Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-09-27


hunger and cold, sadness a nd DESPAIR overcome,
him. but he must quickly ''arise from the fct--
ts;rs that bind him and shake on the mantle Of
grief because IL il his duty, 1t is his very ex-
istence to look on the bright side of life. Thou
sands OF soldiers died prematurely by nS: OH
serving this rule. Who OF my comrades re-
members the night upon tile foot of Massanut-
ten mountain. when the rain came down I'm tor
rents the live long night. and we with not the
slightest protection. somewhat like boys who
whistle 20 keep their courage up. hallooed and
yelled from night until morn without closing
our eycs1 Again. ON : long and wearisome
march as the sun was sinking low I'm the west
ern sky, and the hour for supper was fast APP
preaching, when the most of our minds were
already turned In that direction men too tired
TO talk, halloo oT sing, nothing heard but the
tramp. tramp Of feet, when some comrade, 20
make himself interesting. would say, "Boys,
suppose we could walk In just about now nc
Mr. As; IL Is about supper time; wouldn't we
get a nice suppcrT" IL was a most interesting
subject about then and everyone within the
sound OF his voice would be on the alert not to
miss q word. Says he, See that smoking cof-
fee pct-thOse hot Maryland biscuts-those
smoked sausagcs-those stewed oysters. See
those chairs at the table - And for n few mo-
mcntg we felt II we were about TO occupy
one. In imagination we were back In our old
homes about to partake ofa home supper. What
| an agreeable vision for an old soldier! II made
us forget the ills that were upon Us and put
| elasticity in our tired legs. Amid all the
hardships of army life none bore them with
| more fortitude than young Hayden. Amid its
| joys and pleasures he forgot not the end Of his
creation. The hnpplest time Of his camp-life
| seemingly was TO see Father Bixeo ride into
/ camp on his sorrel In his ninety mile circuit
| frofn Stanton 10 Winchester
| On June 18th the battle of Winchester took
place. in which we captured almost the entire
command of Milroy, about 600 or 700. the
| battalion entering the battle afoot, but com.
/ ing out oE horseback.
General Lee was now on his way TO Mary.
| land and Pennsylvania Our battalion was at
| tachcd to George III. Stewards Brigade, Edwd
| s. Johnson's Division, Ewell's Corps. The
army tarried not long after the victory. Lee
FASTENED 10 the Potomac, crossed Il, and en-
camped for q few days upon the old battle
ground of Antietam, the Maryland soldiers
feeling glorious as they troll the soil of their
! native State. Then pushing on across Mason
and Dixon's line, where we were truly in the en-
my's country, taking the road through Green.
| castle. Chambersburg and ShTpensburg, Stew
| arts Brigade making a considerable detour 20
the west as far as McConnelsburg. joining the
balance Of the command on the road TO Car.
Isle, near which city We received orders to
counter-march, requesting through Chambers
burg, taking the road to- Gettysburg. As we
reached the top of the mountain we saw afar
OF the smoke of battle and heard the roar of
the guns dealing death and destruction, arriv-
a
just as A. =. Hin had won the first days fight,
driving the enemy back to the hills east of the
| town. Our corps was marched into the city
and rested for awhile. We had marched TWEEN
| ty-six miles, "a mountain TO climb, under the
| broiling sum of a July day. Marching out ia
the north of the town we were placed in posi-
| ton. About II o'clock we lay down-for many
to take our last sleep-to dream of death and
destruction on tomorrow. Tomorrow came
and one of the greatest conflicts of modern
| times is being waged for the possession OF
Culp's and Cemetery hills. Our command is in
front of Culp's hill. To reach IT, we have tC
ford "A rivulet waist deep, The bullets flying as
/ thick as hail. We climbed the hill through oh.
structiOns of every kind. We reached the tor
| in the darkness, which, with rOir of the guns
| the cries of the wounded and tho yelling Of the
soldiers, made IL more than hideOus. We hav.
| the top, but we cannot hold 1t. We fall back
| to the foot, after having lost many Of our com.
rades. But young Hayden Is here, as he nj.
ways has been, mt his post OF duty. He takes
/ his last sleep on earth upon the hanks of Rock
Creek. Tomorrow morn he is awakened by
a most furious onslaught of grape, canister
/ shot and shell. The command is formed for
another charge. They charge, but the hill ID
not ours. They are compelled to fall back tC
| the foot again.
| My young friend is last seen upon his lSnocs
on the top of the hill between the two lines OF
| battle, apparently wounded. His position was
almost death to any living creature. His SOU
| took its flight To its Maker, in company with
| hundreds Of others from Culp's hill, sounded
| by requiem of the greatest Cannouade OF
| modern times. His family heard not of his
| death for weeks afterwards, consequently hi:
body was never recovered. Who can measure
| the love and anxiety of u mother for her sol
der boy? When the sad news finally reached
| his home the grief of the devoted mother, TN,
fond father, the loving sisters and brother.
| was too great To depict here, lc,Sscned, how
ever, by the thought that he died for the caus,
he loved and in friendship with has Maker. on
AN imaginary stone, upon Culp's hill, I see th'
following inscription:
Somewhere upon this hill lies the body OF
JOHN ALEXANDER HAYDEN.
Born Nov. end, 1871,
| Killed July Bird. 1853.
Fighting foe his Country,
But loving his God.