The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-01-26
He PULLED THROUGH.
atket Episode of Dying Soldier
Whose Love Brought Him Back to
Life and Happiness.


Life and Happiness.
About the saddest thing ever en-
countered was pathetic little Incl
dent on the battlefield after the siege
of Atlanta. says = correspondent of
the St. Louis Gi0Je-DcmUcrut 1t was
night, and l had been ordered to 90
out and work on a easement near the
enemy's lines. They knew we were
there, for they kept up q continuous
ping, ping, ping of mimic balls, now
and then varying the amusement by
sending hot ten-pounder. scorching
the ground and playing havoc with
the bushes unpleasantly close to our
ears. As | was running about, sud-
denly 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 FASTENED in the direction he
indicated and soon found the poor fell
low. He was being propped up by q
corporal, but by the way he acted snd
talked knew he was settled for.
They've got me this time, captain, ="
he said slowly, the blood choking him
as he spoke.
He had been wounded a couple of
times before, and was brave man
and a good one, too. | said what |
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 a
matter of a few days any how.
Il want YOU to do me a favor, cap
tain" be said, the death sweat on his
forehead shining like beads in the fit
full CLEAN of a candle we had lighted.
"Of course I'll do it, my boy" | said.
There's my knapsack and canteen;"
he choked pitit1lly, 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 |
died thinking of them; and-and and
there's another matter, another"
Here stream of blood gushed from
his lips, and his eyes took on q look of
horror that almost frightened me.
"Another matter" he gasped, "an-
other matter Reach down in my
blouse and get picture that is there T"
| did as directed, and saw in the faint
light that the card bore the face of a
Young woman. "It's-it's the girl |
was going to marry sobbed the dy-
ing man. Tell her that-that l died
with my lips on hers. Put the picture
to my lips, captain, that may-may
kiss it,"
He kissed the senseless cardboard
over and over again, and though |
turned my face reverently away
caught Il glimpse Of the lovelit eyes
that told his devotion. As he caressed
the likeness for the last time the am
bulancc drove up and he was tenderly
loaded in for the hospital, where his
last moments might be at any rate a
little less painful than on the rough
rockstrewn battle ground.
The first chance | got [ sc1t that
knapsack and that sweet face to the
ones who loved the soldier. That isn't
all of the story. In October, if | rec
ollect Alright, Just before the battle of
Altoona. and after Gen. Hood swung
round to Grants rear. was riding
along q very dusty road with my COM
pany. Suddenly saw 4 spectacle be-
fore 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 sol
der His head was baudaged up, and
when he spoke his voice was much i'm
peded.
I've got a furlouoh. he said, trying
! to grin gOod-naturediy, but failing be-
cause of the baudagcs round his face.
I've got furlough and I'm going