
words the Heavenly Father to forgive
and bless He responded to each petit
ton. | kept on praying till he said
"The way is light now. do not fear
There was little gasp, a shiver,and
all was still. AS knelt there closed
his eyes and said
"Ho is dead"
"Yes," they answered with sob.
"He is dead and this is all we can
do. We will report the case and have
his grave marked" And we turned
away and left him there.
An hour afterwards / returned that
way. 1t was a most impressive sight tc
see dead man sitting there 50 calmly
and peacefully, with eyes closed. When
Ipassed that way again they had TAX
en- him away.
The country can never pay those
who went out and heroically defended
the flag. Such scenes as these bring
| gray hairs before their time to those