The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-02-07

serve any reputation for courage any
way. 1t is pride with them, not bravery.
They would dodge if they could, but
they are afraid. With whole company
of men behind you and watching you,
every movement an officer has to stand
up and be man | was always an Off
Ger and was a colonel before was "a,
but had lost my leg meanwhile.
"The most touching incident of the
war feeling under my observation was
very simple one, continued General
Henderson. at WAS not Il great drama,
not il stirring charge on act Of exalted
heroism, and yet one of those little
touches Of human nature, one Of those
glimpSes into the love of human hearts
that are us rare as they are beautiful.
In the charge at Donelson | was knock
ed over with a broken jaw, and carried
off to the field hospital 1t appeared
that they classified the wounded accord
ing to the nature Of their hurts. All
who had been wounded i'll the body
We're placed III one tent, those hit in the
legs in another and those struck in the
head in a third In the tent 10 which
they carried me all the patients were
suffering injuries i'll the head. As look
ed about / saw that one of my fellow
patients was IL mere boy Of l6 or II.
Though the lower part of his face was
bandaged and the blood was soaking
through, his eyes and forehead were Wis
ible. They We're such blue eyes, the
forehead was SO white and smooth, thai
half suspected the poor sufferer was
girl The tent was as silent as n grave.
Plenty of the sufferers We're III agony,
but not moan was heard There was
not a man in the lot who could speak,
and the attendant had stepped ont for a
few moments, when the tent flap was
thrown back, and heard yonng voice.
choking with emotion:
" Charley Charley! Are you in
here, Clsrley? Where are you?'
"Therc was no reply. The inquirer
seemed to overlook the fact that none of
us could speak. &c repeated his inquiry,
ard receiving no reply was about to
turn away when | happened to glance
at the poor boy Of whom l have spoken.
| Will never forget the expression in that
part of his face which l could see. 1t
was mingled JOY and agony. | thought
j could see recognition i'll his eyes as he
glanced toward the tent door. He made
conyulsive efforts to speak which l
knew cost him terrible pains and started
the blood surging through his bandages
1t all flashed upon me. Here were two
brothers, one terribly wounded, the 9TH
er looking for him, but in danger of
missing him on account of the mute re-
spouse. Then it was | summoned my
strength for one of the greatest efforts
of my life managed to make inst noise
enough to attract the attention of the
young man, who had closed the tent
flap and started away He returned and
eagerly asked:
WHO spoke? Iheard a voice Where
was it?'
II managed to attract his attention in |
my direction and then looked toward the
cot of the boy soldier. His eyes follow
e1 mine, and III a few seconds he lcaped |
forward with cry which will ring in
my ears to my dying day:
Charley! Charley! Ny little broth
err
HE plac his head beside that of the
poor sufferer He fondled the blue eyed
boy with all the tenderness of a loving
woman. When he lifted his face, saw
that his cheek was covered with his
brothers blood
"'Oh, my poor little brother! My
brave little brothcrn he exclaimed.
Why did you not heed our mother IS
prayers and stay at home? Why did you
not stay with her instead of running
away to the war after me?'
"There was no response to this child
Ing of love, none except look from the
blue eyes into his brothers. One soldier
appeared to understand. The soul of one
young patier6 looked into that of anoth-
sr.
g understand it. Charley. under
,tani, he said tenderly. you felt YOU
mus como TO the front and fight too.
You wanted to help save the country.
You were nhappy at nome while I was
,ere Bless you, my brave boy'