The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-12-14
SOLDIERS SWEETHEART,
A Story Of the First Days Fight at Shiloh.

A Story Of the First Days Fight at Shiloh.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
1T was after the first days fight at
Shiloh" said the old veteran to a
group of his comrades at the annual
campfire, as he'lighted his pipe. "Ill
never forget it. There was a member
of our company named John Hawkins.
He was country boy and had left
the farm to join In the defense of his
country. And, talking about brave
men, why that fellow wasn't afraid of
anything. He was tall, robust, al
most giant in build. And he was
the life of the company. He always
had a pleasant word for every one,
and when we were gathered around our
campfire at night he used to keep us
all in good hum0r with his jokes
and stories. And when any of us
were feeling blue because we had not
received word from home in the last
mail he was the first one to speak
words of comfort and encouragement.
He got letters pretty regular, consid-
ering the facilities for mail in those
days, and under the circumstances OF
war.
'lle was always particularly happy
after he got letter, and we boys soon
began to think he had a sweetheart at
home.
SIT was not long until we found
that was the fact, for after the letters
had been distributed one day severa
of the boys caught'John standing of
to himself looking at small picture
He pressed 1t to his lips several times
That night in the camp one Of The
boys twittcd him about being spooned
and reckoned he'd want a furlougl
pretty soon to 60 home to his sweet
heart. John took the joke pleasant
ly, and then told us he had left a cir
behind him who was the best girl tina
ever lived. And, of course, he salt
lots of nice things about her, such a.
men will who are In love deeply a
John seemed to be. | remember h
said she had urged him to enlist, ant
told him she would not love him hal
as much if he did not 20 to the from
and help put down the rebellion
John was proud of that girl becaus
she had expressed her loyalty in tina
way.
"After that John was merrier tina
ever, and was always ready to do an!
thing, no matter what, or how hai
ardous. He seemed to want to hay
the rebellion put down as soon as po
slble, so he could get back to h
sweetheart.
"The day before the first days fgh
at Shiloh John got letter. lie wa
quieter that night. Indeed we a
felt little subdued, for we did nc
know what was coming the next day
When we got into the fight job
seemed to have become a perfec
demon. He exposed himself at til
most dangerous places, checred tn
boys on and urged them forward int
the fight and acted like he wanted t
be killed. The smoke of battle be
came so thick we could hardly see eacl
other, and in the roar of cannon ant
musketry and the general confusion
incident to the fight and the tina
retreat made it necessary for eacl
man to look out for himself. We boy
who had been close to John forgot
him in the confusion. When ou
company had been gathered together
after the battle John was missing
We wondered il he had been killed
and we each expressed sorrow on OuI
own account and pity for the sweet
heart at home. That night was OF
the detail from my company to go ou,
and bury the dead and help pick VI
the wounded.
"As said before, l will never for
get It., We came across Johns body
lying at full length on the back, biz
face turned up to heaven, an expires
sion upon it demon-like in its fierce
ness. opened his blouse and shirt
to see where he had been shot. Tn,
ball had entered his left breast ant
must have passed through the heart
causing instant death. And over thu
wound lay a letter and the picture o
Johns sweetheart. He had pinned
them to the inside of his blouse.
opened the letter and read II. 1t wa
signed by his brother VIII. Ii
it / found this sentence Jennie
your old sweetheart, married las
night. She says you went back OF
her. Did you p"
Some curious objects have been un
earthed from Etruscan tOmbs, the us
of which for a long time was cOpie(