The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-06-25
SAVED A COMRADES LIFE
DIR. II. II. Stevenson Has the Satisfaction of
Having Done q Noble Deed.

DIR. II. r. Stevenson Has the Satisfaction OF
Having Done Noble Deed.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Herewith
| l send you two letters addressed to me by
two members of the 10th Ohio / was Sur
geon to the 22d KY, which was brigaded
with the 10th and 42d Ohio and 54ti Ind.
After the surrender Of yicksburg and the
| abandonment Of Jackson, the brigade was
detached from the Army of the Tennessee
and ordered to the Department of the Gulf,
then under command of Gen. N z. Banks.
Early in October, 1863, Gen. Banks's forces
started up the Teche. Il will leave it for the
letters addressed to me to detail the events
as they happened Comrade w. ii. Leidleigh
gives correct statement of the affair as
remember it. / know that / surrendered
my horse to him, and that / walked into
camp, some four or FIVE miles. / thought /
was only doing an ordinary act of humanity
and of duty to a conrade. The transaction
brings TO view the bond of union between
soldiers, the patriotic love of liberty and
Union, one and inseparable, now and for
eVer."-B. +. STEVENSON, South Norwood, o.
W. II. Leidleigh, of Villa Ridge, Ill, says:
" l was most pleasantly surprised upon the
receipt by mail of your book Letters from
the Army" 1t was indeed n surprise, for |
was not aware there was such work in ex-
istence. Richard NJ johnson and are the
only members of the old De Courcey Bri-
gade in this part Of the country
When encamped at Berwick, La, Just
before starting toward Opelousas, La, there
were quite number Of US who were suffer-
ing, as l remember with a kind of swamp
fever, and before starting were examined,
and some not being considered fit for that
kind of duty, were ordered back TO the hos
pital ut New Orleans. / was opposed 10
going back, and by the aid of the commander
OF our company, at that time Lieut. III. S.
Wood, managed TO 90 on the march My
recollection is that The 10th was in front on
that day, and the 22d in the rear of the line
OF march of the brigade, but am not sure on
that point. At any rate managed to keep
up with the command pretty well until
about the middle of the day, when | did
what l had never done before or afterward
while in the service, simply had to give it
up, and lay down under the shade of large
tree near a sugar-house.
Most of the troops had passed by me, and
1T seemed the ambulance had gone on by.
Finally you came along and found me living
there and gave me some medicine and got
me up onto your horse and l rode it into
camp that evening, and my recollection is
lhat you walked most III not all, the way
into the camp that hot afternoon.
had got some little distance from the
roadway, and there was fence that rather
hid me from view, which / suppose is the
reason that most OF the troops passed with
out notice, and had you not happened to
find me, expect i would have fallen into
the hands of the rebels. Just at that time
was in condition to care but little what |
befell me; but many times when / look at |
our five large, robust, hearty boys and three |
fine, grown daughters, think had it not |
been for Dr. Stevenson they might not have |
been here; so you need not wonder that it |
is with feelings overfowing with gratitude |
that write you"
The other letter is from Enos Pierson,
Wooster, who informs DR.. Stevenson that |
The man he had inquired of him about was
Comrade Leidleigh, and speaks of the lat
teI'S gratitude for DR. SteyenSon's act