The National tribune., 1895-06-27
IAN actual occurrence near Little Rock, Ark.)


IAN actual occurrence near Little Rock, Ark.)
Once in the gheslly gloom that shrouds black
night.
While all alone upon my sentry beat,
My duty there to guard our armys right
While my tired comrades found repose in sleep
The thoughts that all unbidden haunt my brain
With grim persstency beyond belief.
Crowd fast upon me. fraught with mental pain,
Till am longing for the third relief.
Just yondcr near that shapely bolIytree,
And tall magnolia rearing its proud head
Above its neighbors. last night. Will Lee,
While walking the same beat. was stricken dead
Shot by a skulking foenian. Would his fate
Be mine ere morning? Ugh the very thought
Sends the cold chiI!s through every vein. What
hate
Must nervo the heart this foul deed wrought.
How had he managed all unheard to gain
A safe position, wheuce to speed the shot
On deadly mission. crashing through Lees brain.
without warning, dead, upon this spot?
Had he warning? What. then. and II l.
With all these surging thoughts within this
Am doomed 10 share bis fate-like him TO die
The victim of an unseen yengcful power.
who of my comrades. should this come TO pass.
When looking down upon my upturned face.
viii dream what terrors now my soul harass,
Or on my features their weird outlines trace?
Oh, death, thou silent niyaiery, all in vain
We seek thy awful vail TO penetrate:
Whether thou lead us hence, to joy or pain,
Why do ali living thy dread presence hate?
Helpless we stand upon this mortal shore.
While thou, o silent ferryman, swift ply
- 4, fbaa,. NOR
Return to greet our anxious troubled eye;
nd yes. reluctant though we be to go
With thee on this last voyage, none e'er refuse
Thy silent summons; needless Of the woe
OF last farewols helpless, we cannot choose.
n we but knew; perchance II Is as we'll
We know not; least knowing. NIL mankind
In this unfricndIy world refuse to dwell,
Where e EN- the wisest do but go it blind.
All well. some day we'll know. What's that?
Who's there Speak. or I'll fire. Great Scotti
There's soineore sneakng there. see his hat
The numbering villain. Halt! Bang God
he's shot.
Why Am I trembling so? He sought my life.
rvetaken his 'Tis but wars cruel fate.
Oh, how lie struggles there alone. Damned strife
That sends men seeking brothers lives in hate.
/ do not hate lhm Hate2 know him not.
He may be one of carth's most gifted sons;
And now he's dying there by my hand shot.
Confound the fend who first invented guns
Here's Corporal van and almost out of BREATH
Why did shoot? Right over there
Was creeping me; twice halted. and his death.
II he be dead is but the fate of war. Say, Van.
Let's 90 and see him; lie may not be dead,
But only faintng; how he tore the brush
in his first agony; yes, saw his head,
And fred in time to stop his savage rush.
"a gainst the orders to pass out the lines.
From sun to sun" Well, Corporal, I'll swear,
III rather charge. and risk the deadly mines.
Than walk this beat, knowing what lies out
there.
"Third relief coming" Well, thank God. I'm
glad.
Morning is near. Say. Corporal, never mind
Telling the sentinel; twill but make him sad,
For by his face know his heart Is kind.
So passed that night. Tell you. comrades, true,
never passed another half so dreary;
And when the sun rose in the azure blue
With strife OF soul my very bones were weary.
With Van went 10 where my foe lay dead.
Comrades, let me cntreat you do not laugh;
The murderous foe I'd shot straight through the
head,
Lay dead before us. poor. yearllng calf.