The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-11-08
Ghelrmurraf-S Star
A SAD WAR REMINIscENcE


----
While all eyes are turned to tbo
battlefield OF Chickamauga, whero
monuments of eloquence and martha
are being raised to perpetuate tho
memories Of both armies, 1t will M,
be out OF place to recitc some Of tbs
SORROWS and hardships of those VIII,
were not 10 The army, but whose sac.
ritices werdA great as the soldier,nc
of the natl rs,
While in Yazoo county some dave
ago | met an old Irish comradc, now
a prosperous farmer real Andiny. VIII,
loves to recount the many pleasure.
OF camp life, and sometimes busy
memory leads him to speak of the sor.
rows Of war. His sympathetic nature
coupled with his broad Irish brop,o
and his low, but distinct voice, mazda
the recital of an incidcn: of the late
war much more impressive than | can
p"luU WIN MY weak pen.
This is the story as told me. A dav
or so after the surrender Of Lee n,
Appomattox court house and Lcfore
the news had reached Il company Of
cavalrymen to which he was attached
which was scouting in the bcautirul
valley Of Shenandoah, where both
armies had marched and counter
marched till everything was DESTROYED
OF the once prosperous people who lived
in this picturesque county. The com.
panies were forced to scatter ou,.
three or four at a place, to get break.
fast and something for their tired
horses. My friend with three Others
went to a house and asked to yet
somctlng to cat. The house was in.
liabited by an old man 70 years of age
and his three daughters. The old
man sat at a window that looked out
to the road. Some 800 or 400 Yards
distance the three ladies busted them.
selves in getting breakfast of corn
bread and meal coffee for their com.
pany.
The soldiers sat on the gallery wait.
ing for their meals, when there an.
pcared coming up the lane a cavalry.
man leading a horse with saddle and
bride on, and n bundle of clothes
strapped to the saddle. AS he came
to the gate he opened it and rode to.
ward the door OF the house. The old
man looked at him as he rode slowly
toward the gallery and then rased up,
shaded his eyes with his hands and
fell back into the chair with Il loud
groan. "My God! My last son kin.
ed " The ladies in The adjoining room
preparing breakfast, hurried TO hs
side, but when their eyes fell upon the
cavalry horse led by the cavalryman,
they, with a mournful scream, rushed
out and threw their arms around the
horses neck, kissed his name and
weeping as il their hearts would break
saying, "Oh, our last brother is
gone"
The c~arTfSSman was so affected by
the scream, lie said not a word, bit
sat with bowed head on his horse.
The soldiers arose, and without speak.
ing mounted their tired and nnfed
Stecds, riding off, hut at the gate took
a look back, saw the old man with his
head bowed in his hands, the three
ladies %clinging to the old cavalry horse
and soldier sitting motionlcss on his
horse, having not spoken Il word, nor
could he speak.
The last son, the beloved youngest
brother, had fallen in tho last Skin.
mish in the beautiful Shenandoah val.
ley.
AS my friend told me the story his
eagle eye that so often had sighted
the musket at what he supposed an
enemy of his country. glist c1cd with
tears, and rising, took my hand and
said, Good bye, c.. Come and
see me when you are in Yazoo."